Irish surname search
(O)Garvey, (Mac)Garvey, (Garvin)
Garvey is one of those surnames which in Irish have both the Gaelic prefixes, Mac and O. Mac Gairbhith belongs to Co. Donegal where it is numerous: it is MacGarvy in English, the prefix being retained. The O, on the other hand, has been almost entirely discarded. The principal sept of O Gairbhith, now Garvey, is of the same stock as the O'Hanlons, their ancient territory being in the barony of Oneilland East, Co. Armagh, until largely dispossesd by the MacCanns. Nearby in the MacGuiness country another sept of O'Garvey dwelt, and as might be expected the name Garvey is not uncommon today in Co.. Down. Most Rev. Anthony O'Garvey was Bishop of Dromore from 1759 to 1780. However it is in Co. Mayo Garveys are chiefly found in modern times; but these are really Garvins (in Irish O Gairbhin), that name having been corrupted to Garvey in Connacht. That sept was of the Southern Ui Neill: they migrated from their original homeland in Co. Meath to Connacht after the Anglo-Norman invasion and settled near Crossmolina.
The most prominent family of Garvey in Co. Mayo is that of Murrisk Abbey. John Garvey (1527-1595), who was one of the more notable Protestant Archbishops of Armagh, though born in Co. Kilkenny, was eldest son of John O'Garvey of Murrisk: he took out letters of denization in 1561 and espoused the English cause, as did his brother James who possessed the Murrisk property.
Garvey, as well as Garvan, is a well known name in Counties Cork and Kerry. The ancient sept of O Garbhain of Munster was of the same stock as the O'Moriartys. No doubt the Munster Garveys are properly Garvan just as the Connacht Garveys are Garvin.
Other notable Garveys of Irish parentage were the artists Edmund Garvey, R.A. (174-1813), and Michael Angelo Garvyey (1820-1877).
Callaghan Garvan (1644-1735) was physician to the "Old Pretender" and to Queen Mary of Modena. The best known of the Garvins was probably James Louis Garvin (1868-1947), editor of the Observer newspaper.