Scotch-Irish-L Archives

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Subject: MOFFATT/MOFFETTS
Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2000 18:33:13 EDT

In Ireland, Moffatt is common only in Co. Sligo and in Ulster, mainly in
counties Antrim and Tyrone. It appears in a wide variety of spellings
including Maffett, Mefatt, Moffat, Moffet, Moffett, Moffit, Moffitt, and so
on. The name first appears in Ireland in the early 17th century.

It is of local origin from the town of Moffat in Annandale in Dumfriesshire
and was first recorded as a surname in 1232. The Moffats were one of the
lesser of the turbulent riding clans of the Scottish Borders, located in the
Scottish West March. Many members of the riding clans sought refuge in
Ulster when their power and social system were destroyed by James VI.

The Moffetts of Co. Monaghan descend from one James Moffett of Cumberland,
who settled there in the early eighteenth century.

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