where does the name rafferty originate from
The Raftery and Rafferty septs were, according to genealogists, NOT related. The O'Raithbheartaigh (Rafferty) sept were said to have originated in Sligo,Tyrone and Donegal, while Mayo was home to the O'Reachtaire (Raftery) sept.. Many Rafterys were renamed Rafferty by immigrations officials, presumably because Rafferty was easier to pronounce and was more common.