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From: Darryl Scarff <>
Subject: SCARF / SCHARF / SCARFTHE; IRL CIRCA 1600
Date: Sun, 01 Nov 1998 23:10:08 -0800

SCARF / SCHARF / SCARFTHE; IRL; Circa 1600

Anglicised Gaelic, Old Norse or Norman surname in Ireland? Any clues?
Family enquiries indicate that my earliest known ancestor was
Cormac Scarfthe, born circa 1560, Thormond, Munster, Ireland.
Family sources suggest the existence of records from Corcomroe
Abbey which identify this family name.
Can any person put me in contact with anyone who could confirm the
existence of such records and whether the name “Scarf” is recorded?

The following ancestor chart has been handed down in this family.
Cormac SCARFTHE 1580 Ireland
Ainmire SCARFH 1600 Ireland
Eoghan SCARFH 1640 Ireland
Eoghan SCARFE 1670 Ireland
Padraig SCARFF 1700 Ireland
William SCARFE 1700 (migrated to Lonan, Isle of Man)
J.F. SCARF 1720 Manth
Tomas SCARF 1760
Eoin SCARF 1792
John SCARF ????
Beauchamp SCARF 1800 Ireland
Beauchamp SCARF 1830 Ireland
Joseph SCARF 1865 Ireland

Other spellings found are Scharf, Scarff, Scariff, Skarf, Scalf.

This family lived on the border of Co.Kilkenny in the townlands of
Coolcullen and Moneenroe and at Old Leighlin, Co.Carlow ca.1800.
It is believed that they lived in Killarney, Co. Kerry circa. 1700 and
also in Thormond, circa 1500, before the area was named Co. Clare.

It has been suggested that earliest family origins were in Munster
in association with the MacCarthy sept. It has also been proposed
that the name Scarfth could be an Anglicized version of the name
Carthach ( from which the name MacCarthy derives), which resulted
from the banning of Gaelic names as a consequence of the Statutes
of Kilkenny which were passed in 1361.

Seizure and regrant resulted in many Gaelic and Old English losing
their claim to property and being forced to relocate because of the
policy of Plantation. Many Irish natives were forced to wander from
one regional area to another, in search of work and shelter.
It is suspected that the Scarfth ancestors were living in Co. Wexford
at the time of the uprising of 1798 and subsequently sought refuge
on the Kilkenny/Carlow border circa 1800.

The name could also be Scandanavian, either Viking or Norman.
The name “Scarf” could be an Old Norse name from the time of
the Viking occupation of Limerick. There is an Old Norse name which
is spelt "Skarf". The Old Norse word "skarfr" means "cormorant'.
The name Scarf is found in the Orkneys and on the Isle of Man.
The brothers Thorgils and Cormac Skardi were the Viking founders
of Scarborough (Skarf borough).

The name may be of Norman origin. An ancestor may have been
part of the Norman forces who accompanied Strongbow during the
English occupation of Leinster. The name Scarf with many spelling
variants is commonly found in North Yorkshire, England, particularly
around York, Leeds and Ripon.The name is recorded in the
13th.CenturyAssize rolls for Yorkshire. Any ideas?

Any information or guidance would be appreciated!

Darryl Scarff <>

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• SCARF / SCHARF / SCARFTHE; IRL CIRCA 1600 by Darryl Scarff <>