AMOS COFFEY

Biblical name, borne by a Hebrew prophet of the 8th century bc, whose sayings are collected in the book of the Bible that bears his name. This is of uncertain derivation, but may be connected with the Hebrew verb amos ‘to carry’. In some traditions it is assigned the meaning ‘borne by God’. The name is used among Christians as well as Jews, and was popular among the Puritans. In Britain it survived well into the 19th century, and has recently enjoyed a modest revival. Its popularity in the U.S. continues.

Irish: 1. Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Cobhthaigh ‘descendant of Cobhthach’, a byname meaning ‘victorious’. 2. Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Cathbhadha ‘descendant of Cathbhadh’ (‘battle tent’), Ó Cathbhuadhaigh ‘descendant of Cathbhuadhach’ (‘battle victorious’), or Ó Cathmhogha ‘descendant of Cathmhugh’, a byname meaning ‘battle slave’.