Raftery is a surname originating in Ireland, predominantly in County Mayo, County Galway and County Roscommon.Book of Irish Families, great & small, vol. VI: The Families of County Galway, Ireland, Michael C. O'Laughlin, Irish Genealogical Foundation 1998, p. 149 Edward MacLysaght observes that 'Raftery, sometimes confused with Rafferty, is quite a different name', originating as 'O'Reachtaire', 'reacht' meaning 'decree'.Irish Families: Their Names, Arms and Origins, Edward MacLysaght, Irish Academic Press, 1985, p. 141
Famous Rafterys Adrian Raftery (born 1955), Irish and American statistician and sociologist Adrian Raftery (author) (born 1971), Australian author, journalist, businessman and lecturer Andrew Raftery (born 1962), American contemporary printmaker, painter and arts educator Antoine Ó Raifteirí (Anthony Raftery) (blind Irish language poet) Barry Raftery (1944–2010), Irish archaeologist and Celtic scholar Bill Raftery (born 1943), American basketball analyst and former college basketball coach Mary Raftery (1957–2012), Irish investigative journalist, filmmaker and writer Pat Raftery (disambiguation), several people with this name Peter Raftery (1929–1996), High Commissioner to Botswana Ronan Raftery, Irish actor Tom Raftery (born 1933), Irish politician Tom Raftery (baseball) (1881–1954), American baseball player W. C. Raftery (1887–1965), American football, basketball and baseball coach
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