Mooney Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Mooney last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Mooney last name
Meaning of the Mooney last name: descendant of the wealthy one. Mooney comes from Ó Maonaigh, "descendant of Maonach", a byname linked to maoin, "wealth, treasure". MacLysaght finds families of the name in several parts of Ireland, most notably in County Offaly and the Midlands, and also in Sligo and Ulster, so it has more than one origin. The name is now widespread throughout Ireland and is very common in Dublin. Spelling variants include Moony, Mainey and Meaney, the last being a separate name in Munster. Mooney families were among the large numbers of Irish emigrants who went to Britain, the United States and Australia in the 19th century, and the name is now common in Glasgow, Liverpool, New York and Boston. In some cases in Ulster the name may have been adopted by families of Scottish origin.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Mooney name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Mooney name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Mooney name FAQ
What does the Mooney name mean?
Descendant of the wealthy one. Common variants include O'Mooney, Mainey, Meeney.
Where does the Mooney surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a Mooney coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Mooney crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Mooney coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).