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Irish surname

Molloy: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Maolmhuaidh · 'descendant of Maolmuadh' (noble chief)

Molloy is an anglicised form of Ó Maolmhuaidh, 'descendant of Maolmuadh'. Woulfe (1923) describes the O'Molloys as a family of the southern Ui Neill who held Feara Ceall, now the baronies of Fircall, Ballycowan and Ballyboy in Offaly, until the beginning of the 17th century, and a second family in Co. Roscommon; several other Irish names were also anglicised Molloy or Mulloy. In 1890 there were 153 Molloy births in Ireland.

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Coat of arms associated with the Molloy surname
Irish formÓ Maolmhuaidh
Meaning'descendant of Maolmuadh' (noble chief)
CountiesOffaly, Roscommon, Dublin, Galway
Other spellings5

Origin of the Molloy name

Woulfe: (1) a southern Ui Neill family of the same descent as the Mageoghegans (Cinel Fiachach, from Fiacha son of Niall of the Nine Hostages); O'Molloy became lord of Feara Ceall. (2) A branch of the Siol Muireadhaigh in Co. Roscommon, represented, per O'Donovan, by the Molloys of Oakpark near Boyle. Other names anglicised Molloy are listed separately.[1]

  1. 10th or 11th centuryCinel Fiachach divided; O'Molloy becomes lord of Feara Ceall (Woulfe).[1]
  2. 1186Albin O'Molloy, Abbot of Baltinglass, consecrated Bishop of Ferns.[7]
  3. Early 17th centuryFeara Ceall remains with the O'Molloys down to the beginning of this century.[1]
  4. 1676Charles Molloy publishes De Jure Maritimo et Navali in London.[8]
  5. 1677Francis Molloy's Irish grammar, Grammatica Latino-Hibernica, appears.[9]
  6. 1883Gerald Molloy becomes Rector of the Catholic University of Ireland.[10]
  7. 1890153 Molloy births, chiefly Dublin, Galway, Mayo, King's County and Donegal.[11]

Where in Ireland

Co. OffalyFeara Ceall held by the O'Molloys; 16 Molloy births in 1890 in King's County (council renamed Offaly, 1920).[1][11][12][13]
Co. RoscommonSecond O'Molloy family, a branch of the Siol Muireadhaigh; the Molloys of Oakpark near Boyle (Woulfe, after O'Donovan).[1]
Co. DublinFirst of the counties where Molloy was principally found in 1890.[11]
Co. GalwayAmong the counties where Molloy was principally found in 1890.[11]
Co. MayoPrincipal county in 1890; Woulfe says Ó Maolaodhóg was also anglicised Mulloy and Molloy here.[11][4]
Co. DonegalPrincipal county in 1890; Woulfe gives Ó Maolmhaodhóg, a Donegal name 'now generally disguised' as Mulloy or Molloy.[11][5]

Notable people named Molloy

Albin O'Molloyd. 1222Cistercian Abbot of Baltinglass; Bishop of Ferns from 1186; his 1185 Dublin sermon offended Giraldus Cambrensis.[7]
Charles Molloyc. 1640–1690Lawyer born in King's County; his De Jure Maritimo et Navali (1676) at one time bore 'a high reputation'.[8]
Francis Molloy (O'Molloy)17th centuryProfessor of Divinity at St. Isidore's, Rome; wrote works in Irish and an Irish grammar (1677).[9]
Gerald Molloy1834–1906Theologian and scientist; professor at Maynooth from 1857; Rector of the Catholic University from 1883.[10]

Other spellings

O'Molloy · Mulloy · Meloy · O Molloye · O Mulloye[1]

The Molloy coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Molloy surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Molloy crest gifts

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Molloy surname: questions

Is Molloy an Irish name?

Yes. Woulfe gives it as an anglicised form of Ó Maolmhuaidh, the name of a southern Ui Neill family whose territory, Feara Ceall, lay in Offaly, and of a Roscommon family. Several other Irish names were also anglicised Molloy or Mulloy.[1][2][4][5][6]

What does the surname Molloy mean?

'Descendant of Maolmuadh' (noble chief), according to Woulfe.[1]

Where in Ireland are the O'Molloys from?

Their territory, Feara Ceall, comprised the modern baronies of Fircall, Ballycowan and Ballyboy in Offaly and stayed with them until the beginning of the 17th century. In 1890 Molloys were principally found in Dublin, Galway, Mayo, King's County and Donegal.[1][11]

Are Molloy and Mulloy the same name?

They can be. Woulfe lists Mulloy alongside Molloy as forms of Ó Maolmhuaidh, but Mulloy also stands for other names, such as Ó Maoilaodha, which in Connacht is 'generally' anglicised Mulloy.[1][3]

Sources

  1. Ó Maolmhuaidh – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/om/o-maolmhuaidh.php
  2. Ó Maolaodha – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/om/o-maolaodha.php
  3. Ó Maoilaodha – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/om/o-maoilaodha.php
  4. Ó Maolaodhóg – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/om/o-maolaodhog.php
  5. Ó Maolmhaodhóg – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/om/o-maolmhaodhog.php
  6. Ó Sluaghadhaigh – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/os/o-sluaghadhaigh.php
  7. Bishop Albin O'Molloy – A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/BishopAlbinOMolloy.php
  8. Charles Molloy – A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/CharlesMolloy.php
  9. Francis Molloy – A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/FrancisMolloy.php
  10. Gerald Molloy – Catholic Encyclopedia (P. Cusick, 1911), New Advent. newadvent.org/cathen/10442c.htm
  11. Molloy – Birth Indexes of 1890 – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/molloy.php
  12. Registration Province of Leinster (leading surnames by county, Births Index 1890) – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/leinster-names.php
  13. Records of King's/Offaly County Council – descriptive note, Offaly Archives. offalyarchives.com/index.php/records-of-kings-offaly-county-council

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).