Gaelic sept

Mooney

Ó Maonaigh

Also: Moony, Meaney, Mainey

“descendant of Maonach”

🏔 Roscommon · Ros Comáin 🏔 Sligo · Sligeach 🏔 Galway · Gaillimh Source: Wikipedia ↗ Source: Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames (1923) ↗

The sept's historic heartland, highlighted. People moved — a name can be found far from home.

The story

Woulfe records three separate families: chiefs of Clann Murthuile in Roscommon, a branch of the Uí Fiachrach on the south shore of Sligo Bay in the barony of Tireragh, and a branch of the Siol nAnmchadha in south-east Galway. By the end of the 16th century the name was found in every part of Ireland.

Their world Around 1400 — The Gaelic Resurgence. Plague, absentee landlords and Gaelic recovery shrink English Ireland to a fortified strip around Dublin.

See them on the atlas ↗

What the name is made of

Ó Maonaigh
Ó — descendant of (originally grandson of)
Maonaigh — the ancestor, trade or place the name is built on

Find this form in the Irish-to-English index → · What Ó and Mac actually mean

Is Mooney an Irish name?

Mooney is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here.

The five answers, and why it is rarely yes or no →

Neighbours — other names from the same counties

McDonagh · Sligo, Roscommon, Galway Brennan · Roscommon, Sligo Dolan · Roscommon, Galway Donnellan · Galway, Roscommon Fallon · Roscommon, Galway French · Galway, Roscommon Kelly · Galway, Roscommon Kenny · Galway, Roscommon MacDermot · Roscommon, Sligo Naughton · Galway, Roscommon O'Connor · Roscommon, Sligo Bermingham · Galway Blake · Galway Bodkin · Galway

Quick answers

Is Mooney an Irish name?

Mooney is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here. In Irish the name is Ó Maonaigh.

What does the surname Mooney mean?

Mooney (Irish: Ó Maonaigh) means “descendant of Maonach”. Origin: Gaelic sept.

Where in Ireland is the surname Mooney from?

The historic homeland of the Mooney name is Roscommon, Sligo, Galway. People moved, so the name can be found far beyond it.

What is the Irish for Mooney?

Ó Maonaigh. Related spellings: Moony, Meaney, Mainey.

Looking for the Mooney family crest? Read this first — arms belong to people, not surnames, and the honest version is more interesting. Tracing Mooney ancestors? The step-by-step guide.

Not your spelling? Try the full A–Z. Know more about the Mooney name? Add to the story.