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Mooney

{{for multi|the radio show|Mooney (radio programme)|the aircraft manufacturer|Mooney International Corporation}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}

{{Infobox surname

| name = Mooney

| image=

| imagesize=

| caption=

| pronunciation =

| meaning ="rich" or "descendant of the wealthy one"

| languageorigin = Irish

| origin = Ó Maonaigh

| variant = Moony, O'Moony, Moon, Money, Moonie, Mainey, Mauney, Meaney and Meeney

| seealso =

}}

Mooney is a family name which is probably predominantly derived from the Irish Ó Maonaigh, pronounced Om-weeneey.{{Cite web |title=O'Maonaigh Pronunciation |url=https://www.howtopronounce.com/o-maonaigh-1 |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.howtopronounce.com |language=en}} It can also be spelled Moony, Moonie, Mainey, Meaney and Meeney depending on the dialectic pronunciation that was anglicised.

Origins

The origin of the Moony or Mooney families is lost in antiquity. The name is derived from maoin, a Gaelic word meaning wealth or treasure of treasure, hence when O'Maonaigh was anglicised to Mooney it meant the descendant of the wealthy one.{{Cite web|last=Cox|first=Liam|title=The Mooney Family of the Doon, County Offaly|url=http://www.irishmidlandsancestry.com/content/family_history/families/mooney_doon.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210205230/http://www.irishmidlandsancestry.com/content/family_history/families/mooney_doon.htm|archive-date=10 December 2008|website=Irish Midlands Ancestry}}

According to Irish lore, the Mooney family comes from one of the largest and most noble Irish lines. They are said to be descendants of the ancient Irish King Heremon, who, along with his brother Herber, conquered Ireland. Heremon slew his brother shortly after their invasion, took the throne for himself, and fathered a line of kings of Ireland that include Malachi II, and King Niall of the Nine Hostages.

Baptismal records, parish records, ancient land grants, the Annals of the Four Masters, and books by O'Hart, McLysaght, and O'Brien were all used in researching the history of the Mooney family name. These varied and often ancient records indicate that distant septs of the name arose in several places throughout Ireland. The most known and most numerous sept came from the county of Offaly. The members of this sept were from Chieftain Monach, son of Ailill Mor, Lord of Ulster, who was descended from the Kings of Connacht. These family members gave their name to town lands called Ballymooney both in that county and in the neighbouring county of Leix.{{cite web|author=HJK49  (Visualizza annunci) |url=http://boards.ancestry.it/surnames.mooney/2092/mb.ashx |title=The Ancient and Distinguished History of the – Mooney – Bacheca di storia familiare e genealogia – Ancestry.it |publisher=Boards.ancestry.it |date=23 February 2009 |access-date=22 April 2011}}

People with the surname

Funeral Director and Amateur Rugby Player

Fictional characters

  • "Albert Mooney" is a character in the Irish folk-song "I'll Tell Me Ma"
  • "Officer Mooney" is a police officer who interacts with Superman in the 1978 movie{{cite web|url=https://www.capedwonder.com/george-harris-officer-mooney/| url-status=live| website=www.capedwonder.com| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129202506/https://www.capedwonder.com/george-harris-officer-mooney/| archive-date=2022-11-29| title=SUPERDAD – A Memory of Superman's "Officer Mooney"}}

See also

References

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Category:Surnames of Irish origin