Surname Maloney - Meaning and Origin

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W. Maloney

Maloney: What does the surname Maloney mean?

Maloney is an Irish surname that originates from the Gaelic name "O'Maoldhomhnaigh." This name means "descendant of the servant of the Church." It is derived from the old Irish elements “maol,” meaning "bald" or "tonsured one," often referring to a devotee or a servant, and “domhnach,” meaning "church." The Maloney family were a part of the tribal grouping known as the Dál gCais, or Dalcassians, who were located in the areas of Clare and Tipperary in Ireland. The name has several variations, including Moloney, O'Maloney, and Meloney, among others. Despite its religious connotations, it does not necessarily indicate a family of religious profession, but merely a family who were servants of the Church or devout in their faith.

Maloney: Where does the name Maloney come from?

The last name Maloney is of Irish origin. It was derived from the Gaelic name "O Maoldhomhnaigh," which signifies a descendant of a servant of the Church. The Maloney family was a part of a group known as the Dál gCais (or Dalcassians), a powerful tribal group in Ireland during the 10th century.

Today, the Maloney name is widespread in Ireland, particularly in the counties of Clare, Limerick, and Offaly, where it first emerged. Other areas where the Maloney surname is common include the United States, England, Australia, and Canada, largely due to significant Irish emigration patterns linked to periods of economic hardship in Ireland, notably the mid-19th Century Great Famine.

Variations of the surname Maloney

The surname Maloney is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Maol Dhomhnaigh, which translates to "descendant of the servant of the Church."

There are several possible spellings and variants of the surname, depending on how the original Gaelic has been anglicized or otherwise adapted. Some of these variations include Moloney, Melehan, Milone, Mellon, Meloon, and Malony.

There is also a version of the name that is spelled "O'Maloney", which includes the Irish prefix "O" that signifies a male descendant. Sometimes the "O" prefix may also be used with an apostrophe, as in O'Melaghlin or O'Molony.

Surnames like Malone, Melon, Milone, and Melin are also thought to be variants or anglicized forms of the same original name. However, in some cases the connections to the original Gaelic may have been lost or obscured.

The names Melaney, Melaney, Malloney, Meleney, and Meloney could potentially also be considered variants, although these are less common and may be the result of misspellings or other changes to the original name.

There is some variability in terms of how these different names are spelled and pronounced, reflecting the wide range of ways in which the original Gaelic has been adapted over time.

Famous people with the name Maloney

• Kaylee Maloney: American child actor who has starred in shows such as ‘The Middle’ and ‘American Housewife’.
• Jack Maloney: Professional basketball writer who has covered the NBA for NBC Sports and yahoo Sports since 2011.
• Bill Maloney: British politician who is the leader of the Reform UK Party and was the MP for North West Portsmouth from 2010 to 2012.
• Philip Maloney: Canadian former actor, voice actor, and producer who played in films such as ‘The Invisible Man’ and ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’.
• Dennis Maloney: American former professional basketball player who was an All-Star in the original American Basketball Association (ABA).
• Eamon Maloney: Irish politician who was the Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin South-West from 2007 to 2020.
• Patrick Maloney: Canadian jockey whohas ridden in over 2,300 races and has over 200 wins to his name. He was the jockey of record on the winning horse in the 2009 Queen's Plate Stakes.
• Rachel Maloney: New Zealand former hurdler who competed in the 1990 Commonwealth Games and 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
• Charlie Maloney: American professional rodeo coach and competitor in the sport since the 1970s. He was named the World Champion Bull Rider in 1985 and 1989.
• Siobhan Maloney: Australian actress who is best known for her roles as Corinne in ‘Neighbours’, Serepta in ‘Secret City’ and as Allie in ‘Headland’.

Other surnames

MalonMaloneMalonneMalony