Molloy or O'Molloy is an Irish surname, anglicised from Ó Maolmhuaidh, maolmhuadh meaning 'Proud Chieftain'. (See also Malloy.) They were part of the southern

Uí Néill The Uí Néill (Irish pronunciation: ; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who died c. 405. They are generally divided into the ...

, the southern branch of the large tribal grouping claiming descent from

Niall of the Nine Hostages Niall ''Noígíallach'' (; Old Irish "having nine hostages"), or Niall of the Nine Hostages, was a legendary, semi-historical Irish king who was the ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasties that dominated Ireland from the 6th to the 10th centuries. ...

, the fifth-century king who supposedly kidnapped

St Patrick Saint Patrick ( la, Patricius; ga, Pádraig ; cy, Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints be ...

to Ireland. They held power over a large part of what is now Co Offaly, where the surname is still very common. A second family were the O Maoil Aodha, 'descendant of the devotee of (St) Aodh', from maol, literally 'bald', a reference to the distinctive tonsure sported by early

Irish monks The Hiberno-Scottish mission was a series of expeditions in the 6th and 7th centuries by Gaelic missionaries originating from Ireland that spread Celtic Christianity in Scotland, Wales, England and Merovingian France. Celtic Christianity sp ...

. As well as Molloy, this surname has also been anglicised as Mulloy, Malloy, Maloy, 'Miley' and 'Millea'. The name arose in east

Connacht Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Delbhn ...

, in the Roscommon/east

Galway Galway ( ; ga, Gaillimh, ) is a City status in Ireland, city in the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht, which is the county town of County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lo ...

region, and remains numerous there today. Notable people with the surname include: * Albin O'Molloy (died 1223), one of the bishops who officiated at the coronation of King Richard the Lionheart in England in 1189 * Annie E. Molloy (1871–1928), American suffragist, labor leader * Anthony Molloy (disambiguation), several people * Bill Molloy (1929–2020), English footballer *

Bobby Molloy Robert Molloy (9 July 1936 – 2 October 2016) was an Irish politician who served as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal and Minister of State to the Government from 1997 to 2002, Minister for Energy from 1989 to 1992, Minister for ...

, Irish politician *

Charles Molloy (journalist) Charles Molloy (died 16 July 1767) was an Irish journalist and political activist on the Jacobite side, as well as a minor playwright. Life The 18th century '' Biographia dramatica'' says that Molloy attended Trinity College, Dublin before movin ...

(died 1767), Irish journalist, political activist and minor playwright * Charles Molloy (lawyer) (1640–1690), Irish lawyer known as a writer on maritime law *

Donald W. Molloy Donald W. Molloy (born July 18, 1946) is a Senior Status, Senior United States federal judge, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana. Early life and education Born into an Irish-American famil ...

, American judge *

Francie Molloy Francie Molloy ( ga, Proinsias Ó Maolmhuaidh; born 16 December 1950) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been the abstentionist Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Ulster since 2013. He was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) ...

, Irish politician *

Georgiana Molloy Georgiana Molloy (23 May 1805 – 8 April 1843) was an early settler in Western Australia, who is remembered as one of the first botanical collectors in the colony. Her husband, John, was involved in the Wonnerup massacre, and she has been the ...

, early settler and botanical collector in Western Australia *

Gerald Molloy Gerald Molloy (born at Mount Tallant House, near Dublin, 10 September 1834; died at Aberdeen, 1 October 1906) was an Irish Roman Catholic priest, theologian and scientist. Life He was educated at Castleknock College, and subsequently went to ...

, Irish theologian and scientist *

Irene Molloy Irene Molloy is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. She is best known for her roles on television series ''Andy Richter Controls the Universe'' and ''Grosse Pointe''. She has also appeared in Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals, televisi ...

, American actress, singer and songwriter of Irish descent * James Lynam Molloy (1837–1909), Irish composer and writer *

Joanna Molloy George Rush Jr. and Joanna Molloy are a husband and wife team of American gossip columnists whose column, "Rush & Molloy", appeared in the ''New York Daily News'' from 1995 to 2010. Their memoir, ''Scandal: A Manual'', was published by Skyhorse in ...

, American gossip columnist * John Molloy, early settler in Western Australia *

Leo Molloy Leo John Molloy (born 1956) is a New Zealand businessman and former veterinarian. He has been a controversial and polarising figure for his outspoken views. Early life Molloy was born in the West Coast town of Moana, New Zealand, Moana. He is of ...

, New Zealand businessman *

Leonard Greenham Star Molloy Major Leonard Greenham Star Molloy (1861–1937) was an Irish medical doctor and politician. Molloy was born in Naas, County Kildare, Ireland, the son of Richard Molloy of Rathgar, Dublin. He was educated at Trinity College Dublin where he obtai ...

, British Member of Parliament * Margaret Molloy, Irish businesswoman *

Matt Molloy Matt Molloy (born 12 January 1947) is an Irish musician, from a region known for producing talented flautists. As a child, he began playing the flute and won the All-Ireland Flute Championship at nineteen. Considered one of the most brilliant ...

, Irish musician *

Mick Molloy Michael Molloy (born 11 July 1966) is an Australian comedian, writer, producer, actor and television and radio presenter who has been active in radio, television, stand-up and film. He currently hosts ''The Front Bar'' on the Seven Network. L ...

, Australian comedian, co-host of the Martin/Molloy radio program *

Mike Molloy Michael Molloy (born 22 December 1940) is a British author and former newspaper editor and cartoonist. Biography Born in Hertfordshire, Molloy studied at Ealing Junior School and the Ealing School of Art before working at the '' Sunday Pictori ...

, British journalist, newspaper editor, artist and author *

Myra Molloy Maneepat Myra Molloy ( th, มณีภัสสร มอลลอย; ; born 18 September 1997), nicknamed Myra (ไมร่า), is a Thai people, Thai-American singer, songwriter and actress. In 2011 at age 13, Molloy won the premier season ...

, Thai singer * Father Niall Molloy, a priest who died in mysterious circumstances in 1985 * Seaneen Molloy, Northern Irish blogger and writer * Sylvia Molloy, Argentine academic and writer * Sylvia Clark Molloy, British artist *

Terry Molloy Terry Molloy (born 4 January 1947) is an English actor. He is known predominantly for his work on radio and television, especially his portrayal of Davros, creator of the Dalek, Daleks, in the BBC television science fiction series ''Doctor Who ...

(born 1947), British actor *

Thomas Molloy Thomas George Anstruther Molloy (4 October 1852 – 16 February 1938) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the electorate of Electoral district of Perth, Perth from 1892 until 1894, ...

, Australian politician * Thomas B. Molloy, Canadian politician *

Thomas Edmund Molloy Thomas Edmund Molloy (September 4, 1884 – November 26, 1956) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Brooklyn from 1921 until his death in 1956. Biography He was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, the fourth o ...

, American Bishop of Brooklyn 1921–1956 * W. Thomas Molloy, Canadian lawyer and land claim negotiator * William Molloy (disambiguation)