Mooney is a family name, which is probably predominantly derived from the Irish Ó Maonaigh, pronounced Om-weeneey. It can also be spelled Moony, Moonie, Mainey, Mauney,

Meaney Meaney is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Aislinn Meaney (born 1998), Irish association footballer * Audrey Meaney (1931–2021), English archaeologist and historian * Colm Meaney (born 1953), Irish actor * Con Meaney (1890– ...

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 Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

word meaning ''wealth'' or ''treasure of treasure'', hence when O'Maonaigh was anglicised to Mooney it meant ''the descendant of the wealthy one.'' 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 The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' ( ga, Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' (''Annála na gCeithre Máistrí'') are chronicles of medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Deluge, dated as 2,24 ...

, 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 County Offaly (; ga, Contae Uíbh Fhailí) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe. It was formerly known as King's County, in hono ...

. The members of this sept were from Chieftain Monach, son of Ailill Mor, Lord of

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United King ...

, who was descended from the Kings of

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 ...

. These family members gave their name to town lands called Ballymooney both in that county and in the neighbouring county of Leix.

People with the surname

* Al Mooney (1906–1986), aircraft designer and founder of

Mooney Airplane Company The Mooney International Corporation (formerly Mooney Aviation Company, Inc. and the Mooney Aircraft Company) is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Kerrville, Texas, United States. It manufactures single-engined piston-powered general ...

* Alex Mooney (born 1971), member of Congress from West Virginia * Bel Mooney (born 1946), English journalist and broadcaster *

Brian Mooney Brian Mooney, (born 2 February 1966 in Dublin) is an Irish former footballer who made his name as a skilful winger in English football. Mooney was spotted in 1983 by Liverpool playing for Irish schoolboy club Home Farm F.C. where he had won a F ...

(born 1966), professional football player *

C. P. J. Mooney Charles Patrick Joseph Mooney (1865 – November 22, 1926) was an American newspaper publisher, becoming"one of the widest known newspapermen of the south". Born at Bardstown Junction, Kentucky Mooney was "tireless, combative and a devoutly Catho ...

(1865–1926), American newspaper publisher *

Cameron Mooney Cameron Mooney (born 26 September 1979) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne and Geelong Football Clubs in the Australian Football League (AFL). A forward, tall and weighing , Mooney is renowned for hi ...

(born 1979), Australian rules footballer *

Carol Ann Mooney Carol Ann Mooney is the 11th president of Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana (2004–2016). She is the first lay alumna president of the college. Life Mooney grew up in Norwich, New York. She graduated from Saint Mary's College in ...

(fl. 1970s–2010s), president of Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana *

Charles Mooney Charles Michael "Charlie" Mooney (born January 27, 1951) is a retired boxer from the United States, who won the silver medal in the bantamweight (– 54 kg) division at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. There he lost by ...

(born 1951), American boxer * Charles ("Chuck") W. Mooney Jr. (born 1947), American, the Charles A. Heimbold, Jr. Professor of Law, and former interim dean, at the

University of Pennsylvania Law School The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (also known as Penn Law or Penn Carey Law) is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania, a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is among the most selective and olde ...

Chris Mooney (basketball) Christopher Scott Mooney (born August 7, 1972) is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at the University of Richmond. Prior to taking the helm of the Spiders basketball program, he was the head coach at ...

(born 1972), American basketball coach *

Darnell Mooney Darnell Mooney (born October 29, 1997) is an American football wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tulane. High School career Darnell Mooney went to Gadsden City High School ...

(born 1997), American football player *

Dave Mooney David Mooney (born 30 October 1984) is an Irish footballer who has played for several clubs in Ireland and the United Kingdom. As of 2019, he was playing as a striker for Leinster Senior League side Lucan United. Club career Shamrock Rovers M ...

(born 1984), professional football player * Debra Mooney (born 1947), American actress *

Edward Aloysius Mooney Edward Aloysius Mooney (May 9, 1882 – October 25, 1958) was an American cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Detroit from 1937 until his death, and was made a cardinal in 1946. Early life and ministry Edward M ...

(1882–1958), Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Detroit, former Bishop of Rochester * Edward F. Mooney (born 1941), noted Kierkegaard scholar and Professor of Religion at Syracuse University *

Francie Mooney Francie is a given name, often a shortened form of Francis (male) or Frances (female). The name may refer to: People: *Francie Barrett (born 1977), Irish boxer * Francie Bellew (born 1976), Irish Gaelic footballer *Francie Brolly (born 1947), Nort ...

(1922–2006), musician, fiddler *

Hercules Mooney Hercules Mooney (1715–1800) was an Irish veteran of the French and Indian and American Revolutionary wars. Born to a catholic family from present day Co.Offaly, in 1733 he emigrated to the United States and settled in Dover, New Hampshire. ...

(1715–1800), American Revolutionary War colonel *

James Mooney James Mooney (February 10, 1861 – December 22, 1921) was an American ethnographer who lived for several years among the Cherokee. Known as "The Indian Man", he conducted major studies of Southeastern Indians, as well as of tribes on the Gr ...

(1861–1921), anthropologist whose major works were about Native American Indians * Jason Mooney (disambiguation), multiple people *

John Mooney (disambiguation) John Mooney may refer to: *John Mooney (activist) (born 1966), American activist, Vice-President of Transport Workers Union in New York City *John Mooney (basketball) (born 1998), American basketball player *John Mooney (cricketer) (born 1982), Iri ...

, multiple people * Kathi Mooney (fl. 2010s–2020s), American scientist * Kevin Mooney (born 1962), Irish musician *

Kyle Mooney Kyle James Kozub Mooney (born September 4, 1984) is an American actor, comedian, and writer, who was a cast member of ''Saturday Night Live'' from 2013 until 2022. Mooney co-wrote and starred in the film ''Brigsby Bear'', in addition to co-creat ...

(born 1984), American comic actor, ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves a ...

'' * Malcolm Mooney (born 1944), original lead singer of rock group Can *

Matt Mooney Matthew Mooney (born February 7, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for Darüşşafaka Lassa of the Basketball Super League (BSL) in Turkey. He played college basketball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders and South Dakota having tra ...

(born 1997), American basketball player *

Melvin Mooney Melvin Mooney (1893–1968) was an American physicist and rheologist. Life Mooney was born in Kansas City, Missouri.J. H. Dillon (1948) J. Colloid Sci. 4 (3) 187-8 "Introduction of Melvin Mooney as E. C. Bingham Medallist" He achieved an A. ...

(1893–1968), American physicist, developed the Mooney viscometer and other testing equipment used in the rubber industry * Paschal Mooney (born 1947), Irish politician * Peter Mooney (conductor) (1915–1983), Scottish educationalist and conductor (music) *

Peter Mooney (footballer) Edward "Peter" Mooney (born 22 March 1897) was an English professional footballer who played as a right half. Career Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Mooney played for Newcastle United, making over 120 appearances in the Football League The E ...

(born 1897), English professional footballer *

Paul Mooney (writer) Paul Mooney (November 4, 1904 – presumed dead after March 24, 1939) was a freelance journalist and photojournalist today best known for his collaborative work with adventurer and travel writer Richard Halliburton. Early life Born in Washingt ...

(1904–1939), son of James Mooney * Paul Mooney (comedian) (1941–2021), American comedian, writer, and actor * Ralph Mooney (1928–2011), Bakersfield sound steel-guitar player who backed Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and others *

Robert Mooney Robert Henry Mooney (August 10, 1873 – January 30, 1953) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1922 to 1953. Early life Mooney was born on August 10, 1873 in Wingham, Ontario, the son of ...

(1873–1953), Canadian politician *

Sean Mooney Sean Edmund Mooney (born May 21, 1959) is an American news anchor and former World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) play-by-play announcer. He now works as an anchor for KVOA, the NBC affiliate in Tucson, Arizona and the National Wrestling Allia ...

(born 1959), sports reporter and former WWF announcer *

Shay Mooney Dan + Shay (the plus symbol substituting for an ampersand as an 'and' indicator) is an American country pop music duo composed of vocalists and songwriters Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney. They are signed to Warner Records Nashville and have release ...

(fl. 2010s–2020s), singer of country duo

Dan + Shay Dan or DAN may refer to: People * Dan (name), including a list of people with the name ** Dan (king), several kings of Denmark * Dan people, an ethnic group located in West Africa **Dan language, a Mande language spoken primarily in Côte d'Ivoir ...

* Shona Mooney (born c. 1984), Scottish fiddler *

Ted Mooney Edward Comstock Mooney (October 19, 1951March 25, 2022) was an American novelist and short story writer. He published four novels: ''Easy Travel to Other Planets'' (1981), ''Traffic and Laughter'' (1990), ''Singing into the Piano'' (1998), and ' ...

(1951–2022), American author * Thomas Mooney (1882–1942), American labour leader from San Francisco, California *

Tim Mooney Tim Mooney (October 6, 1958 – June 13, 2012) was an American drummer, producer, and sound engineer. He drummed in the Sleepers, Toiling Midgets, Negative Trend, Sun Kil Moon and American Music Club. Musical career In the 1970s and 1980s, ...

(1958–2012), American musician *

Tom Mooney (rugby league) Tom Mooney (born 16 March 1952) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s. He played in Sydney's New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership as a for the Manly-Warringah and South Sydney clubs ...

(born 1952), Australian rugby league footballer *

Tommy Mooney Thomas John Mooney (born 11 August 1971) is an English former professional footballer who played mainly as a striker. He made more than 600 appearances in the Football League and Premier Leaguewith 250 for Watford and more than 100 for Scarbo ...

(born 1971), professional football player *

Tony Mooney Anthony John Mooney AM is a former Australian politician who served as a city councillor of the City of Townsville, Queensland from 1977 to 2008, and the mayor from 1989 to 2008. Overview Cr. Tony Mooney was first elected as mayor in 1989 whe ...

(fl. 1970s–2010s), Australian politician * Walter E. Mooney (1925–1990), pilot and model aircraft designer

Fictional characters

*"Albert Mooney" is also a character in the Irish folk-song "

I'll Tell Me Ma "I'll Tell Me Ma" (also called "The Wind") is a traditional children's song. It was collected in various parts of the United Kingdom in the 19th century and again appears in collections from shortly after the turn of the 20th century. In Ireland ...

References

{{surname Surnames of Irish origin

Origins

People with the surname

Fictional characters

See also

References