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 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.'' 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.

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 (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 (born 1979), Australian rules footballer * Carol Ann Mooney (fl. 1970s–2010s), president of Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana * Charles Mooney (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 * Chris Mooney (basketball) (born 1972), American basketball coach * Darnell Mooney (born 1997), American football player * Dave Mooney (born 1984), professional football player * Debra Mooney (born 1947), American actress * Edward Aloysius Mooney (1882–1958), Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Detroit, former Bishop of Rochester *

Edward F. Mooney Edward F. Mooney (born 1941) is an internationally recognized Kierkegaard scholar. A retired professor of religion and philosophy, he taught at Sonoma State University, Syracuse University, and in Israel at Haifa and Tel Aviv Universities. As pr ...

(born 1941), noted Kierkegaard scholar and Professor of Religion at Syracuse University * Francie Mooney (1922–2006), musician, fiddler * Hercules Mooney (1715–1800), American Revolutionary War colonel * James Mooney (1861–1921), anthropologist whose major works were about Native American Indians *

Jason Mooney (disambiguation) Jason Mooney may refer to: * Jason Mooney (Australian footballer) (born 1973), Australian rules footballer * Jason Mooney (Northern Irish footballer) (born 1989), Northern Irish professional footballer {{hndis, Coulson, Michael ...

, multiple people * John Mooney (disambiguation), multiple people *

Kathi Mooney Kathleen B. Mooney PhD, RN, FAAN is an American scientist, currently the Louis S. Peery and Janet B. Peery Presidential Endowed Chair in Nursing and Distinguished Professor of Nursing at the University of Utah. She is one of two co-leaders of t ...

(fl. 2010s–2020s), American scientist * Kevin Mooney (born 1962), Irish musician * Kyle Mooney (born 1984), American comic actor, '' Saturday Night Live'' * Malcolm Mooney (born 1944), original lead singer of rock group Can * Matt Mooney (born 1997), American basketball player * Melvin Mooney (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) Peter Mooney (18 September 1915 – 19 September 1983) was a Scottish educator and conductor of the renowned Glasgow Phoenix Choir. Born in 1915, Peter Mooney was to follow a career as a teacher of music and was to become the last principal of M ...

(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 (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 * 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 (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 (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 Walter E. Mooney (June 6, 1925 – March 1, 1990) was a MIT educated engineer, aircraft designer, pilot and model aircraft designer who lived in San Diego, California. He was well known professionally for his full scale aircraft efforts for Convair ...

(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"

References

{{surname Surnames of Irish origin

Origins

People with the surname

Fictional characters

See also

References