The name Moriarty is an

Anglicized Anglicisation is the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by English culture or British culture, or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-English becomes English. It can also refer to the influenc ...

version of the Irish name Ó Muircheartaigh which originated in County Kerry in Ireland. ''Ó Muircheartaigh'' can be translated to mean 'navigator' or 'sea worthy', as the Irish word ''

muir "Muir" is the Scots word for "moorland", and Scots Gaelic for "sea", and is the etymological origin of the surname and Clan Muir/Mure/Moore in Scotland and other parts of the world. Places United States * Muir, Willits, California, a former unin ...

'' means sea ( cognate to the

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word ''

mare A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than fo ...

'' for 'sea') and ''ceardach'' means skilled. Several prominent people have the Irish name Moriarty, mostly as a surname. Using documentary evidence, flavoured by legend, researchers have isolated historical data using books by O'Hart, McLysaght and O'Brien, the Four Masters, baptismals, parish records, and ancient land grants. Despite the loss of records caused by the fire in the Dublin Records Office in 1922 which was an irreparable disaster to Irish historians, sufficient evidence is still available to produce a thumbnail sketch of the Moriarty history. Conclusions by these researchers show that the family name Moriarty was first found in county Kerry. Spelling variations of the names were found in the archives researched, particularly when families attempted to translate the name from the Gaelic to the English. Although the name Moriarty occurred in many references, from time to time the surname was also officially recorded as Moriarty, O'Moriarty, Murtagh, Murtag, Murtaugh, McMoriarty, O'Murtagh, and these changes in spelling frequently occurred, even between father and son. Preferences for different spelling variations usually arose from a division of the family, or for religious reasons, or sometimes patriotic reasons. Church officials and scribes spelt the name as it sounded, sometimes several different ways in the lifetime of the same person. The abbreviations of Mc in front of a name, meaning 'son of' is popular in Irish names, although this is no guarantee that the name is Irish. Many Scottish names also prefer Mc instead of Mac. Officially in both countries, the abbreviation is Mac. In Ireland, frequently O' is also used before a name meaning the 'grandson of'.

Migrants

In North America, some of the first migrants which could be considered kinsmen of the sept Moriarty of that same family were Daniel, Ellen, Eugene, Margaret, Michael, Thomas Moriarty all settled in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

in 1849; James, John, Martin, Maurice, and Michael Moriarty all arrived in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

between 1840 and 1860. One Edward Moriarte (c 1644, Kerry, Lower Ormund, County Tipperary, Ireland) died in Anne Arundel Co, Maryland c 1688. While a direct connection to Edward has not been made (and therefore the immigrant ancestor is not known), a family with surnames Meratta, Muratta, Marattay, Maratty, and so forth migrated from Maryland to Pennsylvania before 1790, and members migrated to the Nelson Co / Spencer Co region of Kentucky (outside Louisville) about 1805.

People with the surname

Abram Moriarty Abram Orpen Moriarty (1830 – 22 May 1918) was an Irish-born Australian politician. Early life Moriarty was born in County Cork to Merion Marshall Moriarty and Anne Orpen. The family migrated to Sydney in 1843 and he became a clerk in t ...

(1830–1918), Irish-born Australian politician *

Ambrose Moriarty Ambrose James Moriarty (9 August 1870 – 3 June 1949) was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of Shrewsbury from 1934 to 1949. Samuel Webster Allen, his predecessor as fourth bishop, was his uncle. Born at ...

(1870–1949), English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, former Bishop of Shrewsbury *

Bill Moriarty (baseball) William Joseph Moriarty (August 1883 – December 25, 1916) was a Major League Baseball player. He played shortstop in six games for the 1909 Cincinnati Reds season, 1909 Cincinnati Reds. His brother, George Moriarty was also a professional baseb ...

(1883–1916), American baseball player briefly active in 1909 * Brendan Moriarty, ophthalmic surgeon mostly known for introducing intraocular telescope surgery for macular degeneration * Brendan Moriarty, American film director and Media owner of ''The Cambodian Journal''. He is the grandson to Joseph B Moriarty, New Hampshire Labor Union Leader from 1936 to 1985. * Brian Moriarty (born 1956), computer game author mostly known for ''Trinity'' and ''Loom'' *

Cathy Moriarty Cathy Moriarty (born November 29, 1960) is an American actress and singer whose career spans over 40 years. For her work in Martin Scorsese's 1980 film ''Raging Bull'', she received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress ...

(born 1960), American actress nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her role in ''Raging Bull'' * Cecil Moriarty (1877–1958), Irish-born Chief Constable of Birmingham and rugby international * Clare Moriarty, British civil servant * Colm Moriarty (born 1979), Irish professional golfer * Dan Moriarty (footballer, born 1875) (1875–1903), Australian rules footballer * Dan Moriarty (footballer, born 1895) (1895–1982), Australian rules footballer * David Moriarty (1814–1877), Irish Roman Catholic bishop and pulpit orator * David H. Moriarty (1911–1989), American sound engineer * Ed Moriarty (1912–1991), American Major League Baseball player *

Edward Orpen Moriarty Edward Orpen Moriarty (1824–1896) MA MInstCE was an Australian civil engineer, who undertook a number of important public works in New South Wales in the late nineteenth century. Personal life and education Moriarty was born in County Kerry, ...

(1824–1896), Australian civil engineer *

Erin Moriarty (journalist) Erin F. Moriarty (born April 6, 1952) is an American television news reporter and correspondent. She works as a correspondent for '' 48 Hours Mystery''. She has won national Emmy Awards several times. Early life Moriarty attended Upper Arling ...

(born 1952), American television news reporter *

Erin Moriarty (actress) Erin Elair Moriarty (born June 24, 1994) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Annie January / Starlight in the Amazon Prime Video series '' The Boys'' (2019–present). Prior to ''The Boys'', she had notable roles in Netflix's ...

(born 1994), American actress * Fiach Moriarty (), Irish singer-songwriter * Gene Moriarty (1863–1904), American Major League Baseball outfielder * Geoff Moriarty (1871–1948), Australian rules footballer *

George Moriarty George Joseph Moriarty (July 7, 1884 – April 8, 1964) was an American third baseman, umpire and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1903 to 1940. He played for the Chicago Cubs, New York Highlanders, Detroit Tigers, and Chicago Wh ...

(1884–1964), American Major League Baseball player, manager and umpire * George Andrews Moriarty, Jr (1883–1968), American genealogist * Greg Moriarty (born 1964), Australian public servant and diplomat * Hardesty Gilmore Maratta (1864-1924), American artist, paint manufacturer, and color theorist *

Jack Moriarty Jack Moriarty (30 April 1901 – 5 September 1980) was an Australian rules footballer and champion goal-kicker in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Family The son of the Fitzroy full-back, dual premiership player, and first coach, Geoffr ...

(1901–1980), Australian rules footballer *

Jim Moriarty James Moriarty (born 20 June 1953) is a New Zealand actor and theatre director, who began acting professionally in 1967. He came to national attention and is probably best known for his role as the school teacher Riki Winiata in the 1970s soap ...

(born 1953), New Zealand actor and theatre director * James Moriarty (disambiguation), several people * Jeremiah J. Moriarty (1914–1995), New York politician and judge * Jerry Moriarty (born 1938), American artist * Joan Moriarty (1923–2020), nursing sister, Matron-in-Chief/Director of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps from 1977 to 1981 *

Joan Denise Moriarty Joan Denise Moriarty (died 24 January 1992) was an Irish ballet dancer, choreographer, teacher of ballet and traditional Irish dancer and musician. She was a key figure in the development of both amateur and professional ballet in Ireland. Ea ...

(early 1910s?–1992), Irish dancer, teacher and choreographer, founder of professional ballet in Ireland * John Moriarty (disambiguation), several people *

Joseph Vincent Moriarty Joseph Vincent Moriarty (June 1910 – February 26, 1979), also known as Newsboy Moriarty, was an Irish American mobster in Hudson County, New Jersey who controlled the numbers game. Biography He was born in June 1910 in Jersey City, New Jer ...

(1910–1979), Irish-American mobster * Judith Moriarty (born 1942), American politician * Kieran Moriarty, British physician *

Larry Moriarty Larry Moriarty (born April 24, 1958) is a former professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the Houston Oilers and Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team bas ...

(born 1958), American former National Football League player *

Laura Moriarty (novelist) Laura Moriarty (born December 24, 1970, Honolulu, Hawaii) is an American novelist. Early life and education Moriarty was born in Honolulu in 1970. She earned a degree in social work before earning an M.A. in Creative Writing at the University of ...

(born 1970), American author from Hawaii * Laura Moriarty (poet and novelist) (born 1952), American poet and novelist from Minnesota *

Liane Moriarty Liane Moriarty (born 15 November 1966) is an Australian author. She has written nine novels, including the ''New York Times'' best sellers '' Big Little Lies'' and ''Nine Perfect Strangers'', which were adapted into television series for HBO an ...

(born 1966), Australian author * Michael Moriarty (disambiguation), several people *

Merion Moriarty Merion Marshall Moriarty (1794 – 10 January 1864) was an Irish-born Australian politician. He was born in County Cork to Vice-Admiral Sylverius Moriarty and Lydia Hinton. He joined the Royal Navy in 1807, travelling to Copenhagen, the Me ...

(1794–1864), Irish-born Australian politician * Paddy Moriarty, Gaelic footballer from Northern Ireland in the 1970s * Pat Moriarty (American football) (born 1955), football executive for the National Football League's Baltimore Ravens * Patrick Moriarty (disambiguation), several people * Paul Moriarty (disambiguation), several people * Philip Moriarty (born 1968), Irish

physicist A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe. Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate cau ...

and professor of physics at the

University of Nottingham , mottoeng = A city is built on wisdom , established = 1798 – teacher training college1881 – University College Nottingham1948 – university status , type = Public , chancellor ...

* P. H. Moriarty (born 1939), British actor *

Richard Moriarty Richard Moriarty (born 1 May 1957 at Gorseinon near Swansea) is a Welsh former rugby union player. He played 23 matches for Wales, either as a second row or back row forward, scoring two tries, and captained Wales eight times. During his time a ...

(born 1957), Welsh former international rugby union captain * Robert J. Moriarty (born 1946), American Marine fighter pilot *

Ross Moriarty Ross Moriarty (born 18 April 1994) is an international rugby union player, who currently plays for Dragons RFC and Wales as a flanker. Personal life Moriarty was born in St Helens, Merseyside while his father, former Wales international Paul ...

(born 1994), Welsh international rugby union player * Stephen Moriarty (born 1949), American politician * Teague Moriarty (born 1983), American chef *

Terry Moriarty Terrence Brian "Terry" Moriarty (3 July 1925 – 23 October 2011) was an Australian rules footballer who played with the Perth Football Club in the West Australian National Football League (WANFL). Having won the club's best and fairest troph ...

(1925–2011), Australian rules footballer * Thomas Moriarty (1812–1894), Church of Ireland clergyman * Tom Moriarty (born 1953), American former National Football League player *

William Moriarty William "Bill" Moriarty (1890, London, United Kingdom – April 14, 1936) was a Canadians, Canadian Communism, Communist and Right Oppositionist. He was general secretary of the Communist Party of Canada from 1921 to 1923. Moriarty was born i ...

(1890–1936), a leader of the Communist Party of Canada who sided with the Right Opposition

References

{{reflist

External links

Moriarty family pedigree
at Library Ireland Surnames of Irish origin Irish families Anglicised Irish-language surnames

Migrants

People with the surname

See also

References

External links