Moynihan is a surname of Irish origin. Recorded in several spellings forms including Moynihan, Monahan, Monaghan, Monaham, Minihane, Minihan, and probably others, this is an Irish surname of great antiquity. It originates from the

Irish language Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...

''Ó Muimhneacháin'', which literally translates as "male descendant of the

Munster Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...

man". The surname is most popular in Counties

Cork "Cork" or "CORK" may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container *** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine Places Ireland * ...

and Kerry, which form part of the province of Munster. The modern spellings are usually Moynihan and Monaghan, the spelling in the 16th century being generally recorded as Minighane, and regarded as the principal surname of West Cork. Michael and Mortimer Moynihan were famous rebels in the late 16th century, and hailed from

Skibbereen Skibbereen (; ) is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is located in West Cork on the N71 national secondary road. The River Ilen runs through the town; it reaches the sea about 12 kilometres away, at the seaside village of Baltimore. Located ...

. Several of the name were famine immigrants into

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, who embarked from

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

on the ship ''Hampden'' bound for that port on December 8, 1846. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Teag Ó Muimhneacháin, dated 1659, in the Barony of

Tulla Tulla () is a market town in County Clare, Ireland. It is situated in the east of the county, on the R462 and near its junction with the R352, 18 km from Ennis. The town is in a townland and civil parish of the same name. Etymology Tu ...

, during the reign of

Richard Cromwell Richard Cromwell (4 October 162612 July 1712) was an English statesman who served as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1658 to 1659. He was the son of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell. Following his father ...

, Lord Protector, between 1658 and 1660. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.SurnameDB - Moynihan History
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People

* Antony Moynihan, 3rd Baron Moynihan, British hereditary peer *

Bobby Moynihan Robert Michael Moynihan Jr. (born January 31, 1977) is an American actor and comedian. He was a cast member and writer for the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' from 2008 to 2017. Outside of ''SNL'', he has also voiced Louie Duc ...

, American actor, comedian, and writer *Brandon Moynihan, actor who plays Captain Obvious *

Brian Moynihan Brian Thomas Moynihan is an American lawyer and banker. He is the chairman, president, and CEO of Bank of America, having been promoted to these positions in 2010. Moynihan is a member of the Council on Competitiveness board and Partnership for ...

, American businessman *

Colin Moynihan, 4th Baron Moynihan Colin Berkeley Moynihan, 4th Baron Moynihan, 4th Baronet (born 13 September 1955), is a British Olympic silver medalist, politician, businessman and sports administrator. Lord Moynihan served as the Chairman of the British Olympic Association ...

, British politician and rower *

Daniel Patrick Moynihan Daniel Patrick Moynihan (; March 16, 1927 – March 26, 2003) was an American politician, diplomat and social scientist. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he represented New York (state), New York in the ...

(1927–2003), American politician, sociologist, and diplomat * Donald P. Moynihan, Irish-American political scientist * Dean Moynihan, developer of the video game '' One Chance'' *

James Michael Moynihan James Michael Moynihan (July 6, 1932 – March 6, 2017) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the ninth Bishop of Syracuse. Biography James Moynihan was born in Rochester, New York, to Michael Joseph and Carolyn Elizabe ...

(1932–2017), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church * Jesse Moynihan, American artist, composer and director *

Johnny Moynihan John Moynihan (born 29 October 1946, Phibsboro) is an Irish folk singer, based in Dublin. He is often credited with introducing the bouzouki into Irish music in the mid-1960s. Music career Sweeney's Men Known as "The Bard of Dalymount", he ...

, Irish folk singer * Jon Moynihan, British businessman and venture capitalist * Maurice Moynihan, Irish economist and civil servant * Michael Moynihan (author), American author *

Michael Moynihan (Cork politician) Michael Moynihan (born 12 January 1968) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth since January 2025 and a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North-West constituency since the ...

(born 1968), Irish Fianna Fáil politician *

Michael Moynihan (Kerry politician) Michael Moynihan (17 June 1917 – 27 June 2001) was an Irish Labour Party politician who served as Minister of State at the Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism from 1982 to 1987. He served as a senator from 1973 to 1981 and as a Teachta ...

(1917–2001), Irish Labour Party politician *

Michael C. Moynihan Michael Christopher Moynihan (born August 24, 1974) is an American journalist. A former national correspondent for ''Vice News'', he co-hosts ''The Fifth Column'' podcast. He was previously the cultural news editor for ''The Daily Beast'', the ...

, American journalist * Michael J. Moynihan, American musician and journalist * P. H. Moynihan, former United States Congressman from Illinois *

Rebecca Moynihan Rebecca Moynihan (born 11 December 1981) is an Irish Labour Party politician who served as a Senator for the Administrative Panel from April 2020 to January 2025. She was the party's spokesperson on Housing, Local Government, and Heritage. Sh ...

, Irish Labour Party politician * Robert Moynihan, editor of ''Inside the Vatican'' magazine * Tim Moynihan (1907–1952), American football player and coach *

Timothy Moynihan Timothy Joseph Moynihan (July 28, 1941 – March 1, 2020) was an American politician who served as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1975 to 1986. Education Moynihan attended East Hartford High School and graduate ...

(1941–2020), American politician

References

{{Reflist Surnames Anglicised Irish-language surnames Surnames of Irish origin

People

See also

References