The name Moriarty is an

Anglicized Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...

version of the Irish name Ó Muircheartaigh which originated in

County Kerry County Kerry () is a Counties of Ireland, county on the southwest coast of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. It is bordered by two other countie ...

in Ireland. ''Ó Muircheartaigh'' can be translated to mean 'navigator' or 'sea worthy', as the Irish word '' muir'' means sea (

cognate In historical linguistics, cognates or lexical cognates are sets of words that have been inherited in direct descent from an etymological ancestor in a common parent language. Because language change can have radical effects on both the s ...

to the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

word ''

mare A mare is an adult female horse or other equidae, 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 th ...

'' 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 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 is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

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

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

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 (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) (1883–1916), American baseball player briefly active in 1909 * Brendan Moriarty, American film director and Media owner of ''The Cambodian Journal'' *

Brian Moriarty Brian Moriarty (born 1956) is an American video game developer who authored three of the original Infocom interactive fiction titles, '' Wishbringer'' (1985), ''Trinity'' (1986), and '' Beyond Zork'' (1987), as well as ''Loom'' (1990) for LucasA ...

(born 1956), computer game author mostly known for ''Trinity'' and ''Loom'' *

Cathy Moriarty Cathy Moriarty (born November 29, 1960) is an American actress whose career spans five decades. Born and raised in New York City, she made her acting debut opposite Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese's ''Raging Bull'' (1980), for which she recei ...

(born 1960), American actress nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her role in ''Raging Bull'' *

Cecil Moriarty Cecil Charles Hudson Moriarty, (1877–1958) was an Irish-born British police officer and Ireland national rugby union team, Irish Rugby union, rugby international. He won one cap against Wales national rugby union team, Wales in 1899 Home Nat ...

(1877–1958), Irish-born Chief Constable of Birmingham and rugby international * Chris Moriarty (born 1968), an American science fiction and fantasy writer * Christopher Moriarty (1936 – 2024), an Irish naturalist and author * 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 David Moriarty (18 August 1814 – 1 October 1877) was an Irish Roman Catholic bishop and pulpit orator. Biography Background Moriarty was born in Ardfert, in County Kerry on 18 August 1814, the son of David Moriarty, and Bridget Stokes. He r ...

(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 (1824–1896), Australian civil engineer *

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 series '' The Boys'' (2019–present). Prior to ''The Boys'', she had notable roles in the series ''Jessica Jones'' (2 ...

(born 1994), American actress * Erin Moriarty (journalist) (born 1952), American television news reporter * Fiach Moriarty (), Irish singer-songwriter * Gene Moriarty (1863–1904), American Major League Baseball outfielder * Geoff Moriarty (1871–1948), Australian rules footballer * George Moriarty (1884–1964), American Major League Baseball player, manager and umpire *

George Andrews Moriarty, Jr George Andrews Moriarty Jr. (1883–1968), called G. Andrews Moriarty in most of his published work, was an American genealogist from Newport, Rhode Island. He was born in Newport on February 14, 1883, the only son of George Andrews Moriarty and ...

(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 Australian Football League, Victorian Football League (VFL). Family The son of the Fitzroy full-back, dual premiership play ...

(1901–1980), Australian rules footballer * James Moriarty (disambiguation) ** Jim Moriarty (born 1953), New Zealand actor and theatre director * Jeffrey Moriarty, American philosopher * Jeremiah J. Moriarty (1914–1995), New York politician and judge *

Jerry Moriarty Jerry Moriarty (born January 15, 1938, in Binghamton, New York) is an American artist and teacher at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in Manhattan. He describes himself as a "paintoonist". Education and career Moriarty entered the Pratt Institu ...

(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 (early 1910s?–1992), Irish dancer, teacher and choreographer, founder of professional ballet in Ireland * John Moriarty (disambiguation) * Joseph Vincent Moriarty (1910–1979), Irish-American mobster *

Judith Moriarty Judith K. Moriarty (born February 2, 1942) is an American politician from Missouri. She was the first woman to serve as Missouri Secretary of State. She was impeached in 1994 for conduct issues, and forced from office. She was a member of ...

(born 1942), American politician *

Kieran Moriarty Dr Kieran John Moriarty, CBE, FRCP, FRCPI is a British physician. He attended St. Ambrose College in Altrincham and studied medicine at Trinity College, Cambridge and the London Hospital. As consultant gastroenterologist at the Royal Bolton ...

, British physician * Larry Moriarty (born 1958), American former National Football League player * Laura Moriarty (novelist) (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 ten novels, including the ''New York Times'' best sellers '' Big Little Lies'', '' Nine Perfect Strangers'', and '' Apples Never Fall'' which were adapted into telev ...

(born 1966), Australian author *

Mary Moriarty Mary Frances Moriarty (born January 14, 1964) is an American attorney and politician serving as the County Attorney of Hennepin County, Minnesota. She is a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL). Moriarty previously serve ...

, an American attorney and politician * Michael Moriarty (disambiguation) *

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 * Owen O'Moriarty (1500s–1600s), Irish chieftain * P. H. Moriarty (1939–2025), British actor * 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) * Paul Moriarty (disambiguation) * 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 The University of Nottingham is a public research university in Nottingham, England. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. Nottingham's main campus (University Park Campus, Nottingh ...

* Richard Moriarty (born 1957), Welsh former international rugby union captain * Robert J. Moriarty (born 1946), American Marine fighter pilot * Ross Moriarty (born 1994), Welsh international rugby union player *

Stephen Moriarty Stephen W. Moriarty (born December 14, 1949, in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American politician from Maine. Moriarty is a graduate of Bowdoin College (1972) and the University of Maine School of Law (1978). He joined the law firm Norman, Hanson, ...

(born 1949), American politician * Teague Moriarty (born 1983), American chef * Terry Moriarty (1925–2011), Australian rules footballer *

Thomas Moriarty Thomas Moriarty (1812, Dingle – 1894, Tralee) was a priest in the Church of Ireland during the nineteenth century. Moriarty was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. Moriarty was ordained in 1837. He served curacies at Kingscourt and Ven ...

(1812–1894), Church of Ireland clergyman * Tom Moriarty (born 1953), American former National Football League player * William Moriarty (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