Molloy or O'Molloy is an Irish surname, anglicised from Ó Maolmhuaidh, maolmhuadh meaning 'Proud Chieftain'. (See also Malloy.) They were part of the southern

Uí Néill The Uí Néill (Irish pronunciation: ; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who died c. 405. They are generally divided into t ...

, the southern branch of the large tribal grouping claiming descent from

Niall of the Nine Hostages Niall ''Noígíallach'' (; Old Irish "having nine hostages"), or Niall of the Nine Hostages, was a legendary, semi-historical Irish king who was the ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasties that dominated Ireland from the 6th to the 10th centurie ...

, the fifth-century king who supposedly kidnapped

St Patrick Saint Patrick ( la, Patricius; ga, Pádraig ; cy, Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron sai ...

to Ireland. They held power over a large part of what is now

Co 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 ...

, where the surname is still very common. A second family were the O Maoil Aodha, 'descendant of the devotee of (St) Aodh', from maol, literally 'bald', a reference to the distinctive tonsure sported by early Irish monks. As well as Molloy, this surname has also been anglicised as Mulloy, Malloy, Maloy, 'Miley' and 'Millea'. The name arose in east Connacht, in the Roscommon/east

Galway Galway ( ; ga, Gaillimh, ) is a city in the West of Ireland, in the province of Connacht, which is the county town of County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay, and is the sixth most populous city ...

region, and remains numerous there today. Notable people with the surname include: * Albin O'Molloy (died 1223), one of the bishops who officiated at the coronation of King Richard the Lionheart in England in 1189 *

Annie E. Molloy Annie Elizabeth Molloy (November 18, 1871 – March 17, 1928) was an American suffragist and labor leader. She was president of the Boston Telephone Operators Union in the 1910s and 1920s. In 1915 she was a delegate to the International Congress ...

(1871–1928), American suffragist, labor leader *

Anthony Molloy (disambiguation) Anthony Molloy may refer to: * Anthony Molloy (Gaelic footballer) (born 1962), former Donegal captain * Anthony Molloy (lawyer) (born 1944), New Zealand author and lawyer * Anthony James Pye Molloy Anthony James Pye Molloy ( – 25 July 1 ...

, several people *

Bill Molloy William George Molloy (28 August 1929 – 10 January 2020) was an English former professional footballer who played as an inside forward in the Football League for Southampton and Newport County between 1949 and 1951. Football career Molloy ...

(1929–2020), English footballer *

Bobby Molloy Robert Molloy (9 July 1936 – 2 October 2016) was an Irish politician who served as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal and Minister of State to the Government from 1997 to 2002, Minister for Energy from 1989 to 1992, Minister for ...

, Irish politician * Charles Molloy (journalist) (died 1767), Irish journalist, political activist and minor playwright *

Charles Molloy (lawyer) Charles Molloy (1640 – 1690) was an Irish lawyer known as a writer on maritime law. Life He was born in King's County, Ireland, the son of John Molloy. Stuart Handley writing in the '' Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' casts doubt on t ...

(1640–1690), Irish lawyer known as a writer on maritime law * Donald W. Molloy, American judge *

Francie Molloy Francie Molloy ( ga, Proinsias Ó Maolmhuaidh; born 16 December 1950) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been the abstentionist Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Ulster since 2013. He was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) ...

, Irish politician * Georgiana Molloy, early settler and botanical collector in Western Australia *

Gerald Molloy Gerald Molloy (born at Mount Tallant House, near Dublin, 10 September 1834; died at Aberdeen, 1 October 1906) was an Irish Roman Catholic priest, theologian and scientist. Life He was educated at Castleknock College, and subsequently went to M ...

, Irish theologian and scientist * Irene Molloy, American actress, singer and songwriter of Irish descent * James Lynam Molloy (1837–1909), Irish composer and writer * Joanna Molloy, American gossip columnist * John Molloy, early settler in Western Australia *

Leo Molloy Leo John Molloy (born 1956) is a New Zealand businessman and former veterinarian. He has been a controversial and polarising figure for his outspoken views. Early life Molloy was born in the West Coast town of Moana. He is of Irish descent. Tel ...

, New Zealand businessman * Leonard Greenham Star Molloy, British Member of Parliament * Margaret Molloy, Irish businesswoman *

Matt Molloy Matt Molloy (born 12 January 1947) is an Irish musician, from a region known for producing talented flautists. As a child, he began playing the flute and won the All-Ireland Flute Championship at nineteen. Considered one of the most brilliant ...

, Irish musician *

Mick Molloy Michael Molloy (born 11 July 1966) is an Australian comedian, writer, producer, actor and television and radio presenter who has been active in radio, television, stand-up and film. He currently hosts '' The Front Bar'' on the Seven Network. ...

, Australian comedian, co-host of the Martin/Molloy radio program *

Mike Molloy Michael Molloy (born 22 December 1940) is a British author and former newspaper editor and cartoonist. Biography Born in Hertfordshire, Molloy studied at Ealing Junior School and the Ealing School of Art before working at the ''Sunday Pictori ...

, British journalist, newspaper editor, artist and author *

Myra Molloy Maneepat Myra Molloy ( th, มณีภัสสร มอลลอย; ; born 18 September 1997), nicknamed Myra (ไมร่า), is a Thai-American singer, songwriter and actress. In 2011 at age 13, Molloy won the premier season of ''Thailand ...

, Thai singer * Father Niall Molloy, a priest who died in mysterious circumstances in 1985 *

Seaneen Molloy Seaneen Molloy is a Northern Irish blogger and activist based in Belfast. Background Molloy grew up in the Twinbrook and Poleglass areas of West Belfast. Molloy is a columnist for BBC Ouch!, the BBC disability website. She is also a regular con ...

, Northern Irish blogger and writer * Sylvia Molloy, Argentine academic and writer *

Sylvia Clark Molloy Sylvia Clark Molloy (1914–2008), born Sylvia Clark Leyden, was a British Realist and Impressionist artist and teacher. Biography Molloy was born in 1914 in South Shields, United Kingdom. A graduate of Durham University, she lived abroad for ...

, British artist *

Terry Molloy Terry Molloy (born 4 January 1947) is an English actor. He is known predominantly for his work on radio and television, especially his portrayal of Davros, creator of the Daleks, in the BBC television science fiction series ''Doctor Who''. Ca ...

(born 1947), British actor *

Thomas Molloy Thomas George Anstruther Molloy (4 October 1852 – 16 February 1938) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the electorate of Perth from 1892 until 1894, and thereafter became a peren ...

, Australian politician *

Thomas B. Molloy Thomas Boniface Molloy (November 28, 1878 – June 20, 1948) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1914 to 1915, as a member of the Liberal Party. Early life Molloy was born in Sh ...

, Canadian politician * Thomas Edmund Molloy, American Bishop of Brooklyn 1921–1956 * W. Thomas Molloy, Canadian lawyer and land claim negotiator *

William Molloy (disambiguation) William Molloy may refer to: * William Molloy, Baron Molloy (1918–2001), British Labour Party politician * William Molloy (Manitoba politician) (1877–1917), Canadian Liberal Party politician * William Molloy (Irish politician), member of the Ir ...