Molyneux (;

Old French Old French (, , ; ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France approximately between the late 8th

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

family that settled in

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...

, England. By the 14th century the Molyneux family had split into three main branches: the Lancashire line, who became the Earls of Sefton; the

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...

line; and the

Calais Calais ( , , traditionally , ) is a French port city in the Pas-de-Calais department, of which it is a subprefecture. Calais is the largest city in Pas-de-Calais. The population of the city proper is 67,544; that of the urban area is 144,6 ...

line, from those remaining in France. There was also a branch of the family who were Molyneux baronets, Irish baronets.

Etymology and history

The ancestors of the Molyneaux family arrived in

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

in medieval times. The name "de Molines" or "de Moulins",

Old French Old French (, , ; ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France approximately between the late 8th [2-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ...

in origin, meaning "Mill", and eventually changed into "Molyneux". The early historical background of the family is sparse, coming from scattered genealogical, historical, and archaeological sources, composed of a mixture of legend, romanticized literary invention, and fact. Some historians deduce the ''de Moulins'' came from Moulineaux, Moulineaux-sur-Seine, near Rouen, in Normandy. Other sources claim the family originally came from Moulins, France in the region of

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (; AURA) or ; or ; . is a Regions of France, region in southeast-central France created by the 2014 territorial reform of French regions; it resulted from the merger of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. The new region came into e ...

in central France. Wherever their origin, Robert de Moulins' son, William, settled in

. He had two sons, William and Vivian de Moulins. William was granted large tracts of land in Lancashire, in what was then called ''inter Mersam et Ripam'', that is, "between the

Mersey The River Mersey () is a major river in North West England. Its name derives from Old English and means "boundary river", possibly referring to its having been a border between the ancient kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria. For centuries it ...

and the Ribble", and the manors of Septon ( Sefton), Thornton,

Cuerden Cuerden is a village and civil parish of the Borough of Chorley, in Lancashire, England. It is situated between Bamber Bridge and Leyland, and had a population of 77 in 2001.carucate The carucate or carrucate ( or ) was a medieval unit of land area approximating the land a plough team of eight oxen could till in a single annual season. It was known by different regional names and fell under different forms of tax assessment. ...

s and a half of land, at the service of half a knight's fee. William Molyneux made Septon his chief seat and was succeeded by Vivian de Molyneux. They also held the manor of

Little Crosby Little Crosby is a small village in the Sefton district of Merseyside, England. Despite being within 8 miles of Liverpool it has retained its rural character by, for example, opting not to have street lights. Until 1974 it was in Lancashire. T ...

, later

Ince Blundell Hall Ince Blundell Hall is a former English country house, country house near the village of Ince Blundell, in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England. It was built between 1720 and 1750 for Robert Blundell, the lord of the manor, ...

, which had been held by one Uctred until 1066. By 1212 it was owned by Richard de Molyneux of Sefton before being turned over to the Blundell family. The Molyneuxs later owned most of the districts of

Speke Speke () is a suburb of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is southeast of the city centre. Located near the widest part of the River Mersey, it is bordered by the suburbs of Garston and Hunts Cross, and nearby to Halewood, Hale Village, ...

and

Rainhill Rainhill is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, Merseyside, England. The population at the 2011 census was 10,853. Historically part of Lancashire, Rainhill was a township in the ecclesiastical parish of Prescot ...

. The Royalist

gentry Gentry (from Old French , from ) are "well-born, genteel and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past. ''Gentry'', in its widest connotation, refers to people of good social position connected to Landed property, landed es ...

family held a large moated manor, a corn mill on the

River Alt The River Alt is an urban river that flows across Merseyside in England. The river has suffered from heavy pollution from industry and sewage upstream and run-off from farmland in its lower reaches. It empties into the River Mersey, near to whe ...

, and the

advowson Advowson () or patronage is the right in English law of a patron (avowee) to present to the diocesan bishop (or in some cases the ordinary if not the same person) a nominee for appointment to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice or church living, a ...

of St. Helen's Church at Sefton without interruption from about 1100 to 1700. Their successors, by then Earls, moved to

Croxteth Hall Croxteth Hall is a country estate and Grade II* listed building in the West Derby suburb of Liverpool, England. It is the former country estate and ancestral home of the Molyneux (surname), Molyneux family, the Earl of Sefton, Earls of Sefton. ...

. Of the Sefton Molyneux family, crusaders Richard (d. 1290) and William Molyneux (d. 1320) are entombed within the church, and are its oldest inhabitants. Their effigies now lie beneath an arch moulding set into the wall in the Molyneux chapel, which is outside the 14th-century church walls. In 1436 the office of Hereditary Steward of the Wapentake of Salfordshire was granted to Sir Robert Molyneux of Sefton. The office was held by Sir Robert's successors (descendants of his brother Richard), the Earls of Sefton until 1972. It was the Lancashire line of the family that became the Viscounts Molyneux and later the Earls of Sefton, while there were also branches seated at

and

The senior branch of the Sefton family had been staunch Catholics and Royalists (notably in the 17th and 18th centuries) through the worst times until Charles Molyneux, 8th Viscount Molyneux, was rewarded for converting to the Protestant faith. The relatively youthful second and third Viscounts fought on the Royalist side both politically and militarily. Although Liverpool Castle had been partly dismantled in 1660–1678, Caryll Molyneux, the 3rd Viscount, had used it for storing arms. During the reign of King James II, he was outlawed by Parliament for supporting the deposed king in 1688 to 1689. Control of the Castle finally passed out of Molyneux hands after Caryll had again been suspected of participation in a Jacobite plot. William, the 7th Viscount, was a Jesuit, and there were in his time not less than seven Molyneux in the

Society of Jesus The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rome. It was founded in 1540 ...

alone.

Variations

Variations of the surname include "Mullinax", "Mullenax", "Molinex", "Mullinix", "Mullenneix", "Mullennix", "Mullineaux", "Molinieux", "Molinaux", "Molineaux", "Mollineaux", "Molineux", "Mulleneux" among others.

Notable people with the name

Molyneux

David Molyneux David Hurst Molyneux CMG (born 1943) is a British parasitologist who served as the director of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (1991–2000), where, as of 2018, he is an emeritus professor. He previously held the Chair of Biological ...

(born 1943), British parasitologist, professor and former director of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine *

Echlin Molyneux Echlin Molyneux ( – 1886) was an Irish barrister, Queen's Counsel, County Judge for Meath, Professor of Equity at Dublin Law Institute, Professor of English Law, then dean of the law faculty at Queen's University Belfast. He was instrumental i ...

(c. 1800–1886), Irish barrister and professor of English Law, Dublin *

Edward Molyneux Edward Henry Molyneux () (5 September 1891 – 23 March 1974) was a leading British fashion designer whose salon in Paris was in operation from 1919 until 1950. He was characterised as a modernist designer who played with the refinements of co ...

(1891–1974), British fashion designer working in Paris *

Emery Molyneux Emery Molyneux ( ; died June 1598) was an English Elizabethan maker of globes, mathematical instruments and ordnance. His terrestrial and celestial globes, first published in 1592, were the first to be made in England and the first to be made ...

(died 1598), English Elizabethan maker of globes, mathematical instruments and ordnance * Irene Molyneux (1923–2019), English lawn bowls competitor *

Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton, formerly Viscountess Molyneux, (née Lady Isabella Stanhope; c. 1748 – 29 January 1819) was a British peeress and society figure. Biography Lady Isabella Stanhope was the second child of William Stanho ...

(c. 1748–1819), wife of the 1st Earl of Sefton *

James Molyneaux, Baron Molyneaux of Killead James Henry Molyneaux, Baron Molyneaux of Killead, Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, KBE, Privy Council of the United Kingdom, PC (27 August 1920 – 9 March 2015), often known as Jim Molyneaux, was a Unionism in Ireland, uni ...

(1920–2015), Northern Irish politician and leader of the UUP * John Molyneux (VC) (1890–1972), British soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross *

John Molyneux (disambiguation) John Molyneux may refer to: Politicians * John Molyneux (MP for Nottinghamshire) (died 1588), MP for Nottinghamshire * John Molyneux (MP for Liverpool), in 1584, MP for Liverpool * John Molyneux (MP for Wigan), represented Wigan (UK Parliament cons ...

, several people *

Joyce Molyneux Joyce Molyneux (17 April 1931 – 27 October 2022)Joyce Molyneux obit ...

(1931–2022), British chef *

Malcolm Molyneux Malcolm Edward Molyneux (20 November 1943 - 16 November 2021) was a British professor tropical medical researcher who specialised in malaria, especially cerebral malaria. He spent much of his career in Malawi, and was partially responsible for ...

(1943-2021), British malaria researcher *

Maxine Molyneux Maxine Deirdre Molyneux (born 24 May 1948 in Karachi, Pakistan) is a British sociologist whose work focuses on the women's movement. That women's interests and gender interests are different categories is the discovery for which Maxine Molyneux ...

(born 1948), British sociologist and feminist *

Paul Molyneux Paul Seymour Morthier Molyneux (12 January 1906 – 13 March 1980) played first-class cricket, first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club, Somerset in six matches in the 1937 season. He was born at Wells, Somerset, Wells, Somerset ...

(1906–1980), English cricketer *

Peter Molyneux Peter Douglas Molyneux (; born 5 May 1959) is an English video game designer and programmer. He created the god games '' Populous'', ''Dungeon Keeper'', and '' Black & White'', as well as ''Theme Park'', the ''Fable'' series, '' Curiosity: Wh ...

(born 1959), British computer game designer * Robert Molyneux (1738–1808), English-American priest, president of Georgetown University *

Samuel Molyneux Samuel Molyneux FRS (16 July 1689 – 13 April 1728) was an amateur astronomer and politician who sat in the British House of Commons between 1715 and 1728 and in the Irish House of Commons from 1727 to 1728. His work with James Bradley attempt ...

(1689–1728), British astronomer and Member of Parliament (son of William) *

Stefan Molyneux Stefan Basil Molyneux (; born September 24, 1966) is an Irish-born Canadian white nationalist podcaster and proponent of conspiracy theories, white supremacist, white supremacy, scientific racism, and the men's rights movement. He is the found ...

(born 1966), Canadian right-wing activist *

Stephen Molyneux Stephen Molyneux (born 24 February 1955) is a British educational technologist whose work as Microsoft Professor of Advanced Learning Technology and Apple Distinguished Educator has led to him influencing the use of technologies across the B ...

(born 1955), British educational technologist and Microsoft Professor Emeritus in Advanced Learning Technology *

Thomas Molyneux (statesman) Thomas Molyneux, or Molinel (1531–1597) was a French-born English statesman, who held high office in Ireland during the Elizabethan era. He founded a dynasty which produced several distinguished members, and became the Molyneux baronets of Cas ...

(1531–1597), French-born statesman in Ireland *

Sir Thomas Molyneux, 1st Baronet Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Molyneux, 1st Baronet FRS (14 April 1661 – 19 October 1733) was an Irish physician. Life Molyneux was the youngest son of Samuel Molyneux of Castle Dillon, County Armagh, Master Gunner of Ireland and his wife M ...

(1661–1733), Irish physician, great-grandson of the earlier Sir Thomas, and brother of William *

Tim Molyneux Tim Molyneux (born 1969) is an American actor, singer, writer, director, and show producer of musical and theatrical productions. He is best known for producing and writing the song and dance vampire production show ''Bite'' which showed at t ...

(born 1969), American actor, singer, writer, director and producer *

Tom Molyneux Thomas Molyneux (December 5, 1890 – February 21, 1955) was an English born Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played with the Toronto Shamrocks of the National Hockey Association. He also played with the Sherbrooke Saints in Sherbroo ...

(1890–1955), Canadian ice hockey player *

William Molyneux William Molyneux Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (; 17 April 1656 – 11 October 1698) was an Anglo-Irish writer on science, politics and natural philosopher, natural philosophy. He is noted as a close friend of fellow philosopher John Lock ...

(1656–1698), Irish natural philosopher, and father of Samuel * (''maternal'')

Lorraine Bracco Lorraine Bracco (born October 2, 1954) is an American actress best known for her performance as psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi on the HBO crime drama series ''The Sopranos'' (1999–2007) and for her breakthrough role portraying Karen Friedman Hil ...

's mother was an Englishwoman named Eileen Molyneux.

Viscount Molyneux

For ''Viscount Molyneux'' see

Earl of Sefton Earl of Sefton was a title in the Peerage of Ireland created in 1771 for the 8th Viscount Molyneux. The Earls of Sefton held the subsidiary titles Viscount Molyneux, of Maryborough (modern day Portlaoise) in the Queen's County (created 1628) ...

, and in particular: *

Richard Molyneux, 1st Viscount Molyneux Richard Molyneux, 1st Viscount Molyneux (1594–1636) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1629. Biography Molyneux was the son of Sir Richard Molyneux, 1st Baronet of Sefton and his wife ...

(1594–1636) *

Richard Molyneux, 2nd Viscount Molyneux Richard Molyneux, 2nd Viscount Molyneux of Maryborough, (about 1617–1654) was a Royalist officer in the English Civil War Biography Richard Molyneux was the son of Richard Molyneux, 1st Viscount Molyneux and Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Caryll o ...

(1620–1654) *

Caryll Molyneux, 3rd Viscount Molyneux Caryll Molyneux, 3rd Viscount Molyneux (1623/24 – 1700) was an English peer. Life He was the younger son of Richard Molyneux, 1st Viscount Molyneux and Mary Caryll, daughter of Sir Thomas Caryll of Bentone in Sussex. He inherited the title ...

(1624–1699) * William Molyneux, 7th Viscount Molyneux (1685–1759) *

Charles William Molyneux, 1st Earl of Sefton Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning wa ...

(1748–1794), previously 8th Viscount Molyneux * William Philip Molyneux, 2nd Earl of Sefton (1772–1838) * Charles William Molyneux, 3rd Earl of Sefton (1796–1855) * William Philip Molyneux, 4th Earl of Sefton (1835–1897) *

Charles Molyneux, 5th Earl of Sefton Charles William Hylton Molyneux, 5th Earl of Sefton, (25 June 1867 – 2 December 1901) was a British peer. Biography Molyneux was the eldest son of William Molyneux, 4th Earl of Sefton (1835–1897) by his wife Hon. Cecil Emily Hylton-Jolliffe, ...

(1867–1901) *

Osbert Molyneux, 6th Earl of Sefton Osbert Cecil Molyneux, 6th Earl of Sefton, (21 February 1871 – 16 June 1930), styled The Honourable Osbert Molyneux until 1901, was a British courtier and Liberal politician. He served as Master of the Horse under Sir Henry Campbell-Bann ...

(1871–1930) *

Hugh William Osbert Molyneux, 7th Earl of Sefton Hugh William Osbert Molyneux, 7th Earl of Sefton (22 December 1898 – 13 April 1972) was the last Earl of Sefton. His family seats were Croxteth Hall and Abbeystead House in Lancashire; he also held the Wyresdale Forest, an estate in the Forest ...

(1898–1972)

Molyneaux

''Molyneaux'' is a rare Irish spelling variant. People with this spelling variant include: *

James Molyneaux James Henry Molyneaux, Baron Molyneaux of Killead, KBE, PC (27 August 1920 – 9 March 2015), often known as Jim Molyneaux, was a unionist politician from Northern Ireland who served as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) from 1979 to ...

(1920–2015), Baron Molyneaux of Killead, Ulster politician *

Jerry Molyneaux Jerry Molyneaux (born 13 April 1958) is an athlete who represented the British Virgin Islands. Molyneaux was part of the first ever team to represent British Virgin Islands at the Summer Olympics when he competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics, he e ...

(born 1958), athlete who represented the British Virgin Islands at the 1984 Olympics * Jerry Molyneaux (sports administrator) (1955–2016), Irish Gaelic games player and administrator *

Joseph W. Molyneaux Joseph West Molyneaux (December 12, 1859 – January 24, 1940) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Education and career Born in Bellevue, Kentucky, Molyneaux received a Bachelor ...

, American federal judge *

Lee Molyneaux Lee Alexander Molyneaux (born 16 January 1983) is an English association football, footballer who plays as a Defender (association football), defender for Locks Heath F.C., Locks Heath. He is the former manager of Gosport Borough F.C., Gosport ...

, English footballer * Vince Molyneaux, American baseball player

Molineaux

Tom Molineaux Thomas Molineaux (March 23, 1784 – August 4, 1818), sometimes spelled Molyneaux or Molyneux, was an American bare-knuckle boxer and possibly a former slave. He spent much of his career in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, ...

(1784–1818), African-American bare-knuckle boxer *

Othello Molineaux Othello Molineaux (born 1939) is a jazz steelpan player who spent much of his early career with Jaco Pastorius. He was among the earliest musicians to adapt the steelpan to jazz. He has worked with Monty Alexander, Chicago, and David Johansen. C ...

(born 1939), Trinidadian jazz steelpan player

Molineux

* Thomas Molineux (luthier) (c.1700–1757), Irish luthier * Thomas Molineux (stenographer) (1759–1850), English stenographer *

William Molineux William Molineux ( 1713 – October 22, 1774) was a hardware merchant in colonial Boston of Irish people, Irish descent best known for his role in the Boston Tea Party of 1773 and earlier political protests. Popular culture He is a featured cha ...

(1717–1774), American participant in the

Boston Tea Party The Boston Tea Party was a seminal American protest, political and Mercantilism, mercantile protest on December 16, 1773, during the American Revolution. Initiated by Sons of Liberty activists in Boston in Province of Massachusetts Bay, colo ...

Sophie Molineux Sophie Grace Molineux (born 17 January 1998) is an Australian cricketer from Bairnsdale, Victoria. A left-arm orthodox bowling all-rounder, Molineux has been a member of the national women's team since 2018. At domestic level, she currently pla ...

(born 1998), Australian cricketer

Mollineux

* Mary Mollineux (1651–1696), English Quaker poet

Mullinix

* Tadd Mullinix, American musician performing as Dabrye *

Henry M. Mullinnix Henry Maston Mullinnix (July 4, 1892 – November 24, 1943) was a United States Navy aviator and admiral who served in World War I and World War II. Mullinnix was killed in action while commanding a Navy escort carrier division and task force ...

, aviator and Admiral of the United States Navy during World War II *

Siri Mullinix Siri Lynn Mullinix (born May 22, 1978) is an American retired soccer goalkeeper who is an assistant coach for the Clemson Tigers women's soccer team. As keeper for the 2000 U.S. women's Olympic soccer team, she recorded two shutouts helping the ...

, American soccer goalkeeper

Mullinax

Trey Mullinax Howard Travis "Trey" Mullinax III (born June 29, 1992) is an American professional golfer. Mullinax was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended and played golf at Gardendale High School. He played college golf at the University of Alabama wher ...

, American professional golfer

Others

Other persons bearing the name Molyneux : *

Lord Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard Lord Henry Thomas Howard-Molyneux-Howard (7 October 1766 – 17 June 1824), known as Henry Howard until 1812, and as Henry Molyneux-Howard until 1817, was a British gentleman who served as Deputy Earl Marshal in the latter part of the reign of G ...

, brother of 12th Duke of Norfolk * Molyneux Shuldham, 1st Baron Shuldham (c. 1717 – 1798), British naval officer and colonial governor of Newfoundland

References

{{surname, Molyneux Surnames of French origin Surnames of Norman origin French-language surnames Toponymic surnames Occupational surnames