Mooney is a family name which is probably predominantly derived from the Irish Ó Maonaigh, pronounced Om-weeneey. It can also be spelled Moony, Moonie, Mainey, Mauney,

Meaney Meaney is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Aislinn Meaney (born 1998), Irish association footballer * Audrey Meaney (1931–2021), English archaeologist and historian * Colm Meaney (born 1953), Irish actor * Con Meaney (1890� ...

and Meeney depending on the dialectic pronunciation that was anglicised.

Origins

The origin of the Moony or Mooney families is lost in antiquity. The name is derived from ''maoin'', a

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

word meaning ''wealth'' or ''treasure of treasure'', hence when O'Maonaigh was anglicised to Mooney it meant ''the descendant of the wealthy one.'' According to Irish lore, the Mooney family comes from one of the largest and most noble Irish lines. They are said to be descendants of the ancient Irish King Heremon, who, along with his brother Herber, conquered Ireland. Heremon slew his brother shortly after their invasion, took the throne for himself, and fathered a line of kings of Ireland that include Malachi II, and King Niall of the Nine Hostages. Baptismal records, parish records, ancient land grants, the

Annals of the Four Masters The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' ( ga, Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' (''Annála na gCeithre Máistrí'') are chronicles of medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or mediev ...

, and books by O'Hart, McLysaght, and O'Brien were all used in researching the history of the Mooney family name. These varied and often ancient records indicate that distant

sept A sept is a division of a family, especially of a Scottish or Irish family. The term is used in both Scotland and Ireland, where it may be translated as ''sliocht'', meaning "progeny" or "seed", which may indicate the descendants of a person ( ...

s of the name arose in several places throughout Ireland. The most known and most numerous sept came from the county of

Offaly County Offaly (; ga, Contae Uíbh Fhailí) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It is named after the Ancient Ireland ...

. The members of this sept were from Chieftain Monach, son of Ailill Mor, Lord of

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label=Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kin ...

, who was descended from the Kings of Connacht. These family members gave their name to town lands called Ballymooney both in that county and in the neighbouring county of

Leix County Laois ( ; gle, Contae Laoise) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and in the province of Leinster. It was known as Queen's County from 1556 to 1922. The modern county takes its name from Loígis, a medie ...

People with the surname

Al Mooney Albert W. Mooney (12 April 1906 – 7 May 1986) was a self-taught American aircraft designer and early aviation entrepreneur. He and brother Arthur Mooney founded the Mooney Aircraft Company in 1929. His first production design (first flight ...

(1906–1986), aircraft designer and founder of

Mooney Airplane Company The Mooney International Corporation (formerly Mooney Aviation Company, Inc. and the Mooney Aircraft Company) is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Kerrville, Texas, United States. It manufactures single-engined piston-powered general ...

Alex Mooney Alexander Xavier Mooney (born June 7, 1971) is an American politician serving since 2015 as the U.S. representative from . A member of the Republican Party, he represented the 3rd district in the Maryland State Senate from 1999 to 2011 and is ...

(born 1971), member of Congress from West Virginia *

Bel Mooney Beryl Ann "Bel" Mooney (born 8 October 1946) is an English journalist and broadcaster. She currently writes a column for the ''Daily Mail'', having previously written – mainly as a columnist – for other publications including the ''Daily Mirro ...

(born 1946), English journalist and broadcaster *

Brian Mooney Brian Mooney, (born 2 February 1966 in Dublin) is an Irish former footballer who made his name as a skilful winger in English football. Mooney was spotted in 1983 by Liverpool playing for Irish schoolboy club Home Farm F.C. where he had won a F ...

(born 1966), professional football player *

C. P. J. Mooney Charles Patrick Joseph Mooney (1865 – November 22, 1926) was an American newspaper publisher, becoming"one of the widest known newspapermen of the south". Born at Bardstown Junction, Kentucky Mooney was "tireless, combative and a devoutly Catho ...

(1865–1926), American newspaper publisher *

Cameron Mooney Cameron Mooney (born 26 September 1979) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne and Geelong Football Clubs in the Australian Football League (AFL). A forward, tall and weighing , Mooney is renowned for his ...

(born 1979), Australian rules footballer * Carol Ann Mooney (fl. 1970s–2010s), president of Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana *

Charles Mooney Charles Michael "Charlie" Mooney (born January 27, 1951) is a retired boxer from the United States, who won the silver medal in the bantamweight (– 54 kg) division at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. There he lost b ...

(born 1951), American boxer * Charles ("Chuck") W. Mooney Jr. (born 1947), American, the Charles A. Heimbold, Jr. Professor of Law, and former interim dean, at the University of Pennsylvania Law School *

Chris Mooney (basketball) Christopher Scott Mooney (born August 7, 1972) is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at the University of Richmond. Prior to taking the helm of the Spiders basketball program, he was the head coach at ...

(born 1972), American basketball coach * Clifton Mooney (born 1986), American Artist/ Photographer *

Darnell Mooney Darnell Mooney (born October 29, 1997) is an American football wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tulane. High School career Darnell Mooney went to Gadsden City High Scho ...

(born 1997), American football player *Darren Mooney (born 1984) Runner/ Triathlete *

Dave Mooney David Mooney (born 30 October 1984) is an Irish footballer who has played for several clubs in Ireland and the United Kingdom. As of 2019, he was playing as a striker for Leinster Senior League side Lucan United. Club career Shamrock Rovers M ...

(born 1984), professional football player * Debra Mooney (born 1947), American actress *

Edward Aloysius Mooney Edward Aloysius Mooney (May 9, 1882 – October 25, 1958) was an American cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Detroit from 1937 until his death, and was made a cardinal in 1946. Early life and ministry Edward Mo ...

(1882–1958), Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Detroit, former Bishop of Rochester *

Edward F. Mooney Edward F. Mooney (born 1941) is an internationally recognized Kierkegaard scholar. A retired professor of religion and philosophy, he taught at Sonoma State University, Syracuse University, and in Israel at Haifa and Tel Aviv Universities. As pr ...

(born 1941), noted Kierkegaard scholar and Professor of Religion at Syracuse University * Edward Joseph Mooney (born 1965), United States Air Force/Independent Duty Medic/Veteran of War on Terrorism *

Francie Mooney Francie is a given name, often a shortened form of Francis (male) or Frances (female). The name may refer to: People: *Francie Barrett (born 1977), Irish boxer *Francie Bellew (born 1976), Irish Gaelic footballer *Francie Brolly (born 1947), Nort ...

(1922–2006), musician, fiddler *

Hercules Mooney Hercules Mooney (1715–1800) was an Irish veteran of the French and Indian and American Revolutionary wars. Born to a catholic family from present day Co.Offaly, in 1733 he emigrated to the United States and settled in Dover, New Hampshire. ...

(1715–1800), American Revolutionary War colonel *

James Mooney James Mooney (February 10, 1861 – December 22, 1921) was an American ethnographer who lived for several years among the Cherokee. Known as "The Indian Man", he conducted major studies of Southeastern Indians, as well as of tribes on the ...

(1861–1921), anthropologist whose major works were about Native American Indians *

Jason Mooney (disambiguation) Jason Mooney may refer to: * Jason Mooney (Australian footballer) (born 1973), Australian rules footballer * Jason Mooney (Northern Irish footballer) (born 1989), Northern Irish professional footballer {{hndis, Coulson, Michael ...

, multiple people * John Mooney (disambiguation), multiple people *

Kathi Mooney Kathleen B. Mooney PhD, RN, FAAN is an American scientist, currently the Louis S. Peery and Janet B. Peery Presidential Endowed Chair in Nursing and Distinguished Professor of Nursing at the University of Utah. She is one of two co-leaders of t ...

(fl. 2010s–2020s), American scientist *

Kevin Mooney Kevin Paul Mooney (born 5 May 1962) is an English-Irish bassist and guitarist who has worked with Adam Ant, Sinéad O'Connor, and others. Career Born in the Greenwich area of London, Mooney began his musical career in 1977 with the English-Ir ...

(born 1962), Irish musician *

Kyle Mooney Kyle James Kozub Mooney (born September 4, 1984) is an American actor, comedian, and writer, who was a cast member of ''Saturday Night Live'' from 2013 until 2022. Mooney co-wrote and starred in the film '' Brigsby Bear'', in addition to co-crea ...

(born 1984), American comic actor, ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serve ...

'' *

Malcolm Mooney Malcolm Mooney (born 1944) is an American singer, poet, and artist, best known as the original vocalist for German krautrock band Can. Biography Mooney began singing in high school, and was a member of an a cappella vocal group known as the '' ...

(born 1944), original lead singer of rock group Can *

Matt Mooney Matthew Mooney (born February 7, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for Darüşşafaka Basketbol, Darüşşafaka Lassa of the Basketbol Süper Ligi, Basketball Super League (BSL) in Turkey. He played college basketball for the Te ...

(born 1997), American basketball player *

Melvin Mooney Melvin Mooney (1893–1968) was an American physicist and rheologist. Life Mooney was born in Kansas City, Missouri.J. H. Dillon (1948) J. Colloid Sci. 4 (3) 187-8 "Introduction of Melvin Mooney as E. C. Bingham Medallist" He achieved an A.B. ...

(1893–1968), American physicist, developed the Mooney viscometer and other testing equipment used in the rubber industry *

Paschal Mooney Paschal Canice Mooney (born 14 October 1947) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and a former member of Seanad Éireann. A journalist and broadcaster, he was first elected to the Seanad in 1987, on the Cultural and Educational Panel. He retaine ...

(born 1947), Irish politician *

Peter Mooney (conductor) Peter Mooney (18 September 1915 – 19 September 1983) was a Scottish educator and conductor of the renowned Glasgow Phoenix Choir. Born in 1915, Peter Mooney was to follow a career as a teacher of music and was to become the last principal of M ...

(1915–1983), Scottish educationalist and conductor (music) *

Peter Mooney (footballer) Edward "Peter" Mooney (born 22 March 1897) was an English professional footballer who played as a right half. Career Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Mooney played for Newcastle United, making over 120 appearances in the Football League The E ...

(1897–?), English professional footballer *

Paul Mooney (writer) Paul Mooney (November 4, 1904 – presumed dead after March 24, 1939) was a freelance journalist and photojournalist today best known for his collaborative work with adventurer and travel writer Richard Halliburton. Early life Born in Washing ...

(1904–1939), son of James Mooney *

Paul Mooney (comedian) Paul Gladney (August 4, 1941 – May 19, 2021), better known by the stage name Paul Mooney, was an American comedian, writer, and actor. He collaborated with Redd Foxx, Eddie Murphy and Dave Chappelle, wrote for comedian Richard Pryor and the ...

(1941–2021), American comedian, writer, and actor *

Ralph Mooney Ralph Mooney (September 16, 1928 – March 20, 2011) was an American steel guitar player and was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1983. He was the original steel guitarist in Haggard's band, the Strangers. A native of Duncan, Okl ...

(1928–2011), Bakersfield sound steel-guitar player who backed Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and others *

Robert Mooney Robert Henry Mooney (August 10, 1873 – January 30, 1953) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1922 to 1953. Early life Mooney was born on August 10, 1873 in Wingham, Ontario, the son of ...

(1873–1953), Canadian politician *

Sean Mooney Sean Edmund Mooney (born May 21, 1959) is an American news anchor and former World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) play-by-play announcer. He now works as an anchor for KVOA, the NBC affiliate in Tucson, Arizona and the National Wrestling A ...

(born 1959), sports reporter and former WWF announcer *

Shay Mooney Dan + Shay (the plus symbol substituting for an ampersand as an 'and' indicator) is an American country pop music duo composed of vocalists and songwriters Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney. They are signed to Warner Records Nashville and have releas ...

(fl. 2010s–2020s), singer of country duo

Dan + Shay Dan or DAN may refer to: People * Dan (name), including a list of people with the name ** Dan (king), several kings of Denmark * Dan people, an ethnic group located in West Africa ** Dan language, a Mande language spoken primarily in Côte d'Iv ...

* Shona Mooney (born c. 1984), Scottish fiddler *

Ted Mooney Edward Comstock Mooney (October 19, 1951March 25, 2022) was an American novelist and short story writer. He published four novels: ''Easy Travel to Other Planets'' (1981), ''Traffic and Laughter'' (1990), ''Singing into the Piano'' (1998), and ' ...

(1951–2022), American author *

Thomas Mooney Thomas Joseph Mooney (December 8, 1882 – March 6, 1942) was an American political activist and Trade union, labor leader, who was convicted with Warren K. Billings of the San Francisco Preparedness Day Bombing of 1916. It quickly became appa ...

(1882–1942), American labour leader from San Francisco, California *

Tim Mooney Tim Mooney (October 6, 1958 – June 13, 2012) was an American drummer, producer, and sound engineer. He drummed in the The Sleepers (San Francisco band), Sleepers, Toiling Midgets, Negative Trend, Sun Kil Moon and American Music Club. Musi ...

(1958–2012), American musician *

Tom Mooney (rugby league) Tom Mooney (born 16 March 1952) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s. He played in Sydney's New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership as a for the Manly-Warringah and South Sydney clu ...

(born 1952), Australian rugby league footballer *

Tommy Mooney Thomas John Mooney (born 11 August 1971) is an English former professional footballer who played mainly as a striker. He made more than 600 appearances in the Football League and Premier Leaguewith 250 for Watford and more than 100 for Scarb ...

(born 1971), professional football player *

Tony Mooney Anthony John Mooney AM is a former Australian politician who served as a city councillor of the City of Townsville, Queensland from 1977 to 2008, and the mayor from 1989 to 2008. Overview Cr. Tony Mooney was first elected as mayor in 1989 whe ...

(fl. 1970s–2010s), Australian politician *

Walter E. Mooney Walter E. Mooney (June 6, 1925 – March 1, 1990) was a MIT educated engineer, aircraft designer, pilot and model aircraft designer who lived in San Diego, California. He was well known professionally for his full scale aircraft efforts for Convair ...

(1925–1990), pilot and model aircraft designer * Charles A. Mooney (1993) , Funeral Director and Amateur Rugby Player

Fictional characters

*"Albert Mooney" is a character in the Irish folk-song "

I'll Tell Me Ma "I'll Tell Me Ma" (also called "The Wind") is a traditional children's song. It was collected in various parts of the United Kingdom in the 19th century and again appears in collections from shortly after the turn of the 20th century. In Irela ...

" *"Officer Mooney" is a police officer who interacts with Superman in the 1978 movie

References

{{surname Surnames of Irish origin

Origins

People with the surname

Fictional characters

See also

References