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,

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 (pronounced for Irish Gaelic and for Scots Gaelic) is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". It may refer to: Languages * Gaelic languages or Goidelic languages, a linguistic group that is one of the two branches of the Insul ...

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'' () or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' () are chronicles of Middle Ages, medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Genesis flood narrative, Deluge, dated as 2,242 Anno Mundi, years after crea ...

, 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 both in Scotland and in Ireland, where it may be translated as Irish , meaning "progeny" or "seed", and 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 (; ) 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 honour of Philip II of Spain ...

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

Ulster Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...

, who was descended from the Kings of

Connacht Connacht or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, C ...

. These family members gave their name to town lands called Ballymooney both in that county and in the neighbouring county of

Leix County Laois ( ; ) 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 medieval kingdom. Histo ...

People with the surname

*James Mooney (Born 1976), Well know Dublin based poet. * Al Mooney (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 who served as the U.S. representative for from 2015 to 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he represented the 3rd district in the Maryland State Senate from 1999 to 20 ...

(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 (born 1966), professional football player * C. P. J. Mooney (1865–1926), American newspaper publisher * Cameron Mooney (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 by ...

(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 Richmond Spiders, Spiders basketball program, he was ...

(born 1972), American basketball coach *

Clifton Mooney Clifton may refer to: People *Clifton (surname) * Clifton (given name) Places Australia * Clifton, Queensland, a town ** Shire of Clifton * Clifton, New South Wales, a suburb of Wollongong * Clifton, Western Australia Canada * Clifton, Nova S ...

(born 1986), American Artist/ Photographer *

Darnell Mooney Darnell Mooney (born October 29, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tulane Green Wave and was selected by the Chicago Bears ...

(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 Debra Mooney is an American character actress, best known for her role as Edna Harper on The WB drama series '' Everwood'' (2002–06). Mooney is also known for her recurring roles in ''Scandal'', ''Grey's Anatomy'' and '' The Originals''. Lif ...

(born 1947), American actress *

Edward Aloysius Mooney Edward Aloysius Mooney (May 9, 1882 – October 25, 1958) was an American Catholic prelate who was Archbishop of Detroit from 1937 until his death in 1958. He was made a cardinal in 1946. He previously served as an apostolic delegate to Ind ...

(1882–1958), Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Detroit, former Bishop of Rochester * Edward F. Mooney (born 1941), noted Kierkegaard scholar and Professor of Religion at Syracuse University *

Edward Joseph Mooney Edward is an English male name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortunate; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-S ...

(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 (disambiguation), 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 ...

(1922–2006), musician, fiddler * Hercules Mooney (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 Great ...

(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) John Mooney may refer to: *John Mooney (activist) (born 1966), American activist, Vice-President of Transport Workers Union in New York City *John Mooney (basketball) (born 1998), American basketball player *John Mooney (cricketer) (born 1982), Iri ...

, multiple people * Kathi Mooney (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 comedian, actor, screenwriter and film director. Mooney was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' from 2013 to 2022. In 2017, he co-wrote and starr ...

(born 1984), American comic actor, ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...

'' *

Malcolm Mooney Malcolm "Desse" Mooney (born 1944) is an American singer, poet, and artist, best known as the original vocalist for German krautrock band Can (band), Can. Biography Early life Malcolm Mooney's father, after serving in the navy, became a jazz pia ...

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

Matt Mooney Matthew Marren Mooney (born February 7, 1995) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Texas Tech Red Raid ...

(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. ...

(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 people, 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 Pan ...

(born 1947), Irish politician * Peter Mooney (conductor) (1915–1983), Scottish educationalist and conductor (music) * Peter Mooney (footballer) (1897–?), English professional footballer * Paul Mooney (writer) (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 t ...

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

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

(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 o ...

(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 All ...

(born 1959), sports reporter and former WWF announcer * Shay Mooney (fl. 2010s–2020s), singer of country duo

Dan + Shay Dan + Shay is an American country pop duo composed of vocalists and songwriters Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney. They are signed to Warner Records Nashville and have released six albums, '' Where It All Began'', '' Obsessed'', '' Dan + Shay'', '' ...

* Shona Mooney (born c. 1984), Scottish fiddler * Ted Mooney (1951–2022), American author *

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

(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 club ...

(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 Scarbo ...

(born 1971), professional football player * Tony Mooney (fl. 1970s–2010s), Australian politician * Walter E. Mooney (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 Ireland ...

" *"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