Surname Mullaly - Meaning and Origin
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Mullaly: What does the surname Mullaly mean?
The last name Mullaly is of English and Irish origin, likely derived from the Olde English personal name ‘Moll’, and that from mol ‘bald’ or ‘bald-headed’. The name may have been given to someone with distinguishingly fair or pale hair.
Mullaly is also a derivative of the Old Irish name O’Maolalaidh, which was used for those who were the descendants of Maolalaidh, a famous Irish chieftan in the 12th century. This name is derived from the first name ‘Maol’, meaning ‘servant of the church’, and the suffix ‘laidh’, meaning ‘howling’ or ‘raven’.
Mullaly is said to have been first used as a surname in the mid-13th century by the Sweeney family in County Mayo, Ireland. The Sweeney family were known to have lived around the fiords and mountains of Mayo and Sligo and the islands of Doe and Achill.
The spelling of the name has changed over time, for example an Edinburgh family recorded as ‘Maillewa lochier’ in the late 15th century and ‘Mulally’ in 1620.
Today, the surname Mullaly still exists in Ireland and Scotland, as well as in other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Order DNA origin analysisMullaly: Where does the name Mullaly come from?
The last name Mullaly is commonly found in Ireland and Scotland. It is a variant of the name Mullally, a surname derived from the Irish Ó Maolalaigh sept of Counties Mayo and Galway. It is still quite common in the west of Ireland, especially in counties Galway and Mayo. It is also found with some frequency in Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, and Cork.
Throughout Scotland, the surname is more frequent in the central and southeastern regions, especially in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Those who bear it are likely of Irish descent. The spelling Mullaly differs in the U.S. and Canada, likely due to the tendency for Americans and Canadians to abbreviate Irish surnames. In some parts of the United States, the name Mullaly has been Americanized to Mally or Malloy.
Despite this, Mullaly is still quite common in the United States, particularly on the East, West, and Gulf Coasts. According to a 1990 United States federal census, the Mullaly last name ranked at approximately 8993 on the list of most popular surnames, and it continues to climb in popularity each year. This indicates that more and more individuals are embracing the surname as their own.
Variations of the surname Mullaly
Mullaly is an Irish surname.
Variants: Mullaley, Mullally, Mullily
Spellings: Mallaly, Mallaley, Mallally, Mallily
Surnames of Same Origin: Molloy, Mulloy, O'Molloy, O'Maolmhuaidh, Mullee
Mullaly is derived from the Irish surnames of O'Maolmhuaidh, or Ó Maolmhuaidh' which means "descendant of Maolmhuaidh". Maolmhuaidh was a form of the Irish name Maelmaedoc, which originated from the Gaelic word for "guardian of the chief, leader or hero". This surname possibly emerged in County Leitrim or County Armagh in Ireland.
Mullaly is also found as the name of an area in County Leitrim. It is unclear whether the surname itself originated here, or whether the location took its name from families with the surname who had come to settle in the area.
Many variants and spellings of Mullaly exist, including Mallaly, Mullaley, Mullally, and Malliley. These variations are phonetic variants, arising from changes in pronunciation or transcription from Gaelic to English. Mulloy, Molloy, O'Molloy, O'Maolmhuaidh, and Mullee are further surnames of the same origin.
Today, Mullaly is a relatively uncommon surname in Ireland. The name is more common in the United States, where it was brought by Irish immigrants.
Famous people with the name Mullaly
- Sean Mullaly: American actor best known for his role as Xander Armand in The Gifted.
- Melissa Mullaly: American former tennis player.
- Carolyn Mullaly: Irish singer-songwriter and actress.
- Dennis Mullaly: former Australian rugby league footballer.
- Braedon Mullaly: Canadian actor and producer, best known for his role in Premonitions.
- Al Mullaly: English television presenter and radio producer.
- William Mullaly: former member of the Australian House of Representatives.
- Eric Mullaly: American beach volleyball player with over 8 years of experience.
- Channon Mullaly: Scottish singer and dancer, best known for her role on the TV show Remarkable Women.
- Rob Mullaly: Canadian actor and director, well-known for appearing on the TV show Blacklist.