Mooney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Mooney family came to North America quite early:

Mooney Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Richard Mooney, who landed in Virginia in 1715 6

Mooney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Nicholas Mooney, who landed in America in 1800 6
• James Mooney, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1810 6
• Bridget Mooney, who landed in Newport, Rhode Island in 1811 6
• Martin Mooney, aged 40, who landed in Maine in 1812 6
• Cornelius Mooney, aged 43, who arrived in Maryland in 1812 6
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mooney Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Lawrence Mooney, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
• Will Mooney was a laborer in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1779 7
• James Mooney was a fisherman of St. John's, Newfoundland in 1782 7
• Bartholomew Mooney, an Irish convict settled in Petty Harbour, Newfoundland in 1789 7

Mooney Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Pat Mooney, who settled in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland in 1810 7
• Eleanor Mooney, from County Waterford, Ireland was married in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1828 7
• David Mooney, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833
• Betty Mooney, aged 50, who arrived in Quebec in 1834
• Mathias Mooney, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1836
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mooney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Charles Mooney, (b. 1769), aged 50, Irish labourer who was convicted in Leitrim, Ireland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Castle Forbes" on 3rd October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
• Mr.Richard Mooney, (b. 1799), aged 20, Irish labourer who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Bencoolen" on 24th April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia before being transferred to Tasmania via the "Admiral Cockburn", listed as possible died in 1819 when drowned 9
• Mr.Terence Mooney, (b. 1789), aged 30, Irish labourer who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Bencoolen" on 24th April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia before being transferred to Tasmania via the "Admiral Cockburn" 9
• John Mooney, a carpenter, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
• Mr. Charles Mooney, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 25th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mooney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. James Mooney, British settler arriving as the 1st detachment of Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps travelling from Tilbury, Essex aboard the ship "Ramillies" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 6th August 1847 11
• Mrs. Ann Mooney, British settler travelling from Tilbury, Essex aboard the ship "Ramillies" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 6th August 1847 11
• Mr. Edward Mooney, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Anne Longton" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th October 1857 12
• Mr. Thomas Mooney, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Anne Longton" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th October 1857 12
• Mr. James Mooney, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Anne Longton" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th October 1857 12
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• John Leon Joseph Mooney (1938-2023), birth name of Johnny Powers, an American guitar player, singer, writer and producer specializing in rockabilly, best known for his 1957 recording of "Long Blond Hair"
• Ted Mooney (1951-1952), American novelist and short story writer born in Dallas, Texas. who published four novels: Easy Travel to Other Planets (1981), Traffic and Laughter (1990), Singing into the Piano (1998), and The Same River Twice (2010), recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1983
• Paul Mooney (1941-2021), stage name of Paul Gladney, an American comedian, writer, social critic, and actor, best known as a writer for comedian Richard Pryor
• John Joseph Mooney (1930-2020), American chemical engineer who was co-inventor of the three-way catalytic converter
• John J. "J.D." Mooney (d. 1966), American jockey and trainer who won the 1924 Kentucky Derby
• Paul A. Mooney (1975-1987), American sports executive, President of the Boston Bruins and Boston Garden
• Art Mooney (1911-1993), American bandleader whose biggest hits were "I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover" and "Baby Face" and "Nuttin' For Christmas"
• Edward Aloysius Mooney (1882-1958), American Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
• Harold "Hal" Mooney (1911-1995), American composer and arranger who in his later years became famous as a musical director for shows of the 1970s, including Columbo, Marcus Welby, M.D., Ellery Queen and The Six Million Dollar Man
• Joe Mooney (1911-1975), American jazz and pop accordionist and organist, active in the 1930s through the 1940s
• ... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• Mooney-Garner Ancestry by George W. Mooney.
• The Applings, the Mooneys, Through the Years, 1685-1976 by Esther Gambrell Deviney.