Show ContentsMulvihill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The original Gaelic form of Mulvihill was O Maoilmhichil, which denotes a descendant of a devotee of St. Michael.

Early Origins of the Mulvihill family

The surname Mulvihill was first found in County Roscommon (Irish: Ros Comáin) located in central Ireland in the province of Connacht.

Early History of the Mulvihill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mulvihill research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1189 is included under the topic Early Mulvihill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mulvihill Spelling Variations

Before widespread literacy came to Ireland, a name was often recorded under several different variations during the life of its bearer. Accordingly, numerous spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name Mulvihill family name. Variations found include Mulvihil, O'Mulvihil, Mulvahil, Mulvahill, Mulvihill and many more.

Early Notables of the Mulvihill family

More information is included under the topic Early Mulvihill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mulvihill Ranking

In the United States, the name Mulvihill is the 10,729th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]


United States Mulvihill migration to the United States +

Thousands of Irish families left for North American shores in the 19th century. These people were searching for a life unencumbered with poverty, hunger, and racial discrimination. Many arrived to eventually find such conditions, but many others simply did not arrive: victims of the diseased, overcrowded ships in which they traveled to the New World. Those who lived to see North American shores were instrumental in the development of the growing nations of Canada and the United States. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Mulvihill:

Mulvihill Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Michael Mulvihill, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1854 [2]
  • Thomas Mulvihill, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1866 [2]
  • Daniel Mulvihill, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1870 [2]
  • James Mulvihill, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1876 [2]

Canada Mulvihill migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mulvihill Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Patrick Mulvihill, aged 3 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "George" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 [3]

Australia Mulvihill migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Mulvihill Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Mulvihill Mr. settled in New South Wales, Australia in 1823 [4]
  • William Mulvihill, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1849 [5]
  • William Mulvihill, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Prince Regent" [5]
  • Thomas Mulvihill, aged 33, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Wanderer" [6]
  • Thomas Mulvihill, aged 33, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Wanderer" in 1851 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Mulvihill (post 1700) +

  • Patricia "Trish" Mulvihill, American colorist in New York City, known for her work on Batman, 100 Bullets and Wonder Woman, recipient of the Eisner Award for Best Colorist in 2004
  • Mary Mulvihill (1959-2015), Irish scientist, radio television presenter, author and educator
  • Paddy Mulvihill (b. 1915), Irish long-distance runner at the 1948 Summer Olympics
  • Margaret Mulvihill (b. 1954), Irish writer from Dublin who has written four novels and many works of non-fiction
  • John Mulvihill (b. 1945), Irish Labour Party politician, Labour Party Teachta Dála for Cork East (1992-1997)
  • Liam Mulvihill (b. 1947), Irish former administrator from Keenagh, County Longford, 17th Director General of the Gaelic Athletic Association (1979-2008), Chairman of the Longford County Board (1970-1974), Vice-President of the Longford County Board (1969-1970)
  • Daráine Mulvihill (b. 1983), Irish television personality, voted Irish Person of the Year in 2001, daughter of Liam Mulvihill
  • Martin Mulvihill (1919-1987), Irish traditional musician, composer, teacher, and author from Ballygoughlin, County Limerick
  • Lou Mulvihill (b. 1952), Canadian bronze medalist sledge hockey player at the 1994 Paralympic Games from Renfrew, Ontario
  • Brian Mulvihill (b. 1947), former Australian rules footballer
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grover Shoe factory
  • Miss Elizabeth Mulvihill, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; she survived [7]
RMS Titanic
  • Miss Bridget Elizabeth "Bertha" Mulvihill, aged 25, Irish Third Class passenger from Athlone, Westmeath who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 15 [8]


The Mulvihill Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Pro aris et focis
Motto Translation: For our altars and our home.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 48)
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) "PRINCE REGENT" 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849PrinceRegent.htm
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WANDERER 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Wanderer.htm
  7. California Digital Newspaper from 21st March 1905 (retrieved on 5th August 2021.) Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19050321.2.19&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
  8. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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