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![Show Contents]() O'Mahony Surname History
- Origins Available:
 Ireland
The many Irish surnames in use today have long rich histories behind them. The name O'Mahony originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Mathghamhna, which is derived from the word mathghamhan, which means bear. 1 The modern Gaelic spelling is Ó Mahúna. "Hugh Gharbh (or Hugh the Terrible), a younger brother of Laeghaire who is No. 93 on the 'O'Donaghue' (of Lough Lein) pedigree, was the ancestor of O'Mathamhna; anglicized O'Mahony and Mahony." 2 Early Origins of the O'Mahony familyThe surname O'Mahony was first found in County Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) the ancient Kingdom of Deis Muin (Desmond), located on the southwest coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from ancient times. "The O'Mahonys were anciently located in Cork and Kerry, where they were powerful Chiefs and sometimes styled Princes. They had several castles along the sea-coast. In County Cork an O'Mahony was Lord of Ivaugh, in the Barony of West Carbery, and an O'Mahony was Chief in Kinalea Barony. In County Kerry there was a Chief of the name in the Barony of Iveragh, and there were O'Mahonys in the Barony of Clanmaurice. The majority of persons of the name of Mahony or O'Mahony are still found in these two counties." 3 The Book of Munster clearly states: "The O'Mahony family were 'undisputed kings of Raithlean, and had a right to be kings of Cashel whenever that kingdom happened to be vacant; and from whom the Kings of Cashel had no right to demand anything except a bowing of the head.' " 2 Early History of the O'Mahony familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Mahony research. Another 179 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1014, 1639, 1679 and 1987 are included under the topic Early O'Mahony History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. O'Mahony Spelling VariationsDuring the Middle Ages, attempting to record a Gaelic name in English was a daunting task. Most names were spelt by scribes solely based on how it sounded, one's name could have been recorded many different ways during the life of its bearer. Numerous spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name O'Mahony family name.Variations found include Mahoney, O'Mahoney, O'Mahony, Mahony and others. Early Notables of the O'Mahony familyAnother 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Mahony Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 O'Mahony migration to the United States | + |
Irish immigrants began to leave the English-controlled Ireland in sizable numbers during the late 18th century. Many of these Irish immigrated to British North America or the United States in the hopes of gaining their own tract of farmland. This pattern of migration grew steadily until the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine caused a great exodus of immigrants to North America. These immigrants differed from their predecessors in that they were desperately fleeing the disease and starvation that plagued their homeland, and many were entirely destitute when they arrived in North America. Although these penniless immigrants were not warmly welcomed when they arrived, they were critical to the rapid development of the United States and what would become known as Canada. Many went to populate the western frontiers and others provided the cheap labor the new manufacturing sector and the building of bridges, roads, railways, and canals required. A thorough examination of immigration and passenger lists has revealed some of the earliest people to arrive in North America with name O'Mahony or one of its variants:
O'Mahony Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Daniel O'Mahony, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Ballinishey, in 1906
- Annie O'Mahony, aged 27, who landed in America from Killarney, Ireland, in 1908
- Hannah O'Mahony, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Abbeyfeale, Ireland, in 1908
- Edward O'Mahony, aged 20, who landed in America from Castleisland, Ireland, in 1910
- Ellen O'Mahony, aged 25, who settled in America from Kilworth, Ireland, in 1910
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name O'Mahony (post 1700) | + |
- Florence "Flor" O'Mahony (1946-2023), Irish politician, Member of the Labour Party and Member of the European Parliament (MEP)
- David Tynan O'Mahony (1936-2005), better known as Dave Allen, an Irish observational comedian and satirist, known for sitting on stage making satirical funny jokes about religion
- Dermot Patrick O'Mahony (1935-2015), Irish Roman Catholic bishop
- John O'Mahony (1937-2012), Irish former sportsperson
- Barry O'Mahony (b. 1986), Irish rugby union player
- Eoin O'Mahony (b. 1962), Irish retired Gaelic footballer
- DeClan O'Mahony, Gaelic footballer
- Florence "Flor" O'Mahony (b. 1946), Irish former Labour Party politician
- Conor O'Mahony (b. 1984), Irish hurler
- Peter O'Mahony (b. 1989), Irish professional rugby union player
- ... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
- MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
- O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
- Matheson, Robert E., Special Report on Surnames in Ireland with Notes as to Numeric Strength, Derivation, Ethnology, and Distribution. Dublin: Alexander Thom & Co., 1894. Print
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O'Mahony migration to the United States 
