Show ContentsMahone History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In its ancient Gaelic form, the Irish name Mahone was written Mac Mathghamhna, which later became Mac Mathuna. Both names are derived from the word "mathghamhan," which means "bear."

Early Origins of the Mahone family

The surname Mahone was first found in County Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where the MacMahons were lords of Corca Baisgin; and possessed the greater part of the baronies of Moyarta and Clonderlaw. [1]

"The Munster MacMahons formerly possessed the greater part of the Baronies of Moyarta and Clonderalaw, in the County Clare, in which county the predominant name now is McMahon." [2]

Early History of the Mahone family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mahone research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1119, 1519, 1600, 1606, 1643, 1644, 1650, 1660, 1680, 1707, 1715, 1727, 1737, 1747 and 1780 are included under the topic Early Mahone History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mahone Spelling Variations

During 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 Mahone family name.Variations found include MacMahon, MacMann, MacMahan, MacMohan and others.

Early Notables of the Mahone family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Séamus mac Pilib Mac Mathghamhna (died 1519), was Bishop of Derry. Hugh Oge MacMahon (1606-1644), was an Irish conspirator, was probably of Sir Brian MacHugh Oge MacMahon, Lord of the Dartree in the county of Monaghan. Herber MacMahon (1600-1650), Bishop of Clogher in 1643, a Catholic leader, commanded the Ulster...
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mahone Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mahone Ranking

In the United States, the name Mahone is the 6,748th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [3]


United States Mahone 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 Mahone or one of its variants:

Mahone Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jeane Mahone, who landed in Maryland in 1668 [4]
Mahone Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Michael Mahone, aged 7, who arrived in New York in 1849 [4]
  • Winefred Mahone, aged 40, who arrived in New York in 1849 [4]
  • Catherine Mahone, aged 9, who arrived in New York in 1849 [4]
  • Edward Mahone, aged 20, who landed in New York in 1849 [4]
  • Ellen Mahone, aged 5, who arrived in New York in 1849 [4]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Mahone migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mahone Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Felix Mahone, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Judith Mahone, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Margaret Mahone, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Thomas Mahone, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750

New Zealand Mahone migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Mahone Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Alexander Mahone, Scottish settler travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Philip Laing" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 15th April 1848 [5]
  • Mrs. Mahone, Scottish settler travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Philip Laing" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 15th April 1848 [5]
  • Mr. Robert Mahone, Scottish settler travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Philip Laing" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 15th April 1848 [5]
  • Miss Kate (Catherine) Mahone, Scottish settler travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Philip Laing" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 15th April 1848 [5]

Contemporary Notables of the name Mahone (post 1700) +

  • William Mahone Jr. (1856-1927), American businessman and government official, son of Otelia Butler Mahone
  • Ernest "Mark" Mahone (b. 1961), American pediatric neuropsychologist, Director of the Department of Neuropsychology at Kennedy Krieger Institute
  • Robert Butler Mahone (1858-1914), American diplomat, Consul of the United States at Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, son of Otelia Butler Mahone
  • Michele Mahone (b. 1971), American television entertainment reporter
  • Otelia Butler Mahone (1835-1911), American nurse during the American Civil War, wife of William Mahone, she was known as the "Hero of the Battle of the Crater"
  • Austin Mahone (b. 1996), American pop singer
  • Major General William "Little Billy" Mahone (1826-1895), American civil engineer, teacher, soldier, railroad executive, and a member of the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Congress


The Mahone 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: Sic nos sic sacra tuemur
Motto Translation: Thus we guard our sacred rights.


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
  2. 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
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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