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Mahoney History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Mahoney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The many Irish surnames in use today have long rich histories behind them. The name Mahoney 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 Mahoney family

The surname Mahoney 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 Mahoney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mahoney research. Another 179 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1014, 1639, 1679 and 1987 are included under the topic Early Mahoney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mahoney Spelling Variations

The spelling of one's surname was not as important as it is today. Names were recorded as they sounded and in many cases, one's surname changed with each listing. As a result, surnames often had many spelling variations. For Mahoney some of these variations included: Mahoney, O'Mahoney, O'Mahony, Mahony and others.

Early Notables of the Mahoney family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

Count Daniel Mahoney, General of the Irish Brigade in France

Mahoney World Ranking

In the United States, the name Mahoney is the 1,071^st most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. 4 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Mahoney is ranked the 354^th most popular surname with an estimated 131 people with that name. 5 And in Australia, the name Mahoney is the 677^th popular surname with an estimated 5,794 people with that name. 6

Mahoney migration to the United States +

Irish families fled the English-colonized Ireland in record numbers during the 19th century for North America. Many of those destitute families died from disease during, and even shortly after, the long journey. Although those that immigrated before the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s often were granted a tract of land, those that arrived later were generally accommodated in urban centers or in work camps. Those in the urban centers would labor in the manufacturing sector, whereas those in work camps would to build critical infrastructures such as bridges, canals, roads, and railways. Regardless of when these Irish immigrants came to North America, they were critical for the rapid development of the young nations of the United States and Canada. Early immigration and passenger lists have recorded many early immigrants bearing the name of Mahoney:

Mahoney Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Lawrence Mahoney, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 7
Mary Mahoney, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1772 7
James Mahoney, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 7
Cornelius Mahoney, who landed in New Jersey in 1775 7

Mahoney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael Mahoney, who landed in Mobile County, Ala in 1841 7
Florence Mahoney, aged 25, who landed in Missouri in 1844 7
J Mahoney, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
D Mahoney, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
Micheal Mahoney, who arrived in Arkansas in 1854 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mahoney migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mahoney Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Maurice Mahoney, who settled in Bonavista in 1814
Francis Mahoney, aged 17, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
Mrs. Catherine Mahoney, aged 28 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Wakefield" departing 28th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 12th July 1847 but she died on board 8
Mr. Daniel Mahoney, aged 23 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Henry Pottinger" departing 29th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 7th August 1847 but he died on board 8
Mr. David Mahoney, aged 25 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Scotland" departing 13th April 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 8th June 1847 but he died on board 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mahoney migration to Australia +

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

Mahoney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Mahoney, (b. 1791), aged 25, English black smith who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1828 9
Miss Mary Mahoney, (b. 1809), aged 17, Irish house servant who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 3rd October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. John Mahoney, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 14th August 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mrs. Mary Mahoney, (b. 1809), aged 27, English laundress who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 20th June 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, 2 children on board with her 12
Miss Mahoney, (b. 1835), aged 10 months, English settler traveling with convict mother Mrs. Mary Mahoney, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 20th June 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mahoney 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:

Mahoney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Mahoney, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
T Mahoney, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
Mr. Michael Mahoney, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 24th June 1854 13
Mrs. Mary Mahoney, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 24th June 1854 13
Miss Joanna Mahoney, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 24th June 1854 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Mahoney (post 1700) +

Edward Joseph Mahoney (1949-2019), birth name of Eddie Money, an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who had a string of Top 40 hits and platinum albums, known for songs like "Baby Hold On", "Two Tickets to Paradise", "Think I'm in Love" and more
John Mahoney (1940-2018), English-born, American two-time Golden Globe nominated stage, film, voice and television actor, born in Bispham, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, best known for his role as the crusty blue-collar patriarch Martin Crane in the American sitcom Frasier (1993-2004)
Robert D. Mahoney (1921-2017), American politician, Member of the Michigan House of Representatives (1955-1972)
Balls Mahoney (1972-2016), ring name of Jonathan Rechner, an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling
George Mahoney (b. 1865), American fireman first class serving in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery
Emily Marie Mahoney (1924-2016), American All-American Girls Professional Baseball League outfielder who played from 1947 through 1948 in the
Mark Mahoney, American Journalist awarded the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing
Joan Mahoney (b. 1943), American legal, Dean of Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, Michigan (1998-2003) and Dean of Western New England College School of Law (1994-1996)
William B. Mahoney (1912-2004), American prize-winning journalist and writer
John Christopher Mahoney (1882-1952), Irish-born, American federal judge
... (Another 112 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Mahoney family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Owen Felix Mahoney, British Canteen Assistant, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking, also sailed aboard the HMS Stronghold 14

Pemberton Mill

Miss Ellen Mahoney, factory worker in the Pemberton Mill on 10th January 1860 when the mill collapsed trapping 900 workers as rescue attempts continued into the night, an oil lantern was knocked over further engulfing the trapped workers in fire, she survived but her legs were crushed, she later died of her injuries

SS Atlantic

James Mahoney, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

Citations +

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
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
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)
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. 85)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/brothers
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html