Show ContentsMallon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish surnames are all based on the Gaelic language native to Ireland. The original Gaelic form of the name Mallon is Ó Meallain, which is derived from the word meall, which means pleasant.

Early Origins of the Mallon family

The surname Mallon was first found in County Tyrone (Irish:Tír Eoghain), the ancient territory of the O'Neills, now in the Province of Ulster, central Northern Ireland, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Mallon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mallon research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mallon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mallon Spelling Variations

The Middle Ages saw a great number of spelling variations for surnames common to the Irish landscape. One reason for these variations is the fact that surnames were not rigidly fixed by this period. The following variations for the name Mallon were encountered in the archives: Mallon, O'Mallon, O'Malin, O'Mellan, Malin, Mellan and many more.

Early Notables of the Mallon family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was

  • Mallon, Chief of O'Mellon's Country

Mallon Ranking

In the United States, the name Mallon is the 8,039th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Mallon migration to the United States +

A great mass of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century, seeking relief from various forms of social, religious, and economic discrimination. This Irish exodus was primarily to North America. If the migrants survived the long ocean journey, many unfortunately would find more discrimination in the colonies of British North America and the fledgling United States of America. These newly arrived Irish were, however, wanted as a cheap source of labor for the many large agricultural and industrial projects that were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the western world. Early immigration and passenger lists indicate many people bearing the Mallon name:

Mallon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Michael Mallon, aged 33, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1804 2
  • Michael Mallon, who arrived in America in 1804 2
  • John Mallon, who arrived in America in 1810 2
  • Hugh Mallon, who landed in New York in 1828 2
  • V Mallon, aged 35, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Mallon Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Thomas Mallon, who arrived in Arkansas in 1904 2

Mallon migration to Australia +

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

Mallon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Mallon, a nailor, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • Mr. Felix Mallon, (b. 1811), aged 20, Irish labourer who was convicted in County Tyrone, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Captain Cook" on 5th November 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3
  • Abraham Mallon, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1848 4
  • Thomas Mallon, aged 26, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Northern Light" 5
  • Catherine Mallon, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Australia"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mallon 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:

Mallon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Charles Mallon, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Woodlark" in 1873
  • Leanagh Mallon, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Woodlark" in 1873
  • Eliza Mallon, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Woodlark" in 1873
  • Robert Mallon, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Woodlark" in 1873
  • Jane Mallon, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Woodlark" in 1873
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Mallon (post 1700) +

  • Major-General Francis Bernard Mallon (1886-1983), American Commanding General Army Ground Forces Depot (1943-1945) 6
  • George H. Mallon (1877-1934), officer in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I
  • Brian Mallon (b. 1952), Irish-American film and theater actor
  • Thomas Mallon (b. 1952), American novelist and critic, recipient of the Ingram Merrill Award in 1994
  • Meg Mallon (b. 1963), American LPGA professional golfer
  • John M. Mallon Jr., American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from New London; Elected 1926 7
  • John J. Mallon, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1948 7
  • John H. Mallon, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Erie County 5th District, 1907 7
  • John Mallon, American politician, Member of New Jersey State Senate from Passaic County, 1889-91 7
  • Edward J. Mallon, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Erie County 7th District, 1928 7
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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


  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. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/captain-cook
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DAVID MALCOLM - EMIGRANT SHIP - 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848DavidMalcolm.htm
  5. South Australian Register Monday 9th April 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Norther Light 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/northernlight1855.shtml
  6. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, April 11) Francis Mallon. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Mallon/Francis_Bernard/USA.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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