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Monahan History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Monahan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Many variations of the name Monahan have evolved since the time of its initial creation. In Gaelic it appeared as Ó Manachain, which is derived from the word "manach," which means "monk." 1

Early Origins of the Monahan family

The surname Monahan was first found in County Roscommon (Irish: Ros Comáin) located in central Ireland in the province of Connacht, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Monahan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Monahan research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1798 is included under the topic Early Monahan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Monahan Spelling Variations

The recording of names in Ireland during the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best. Since the general population did not know how to read or write, they could only specify how their names should be recorded orally. Research into the name Monahan revealed spelling variations, including Monaghan, Monahan, Monagham, Monahon, Monagan, Mongan, Monaugher, Monck and many more.

Early Notables of the Monahan family

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

Monahan Ranking

In the United States, the name Monahan is the 2,411^st most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 2

Monahan migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Monahan to North America:

Monahan Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Monahan, who arrived in Virginia in 1654 3

Monahan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward Monahan, aged 17, who arrived in New York, NY in 1806 3
Catherine Monahan, aged 20, who arrived in New York in 1854 3
John Monahan, who arrived in New York in 1864 3
Bridget Monahan, aged 7, who landed in New York in 1864 3
Sarah Monahan, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1864 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Monahan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Monahan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Patrick Monahan, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Trafalgar" from Galway, Ireland
Ann Monk Monahan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1843
James Monahan, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843
Michael Monahan, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843
Thomas Monahan, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843

Monahan migration to Australia +

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

Monahan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mary Monahan, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Telegraph"
Ellen Monahan, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Rodney" 4
Rose Monahan, aged 20, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Admiral Boxer"
Catherine Monahan, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Nugget" 5
Mary Monahan, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Nugget" 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Monahan (post 1700) +

William L. Monahan (d. 1965), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, 1935-37 6
Thomas F. Monahan, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Kings County 7th District, 1920 6
Sarah Monahan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 2004 6
Sara L. Monahan, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2000 6
Robert S. Monahan, American Republican politician, Member of New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Hanover; Elected 1956 6
R. C. Monahan, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Montana, 1928, 1932 6
Maureen Monahan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Nebraska, 2000, 2004 6
Mary Monahan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1984 6
Martin F. Monahan, American politician, Burgess of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, 1954-60 6
Marilyn Monahan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Hampshire, 1996 6
... (Another 23 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
South Australian Register Wednesday 21st February 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Rodney 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/rodney1855.shtml
South Australian Register. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Nugget 1858. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/nugget1858.shtml
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html