Moyniham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of Moyniham

The surname Moyniham is an anglicized version of the Irish name Ó Muimhneachain. 1

Early Origins of the Moyniham family

Early History of the Moyniham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Moyniham research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1659 is included under the topic Early Moyniham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Moyniham Spelling Variations

A name was often recorded during the Middle Ages under several different spelling variations during the life of its bearer because literacy was rare there was no real push to clearly define any of the languages found in the British Isles at that time. Variations found of the name Moyniham include Moynihan, Minihan, Minaghan, Moynaghan, Myneghane, Minighane, Munnighane, Minihane, Minnagh, Mimnagh, Moyna and many more.

Early Notables of the Moyniham family

Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Moyniham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Moyniham family

Irish families left their homeland in astonishing numbers during the 19th century in search of a better life. Although individual reasons vary, most of these Irish families suffered from extreme poverty, lack of work opportunities, and exorbitant rents in their homeland. Many decided to travel to Australia or North America in the hopes of finding greater opportunities and land. The Irish immigrants that came to North America initially settled on the East Coast, often in major centers such as Boston or New York. But like the many other cultures to settle in North America, the Irish traveled to almost any region they felt held greater promise; as a result, many Irish with gold fever moved all the way out to the Pacific coast. Others before that time left for land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula, or the Maritimes as United Empire Loyalists, for many Irish did choose to side with the English during the American War of Independence. The earliest wave of Irish migration, however, occurred during the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the Moyniham name: Daniel Moynihan, who was naturalized in Detroit in 1834; Timothy Minihan and his family, who immigrated to St. John, New Brunswick in 1834; James and John Moynagh, who were recorded in Nova Scotia in 1843.