Show ContentsMulant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Mulant originally appeared in Gaelic as either Ó Meallain, Ó Maolain or Mac Maolain. The first surname is derived from the word meall, which means pleasant. The second and third surnames are derived from maol, which means bald.

Early Origins of the Mulant family

The surname Mulant was first found in the province of Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn) where the Mullen, Mullin and Mullan spellings were popular. They were descended from the Kings of Connacht and are of the same basic stock as the O'Concannons. Branches were also found in Cork, Limerick, and Clare where the Mullane and Mullins spellings were the most frequent. Some were found north in Ulster and Tyrone and Derry. 1 This latter group is difficult to trace as the Scottish MacMullen or McMullen settled there during Cromwell's Plantation of Ulster.

Early History of the Mulant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mulant research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1660, 1720 and 1729 are included under the topic Early Mulant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mulant Spelling Variations

People who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Mulant that are preserved in archival documents are Mullan, Mullen, Mullin, Mullens, Mullins, O'Mullen, O'Mullan, O'Mullin, McMullen and many more.

Early Notables of the Mulant family

Notable among the family name at this time was Allan Mullen, M.D., (born c. 1660), one of the most eminent Irish anatomists; Dr. James Mullen, self educated doctor; Rev. John McMullen, Bishop...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mulant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Mulant family

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 Mulant to North America: D. B. Mullen settled in Philadelphia with his wife, son and servants, in 1807; Daniel, Bernard, Charles, Edward, Hugh,James, John, Margaret, Michael, Patrick, Peter, Thomas and William Mullen all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.



  1. MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)


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