O'Moony History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of O'Moony

Gaelic, otherwise known as Early Modern Irish, was used in Ireland from around the year 1200 until the 18th century. It is from this language that we found the first references to the name O'Moony as Ó Maonaigh. This is derived from the word maonach, meaning wealthy. 1

Early Origins of the O'Moony family

Early History of the O'Moony family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Moony research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Moony History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Moony Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname O'Moony were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Mooney, Moony, O'Mooney, Meeny, O'Meany, Meany, O'Meeny, O'Mainy, Meaney and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Moony family

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

Migration of the O'Moony family

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the O'Moony family relocated to North American shores quite early: Andrew, Arthur, Catherine, Daniel, Hugh, James, John, Mary, Michael, Patrick, Richard, Thomas and William Mooney all arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1860.