A list of Irish surnames beginning with the letters M and N, from Madden to Nugent.
Madden
In Irish: O Madáin
Found in: Galway, Limerick, Longford, Offaly
Origin: Gaelic
Madáin means “small dog”.
Maguire
Variant: MacGuire, McGuire
In Irish: MacUidhir
Found in: Fermanagh, Ulster
Origin: Gaelic
Uidhit means “pale colored”.
Maher
Variant: Meaghar, Meagher.
In Irish: O Meachair
Found in: Laois, Kilkenny, Tipperary.
Origin: Gaelic
Means “hospitable”.
Mahony
Variant: Mahoney, O’Mahoney, O’Mahoney
In Irish: Ó Mahúna
Found in: Cork
Origin: Gaelic
From the name Mathghamhan who was son a 10th century prince and Brian Boru’s grandson.
Malone
Variant: Maloney
In Irish: Ó Maoileoin
Found in: Offaly, widespread
Origin: Gaelic
Maoileoin means “servant of St. John”.
Martin
Variant: Martyn, Kilmartin, Gilmartin
In Irish: Ó Martain, MacGiolla Martain, MacMartain
Found in: Galway
Origin: Norman
One of the 14 Tribes of Galway. Said to be descended from Olyver Martin, a Norman Crusader.
Molloy
Variant: Millea, Mulloy
In Irish: O Maolmhudaidh
Found in: Offaly, widespread.
Origin: Gaelic
Maolmhudaidh means “noble chief”.
Monaghan
Variant: Minogue, Monahan, Monk
In Irish: O Manacháin
Found in: Roscommon.
Manacháin means “monk”, so “son of the monk”. Mmm.
Mooney
Variant: Meany, Meeney, Moony.
In Irish: O Maonaigh
Found in: Offaly, Sligo, Ulster.
Origin: Gaelic
Maonaigh and mean both “wealthy” or “dumb (as in unable to speak)”.
Moore
In Irish: Ó Mórdha
Found in: Laois, widespread.
Origin: Gaelic
Mórdha means “noble”.
Moran
Variant: Murrin.
In Irish: O Móráin,
Found in: Galway, Mayo
Origin: Gaelic
Móráin means “large, great”.
Moriarty
Variant: Murdoch, Murtagh
In Irish: O Muircheartaigh
Found in: Kerry
Origin: Gaelic
Means “expert navigator”; very common in the Dingle peninsula.
Morrissey
In Irish: O Muirgheasa
Found in: Cork, Limerick, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford.
Origin: Gaelic
Mulcahy
In Irish: O Maol Chathaigh
Origin: Gaelic
Means “battle leader”
Mulhall
Variant: Mulcahill, Melville
In Irish: Ó Maolchathail
Found in: Clare, Laois
Descendant of a follower of St. Cathal
Mulrooney
In Irish: Maelranaidh
Origin: Gaelic
Mulligan
In Irish: Ó Maolagáin
Found in: Donegal, Mayo, Monaghan
Origin: Gaelic
Murphy
In Irish: Ó Morchoe
Found in: Sligo, Tyrone, Wexford. Widespread
Origin: Gaelic
Means “sea warrior”
Murray
In Irish: Ó Muireadhaigh
Origin: Gaelic
Neeson
Variant: McNeese
In Irish: MacNaois
Found in: Ulster
Origin: Scots-Gaelic
Son of Naois
Nolan
Variant: Nowlan
In Irish: O Nuaillain
Found in: Carlow, Kildare, West Cork.
Origin: Gaelic
Means “noble or famed”.
Nugent
Found in: Westmeath
Origin: Norman
Derived from the name of French town of Nogent.
13 Comments
I have several surnames from immigrants who came from Ireland and do not find them in most Irish surname web sites. They are McAninch, McElderry, McKinnon. I have tried using Mac and Mc with and withouit a space between the Mac and Mc and still no results. Also tried Mac/Mc Aoenghais and Mac/McAngus for McAninch and still no results. Any suggestions on where I might find origins of surnames and or meanings? All came to the United States prior to 1770. Thank you
Hello. I was born with the last name of Murphy. What a nightmare it has been to trace my ancestors. My 3 x great grandfather (Felix Murphy) immigrated to Australia before 1862. He married Mary Ann Kelly and on records here, show are both from Dublin, Ireland. There is no death certificate for Felix as he died in the bush (looks like he perished in the January heat in Queensland) From reports of the newspapers, he died between the ages of 36 to 40 (in 1878) and when Felix and Mary married a newspaper report said “Felix was the eldest son of Peter Murphy of Dublin and Mary was the 3rd daughter of Henry Kelly. I found Mary’s mums name was Jane French.I need help. Can anyone guide me to any info.
Kind Regards, Leisa
what in the world is a spammer. can you not see my e mail address?
I am really sorry, your original reply was incorrectly filtered as spam and is unfortunately lost forever now. I’ve made sure that won’t happen again.
I’m surprised to find my Cork-based (per family legend) surname (Meehan) is unlisted. I believe it is a derivative of O’Meighan, but that is not listed either.
Oh-well, this list never claimed to be exhaustive, I am just enjoying reading about all the ones I’ve never heard of. Thanks for putting this together!
The Norman surname ‘Mayor’ is also found in Ireland as well as in England and France. ‘Mayor’ is one of the versions of the Norman personal name ‘Mauger’ and the early ‘Mayor’ families were particularly close to the church with ‘Christ is my Anchor’ being the family motto.
My name is Motherway, I still have relatives in county Cork.
I can not find information on my family name, I have also looked under the gaelic translation, Motairuard. If you know what our name was origionally, how or why it changed and where I can find information please let me know. I would appriciate any help.
Thank you for your time
Renee Motherway
Dear Renee greetings! I have a lot of information om Motherways ……..a hobby of mine for years. Very little is available re the name itself. The most acceptanble explanation I give credence to is that it was originally a Gaelic name Modarbaigh which in gaelic means “a crop of yellow/blond hair” My Irish name in school was Nioclas Modharbaigh. This Gaelic name would have been Anglicised ( made English) as MOTHERWAY. If you wish to engage in some dialogue on this I would be happy to oblige. I live at Cork Ireland having retired from a lifetime of missionary service in Africa.
sincerely yours Nick Motherway
Nick I am a Motherway from the US; my grandfather was born in Ladysbridge. I’m heading over to Ireland next week, and wanted to look you up to chat. Would you be interested in meeting?
Please let me know
Melita
Rev Nicholas,
I have heard much about you from my aunt Lucille and my Mom’s family from Illinois (Margaret Ann Motherway). I think I met your Aunt in Ladysbridge about 20 years ago (she owned a house Behind the Motherway pub). I read that you were in Nigeria for a long time and then spent time in Kenya. I was working on the Motherway family history in the United States (Illinois, Missouri and New England). After my mother Margaret passed away in 2008 i put it aside. I’m starting to organize my notes again and I stumbled across this page so I thought I’d send you an e-mail. I have a letter dated August 24, 1970 to my cousin Nicholas Motherway in Chicago, Illinois. My great- grandfather was named Nicholas Motherway from Litchfield Illinois who married Mary Welsh from Lahinch, County Clare. My great great grandparents were Roger Motherway and Mary O’Brien both from County Cork. If my records are correct your father was John Motherway who married Hannah Finn. There are many Motherway families in America. I e-mailed Carmel Motherway one time many years ago and promised that I would stay at her B&B on my next trip, which hasn’t happened yet. If you have any information on the County Cork Motherways i would love to read about them. I hope that you are enjoying your retirement.
Hi Nick,
I am in search of info on my Great Grandparents from County Cork. My Great Grandfather’s name was John Motherway b. 1816. I believe his wife’s name was Mary McMahon. Any genealogical information you can provide on either the McMahon’s or the Motherway’s from Cork would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Kevin McMahon Cleary
Hello,
sorry to be a pain, but looking at this, my original surname was Motherway until we had it changed to my mothers name, and my dad’s side of the family, where the Motherway’s are from, mostly live in cork, so i was wondering if there was a possible chance we’re related?
Thanks
Looking for information on my Irish grandmother and her family. Name is John and Elizabeth McKissick Murphy, from Northern Irland. Settled in Philadelphia probably in 1860 or 70’s, grandmother Catherine Murphy born in 1883. Any help would be appreciated. This has been a deadend. Thank you.
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