The Maloney name springs from one of the great Dalcassian septs of the Clare countryside.
Where does the Maloney name come from?
Maloney is an anglicised form of the Irish Ó Maoldhomhnaigh, meaning "descendant of Maoldhomhnaigh" — a personal name usually understood as "devotee of the Church." The same Gaelic root lies behind the closely related spellings Moloney and Molony, all of which belong to the one family. The name is firmly rooted in the province of Munster.
The Maloneys of Clare
The Maloneys were a sept of the Dál gCais, the powerful kindred of Thomond from which the O’Briens and the High King Brian Boru also sprang. Their homeland lay in east County Clare, near the Tipperary border, and from there the name spread south and east through Limerick and Tipperary. Through centuries of change the family remained numerous in their native Munster, and the name is still strongly represented there today, as well as among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Did you know?
- Maloney comes from the Irish Ó Maoldhomhnaigh, often read as "devotee of the Church."
- The sept belonged to the Dál gCais, the kindred of Thomond linked to Brian Boru and the O’Briens.
- The family’s homeland lay in east Clare, close to the Tipperary border.
- Maloney, Moloney and Molony are all spellings of the same Gaelic name.
- The name remains common across Clare, Limerick and Tipperary today.
Related Irish family names
Carry the Maloney name with you
From woven blankets and mugs to ornaments and garden flags, our Maloney collection lets you display the family crest and tartan artwork of this proud Clare name. Search your surname in our store to see the full range for the Maloney family.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Maloney family come from in Ireland?
The Maloneys were a Dalcassian sept of east County Clare, near the Tipperary border, and the name spread widely through Munster.
What does the name Maloney mean?
It comes from the Irish Ó Maoldhomhnaigh, generally understood as "devotee of the Church." Moloney and Molony are variant spellings of the same name.
Is there a Maloney family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions; the crest and tartan artwork on our Maloney products is created as decorative heritage artwork to celebrate the name.
