Molloy, often seen as O’Molloy, is a Gaelic name of the chieftains of the Irish midlands.
Where does the Molloy name come from?
Molloy is an anglicised form of the Gaelic Ó Maolmhuaidh, “descendant of Maolmhuadh,” a personal name understood to mean something like “proud chief” or “noble.” It is nearly always written with the O prefix as O’Molloy in its older form.
The O’Molloys of Fir Cell
The O’Molloys were lords of Fir Cell, a territory in what is now County Offaly, and held a leading place among the Gaelic families of the midlands for many centuries. They traced descent from the same royal line as the kings of Tara. As an old Gaelic name of the midlands, Molloy is found today across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Did you know?
- Molloy comes from the Gaelic Ó Maolmhuaidh.
- The name is understood to mean “proud chief” or “noble.”
- The O’Molloys were lords of Fir Cell in Offaly.
- They were a leading family of the midlands.
- The name survives today in Ireland and across the diaspora.
Related Irish family names
You may also like Milligan, Morley, and Barry.
Carry the Molloy name with you
We craft heritage gifts for thousands of Irish and Scottish family names — mugs, woven blankets, ornaments and more. To find yours, type it into the search bar at the top of the page, or browse the Molloy collection here.
Frequently asked questions
Is Molloy an Irish surname?
Yes — Molloy, more often O’Molloy, is a Gaelic Irish surname, from Ó Maolmhuaidh, the lords of Fir Cell in Offaly.
What does Molloy mean?
It means “descendant of Maolmhuadh,” understood as “proud chief” or “noble.”
Is there a Molloy family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions; the crest and tartan artwork on our Molloy products is created as decorative heritage artwork to celebrate the name.
