McMahon or MacMahon ( /məkˈmɑːn/, /məkˈmæn/, /məkˈmeɪən/, /məkˈmɑːn/) (older Irish orthography: Mac Mathghamhna reformed Irish orthography: Mac Mathúna) is an Irish surname. The surname arose separately in two areas: in west County Clare and in County Monaghan. The County Monaghan (Airgíalla) MacMahons are not related to the County Clare (Thomond) MacMahons.
The Thomond MacMahons were part of the great tribal grouping, the Dál gCais, and claimed descent from Mahon O'Brien, grandson of Brian Ború. The last chief of the name was killed at the battle of Kinsale in 1602, and the chiefly line became extinct.
After the defeats of the native Irish in 17th century, many of the Clare MacMahons emigrated to serve in the Irish Brigade of the French Army. John Baptiste MacMahon, descended from the MacMahon female line, took on the surname of MacMahon and was the son of one of the original members of the Irish Brigade. He was made Marquis d’Eguilly by Louis XV. He had wanted to marry into a noble family but had to prove he was a noble. The name was changed through the female line because France recognised the line through a female, unlike Ireland to this day.
His grandson, Patrice de MacMahon (1808–1893), was created Duke of Magenta, became a field marshal and later the French president. The MacMahon family are still prominent in France; the family home is the Château de Sully outside Bordeaux.
The Oriel (Anglicisation of Airgíalla) MacMahons were based in the barony of Truagh in the north of County Monaghan and ruled the kingdom of Oriel between the thirteenth and the sixteenth centuries. Their last chief, Hugh Oge MacMahon, who had become a lieutenant-colonel in the Spanish army, was beheaded by the English in 1641. A separate McMahon family in County Fermanagh is descended from Mahon Maguire, a grandson of Donn Carrach Maguire. Today, although widespread throughout Ireland, MacMahon remains most common in the two ancestral homelands of Counties Clare and Monaghan.
John O'Hart notes that the MacMahons (sometimes there O'Mahons) were earlier chiefs of the over-kingdom of Ulaid, which then bordered Airgíalla.
Niall McMahon (Ladrannaibh, or the bandit), (early 12th century)Ross Bui McMahon (late 16th century)Brian Mac Hugh Og of the Dartrey MacMahons (late 16th century)Raymond McMahon of the Killyleen Mc Mahons (late 17th century)Nicholas McMahon of the Cluaincoinin Mc Mahons (early 19th century)Patrick McMahon of the Cluaincoinin Mc Mahons (late 19th century)Martin McMahon [Motto] of the Cluaincoinin Mc Mahons (early 20th century)John McMahon [Jack Martin]of the Cluaincoinin Mc Mahons (late 20th century)The motto of the Thomond sept of McMahons is "Sic Nos Sic Sacra Tuemur", which means "Thus We Defend Our Sacred Rights".
"McMahon" is the family name of the following people:
Aline MacMahon (1899–1991), American actressBernard MacMahon (bishop) (1680–1747), Irish bishopBernard MacMahon (filmmaker), contemporary British filmmakerBrian MacMahon (1923–2007), British-American epidemiologistBryan MacMahon (judge) (born 1941), Irish judgeBryan MacMahon (writer) (1909–1998), Irish playwright, novelist and short story writerHeber MacMahon (1600–1650), Irish bishop and generalHugh MacMahon (1660–1737), Irish bishopPatrice de MacMahon, Duke of Magenta (1808–1893), French general and politicianPercy Alexander MacMahon (1854–1929), a British mathematicianTony MacMahon (born 1939), Irish button accordion player and radio and television broadcasterSir Henry McMahon (diplomat) (1862–1949), British soldier and High Commissioner in EgyptJim McMahon (politician)Michael McMahon, former New York City Councilman and current United States Congressman from the 13th district of New York StateMarshal MacMahon (Patrice de Mac-Mahon, Duke of Magenta (1808–1893)) the first president of the Third Republic of France, from 1875 to 1879.Sir William McMahon (1908–1988), politician, 20th Prime Minister of Australia, father of Julian McMahonAndrew McMahon (born 1982), of the rock bands Jack's Mannequin and Something CorporateBernard MacMahon, Irish BishopBryan MacMahon, Judge High Court (Ireland)Ciarán Mac Mathúna (1925–2009), Irish broadcasterÉabha McMahon (born 1992), Irish singerEd McMahon (1923–2009), American entertainer known for his work on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonElla McMahon, British singer better known as Ella EyreGeraldine McMahon, British-born harpist and singer of Irish descentGerard McMahon, English singer-songwriter known for the gothic rock anthem "Cry Little Sister" recorded for The Lost Boys filmHeber MacMahon, Irish bishop of Clogher, General of Confederate Ulster-Army in 1650Hugh MacMahon, Irish bishop of ClogherIvor McMahon (1924–1972), English violinistJennifer McMahon (born 1968), American novelistJulian McMahon (born 1968), actor, son of former Australian Prime Minister William McMahonKevin McMahon, (born 1953), industrial rock musicianSéamus mac Pilib Mac Mathghamhna (died 1519), Bishop of DerrySonia McMahon (1932–2010), Australian socialite, wife of former Australian Prime Minister William McMahon, mother of JulianTony MacMahon (1939–), an Irish button accordion player and radio and television broadcasterBrian MacMahon (1923-2007), British and American epidemiologistJames McMahon, contemporary American amateur astronomerLee E. McMahon (1931-1989), American computer scientist known for his work on the early Unix operating system and on the McMahon system tournamentPercy Alexander MacMahon (1854–1929), British soldier and mathematicianThomas A. McMahon (1943-1999), American professor of applied mechanics and biology at Harvard, accredited novelistBrian McMahon (rower) (born 1961), Canadian coxswainBrigitte McMahon (born 1967), Swiss triathleteDaryl McMahon, Irish footballerDoc McMahon (1886–1929), Major League Baseball pitcherDon McMahon (1930–1987), Major League Baseball pitcherEddie McMahon, Scottish footballerJim McMahon (born 1959), American football playerJoe McMahon, Tyrone Gaelic footballerJohn McMahon, Australian-born cricketer who played in EnglandJustin McMahon, Tyrone Gaelic footballerKevin McMahon (athlete) (born 1972), American hammer throwerMike McMahon, multiple personsPat McMahon (coach) (born 1953), American baseball coachPhilip McMahon (1896–1997), Dublin Gaelic FootballerRalph McMahon, alias of Ralph Horween, American football player for Harvard Crimson and in the NFL; centenarianRoss McMahon, footballer (Burnley FC)Sadie McMahon (1867–1964), Major League Baseball pitcherSean McMahon (born 1994), Australian rugby union playerSeánie McMahon, former Clare hurlerSharelle McMahon, Australian netballerSteve McMahon (footballer) (born 1961), English footballer (Liverpool FC)Tony McMahon, footballer (Middlesbrough FC)The McMahon wrestling family of WWE fame:
Roderick "Jess" McMahon (1882–1954), boxing and wrestling promoter; father of Vincent James McMahon, grandfather of current chairman Vincent Kennedy McMahon, founder of Capitol Wrestling CorporationVince McMahon, Sr. (1914–1984), wrestling promoter and founder of WWE's immediate predecessor company, the World Wide Wrestling FederationVince McMahon, Jr. (born 1945), chairman of the board, CEO and majority shareholder of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (dba WWE, Inc.)Linda McMahon (born 1948), wife of Vince Jr., former CEO of WWE and current Administrator of the Small Business Administration.Shane McMahon (born 1970), son of Vince Jr. and former Executive President of WWE Global MediaMarissa Mazzola-McMahon (born 1973), wife of ShaneStephanie McMahon Levesque (born 1976), daughter of Vince Jr. and Chief Brand Officer of WWEPaul "Triple H" Levesque (born 1969), husband of StephanieMV Empire MacMahon was an oil tanker converted by the British for WWII service as a merchant aircraft carrier or MAC ship, that is an escort carrier for anti-submarine warfare, an anti-submarine warfare carrier.
