Molyneux

Etymology and history

The ancestors of the Molyneaux family who arrived in England around the time of the Norman Conquest of 1066 bore the name "de Molines" or "de Moulins", Old Norman in origin, meaning "Mill". The later changed "Molyneux" is an Anglo-Norman spelling variation, meaning "watermill". The early historical background of the family is sparse, coming from scattered genealogical, historical, and archaeological sources, composed of a mixture of legend, romanticized literary invention, and fact. Prior to the Norman colonization of Neustria genetic evidence suggests the family was of Norse or Viking origin. Historians know the de Moulins came from Molineaux-sur-Seine, near Rouen, in Normandy where they were guardians of Château de Robert-le-Diable also known as Château de Moulineaux in the 10th century. The earliest known common ancestor of the family is recorded to be Robert de Moulins of Château de Moulineaux in Molineaux-Sur-Seine, follower of William of Normandy. Although dismissed as false by most genealogists, family folklore states he was the illegitimate son of Peter Abelard and Héloïse d’Argenteuil, Astrolabe, with a changed name. Some genealogists assert that Robert de Moulins was a legendary figure due to lack of sourced evidence of his existence.

Written evidence suggests the de Moulins family supplied flour to William the Conqueror's army via a mill on the river Seine near present-day Molineaux-sur-Seine, France prior to the 1066 invasion of England, although no archeological evidence exists to support the claim. Other sources claim the de Moulin family originally came from Moulins, France and traveled to Normandy where they joined the Norman army and founded the mill on the Seine. Wherever their origin, Robert de Moulins' son, William (Guillaume de Moulines Sir de Falaise as listed in many sources where Companions of William the Conqueror are noted) settled in Lancashire following the Norman conquest of England. He had two sons William and Vivian de Moulins. Some sources state Vivian as William I's brother that also fought in the initial battle, but neither can be confirmed. Roger the Poitevin who possessed large tracts of land in Lancashire in what was then called inter Mersam et Ripam, that is, "between the Mersey and the Ribble" by gift of the crown gave Molyneux large land holdings and the manors of Septon (Sefton), Thornton, Cuerden, ten carucates and a half of land, at the service of half a knight's fee. William Molyneux made Septon his chief seat and was succeeded by Vivian de Molyneux.

They were initially to be granted the Manor of Little Crosby, later Ince Blundell Hall, which had been held by one Uctred until 1066. By 1212 it was owned by Richard de Molyneux of Sefton before being turned over to the Blundell family. The Molyneuxs later owned most of the districts of Speke and Rainhill. With much current archeological and written evidence, the Royalist gentry family held a large moated manor, a corn mill on the River Alt, and St. Helen's Church at Sefton without interruption from about 1100 to 1700. From there the Viscounts turned Earldom moved to Croxteth Hall. Of the Sefton Molyneux family, Sir Richard (d.1290) and Sir William Molyneux (d.1320), knights of the Crusades, are entombed within the church, and are the its oldest inhabitants. Their effigies now lie beneath an arch moulding set into the wall in the Molyneux chapel, which is outside of the 14th-century church walls. By the 14th century the Molyneux family had become so large that it split into three main branches; the Lancashire line, who became the Earls of Sefton, the Nottingham line, and the Calais line, from family still left over in Normandy.

The senior branch of the Sefton family had been staunch Catholics and Royalists (notably in the 17th and 18th centuries) through the worst times until Charles Molyneux, 8th Viscount Molyneux, was rewarded for converting to the Protestant faith. The relatively youthful second and third Viscounts fought on the Royalist side both politically and militarily. Although Liverpool Castle had been partly dismantled in 1660–1678, Caryll Molyneux, the 3rd Viscount, had used it for storing arms. During the reign of King James II, he was outlawed by Parliament for supporting the deposed king in 1688 to 1689. Control of the Castle finally passed out of Molyneux hands after Caryll had again been suspected of participation in a Jacobite plot. William, the 7th Viscount, was a Jesuit, and there were in his time not less than seven Molyneux in the Society of Jesus alone.

Over the centuries, several deviations of the name Molyneaux have emerged. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names as they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name include Mullenax, Molinex, Mullinix, Mullenneix, Mullennix, Mullineaux, Molinieux, Molinaux, Molineaux, Mollineaux, Molineux, and several others. Many variations were due to misspellings in American or other country's immigration services. Although Anglo-Norman surnames like Molyneaux are characterized by many spelling variations, the name Molyneux has prevailed with the modern trend towards standardization. In all there are 50-odd modern variations of the surname, collectively referred to as the Mx(s).

Molyneux

Notable persons with the surname Molyneux, include:

Viscount Molyneux

For Viscount Molyneux see Earl of Sefton, and in particular

Molyneaux

Molyneaux is a rare Irish spelling variant. People with this spelling variant include:

Molineaux

Molineux

Mollineux

Mullinix

American spelling variation descended from Jonathan Molyneux

Other

Other persons bearing the name Molyneux :