Mooney is a family name, which is probably predominantly derived from the Irish Ó Maonaigh. It can also be spelled Moony, Moonie, Mainey, Mauney, Meaney and Meeney depending on the dialectic pronunciation that was Anglicised.
The origin of the different Moony or Mooney families is lost in antiquity. The name is derived from maoin a Gaelic word meaning wealth or treasure of treasure, hence when O'Maonaigh was anglicised to Mooney it meant the descendant of the wealthy one.
According to Irish lore, the Mooney family comes from one of the largest and most noble Irish lines. They are said to be descendants of the ancient Irish King Heremon, who, along with his brother Herber, conquered Ireland. Heremon slew his brother shortly after their invasion, took the throne for himself, and fathered a line of kings of Ireland that include Malachi II, and King Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Baptismal records, parish records, ancient land grants, the Annals of the Four Masters, and books by O'Hart, McLysaght, and O'Brien were all used in researching the history of the Mooney family name. These varied and often ancient records indicate that distant septs of the name arose in several places throughout Ireland. The most known and most numerous sept came from the county of Offaly. The members of this sept were from Chieftain Monach, son of Ailill Mor, Lord of Ulster, who was descended from the Kings of Connacht. These family members gave their name to town lands called Ballymooney both in that county and in the neighbouring county of Leix.
Mooney Airplane CompanyMooney Brothers – gas company in Grey Bruce County, Ontario – co-owner Carman MooneyMooney Boats, Ltd. – Killybegs, County Donegal-based company specialising in the construction, refurbishment, and repair of commercial fishing vesselsAlbert Mooney, aircraft designer and founder of Mooney Airplane CompanyAlex X. Mooney, Member of Congress from West VirginiaBel Mooney, English journalist and broadcasterBrian Mooney, professional football playerCameron Mooney, Australian rules footballerCarol Ann Mooney, President of Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IndianaChris Mooney (basketball) (born 1972), American basketball coachCollin Mooney (American football) (born 1986),Dave Mooney, professional football playerDebra Mooney, American actressEdward Aloysius Mooney, Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Detroit, former Bishop of RochesterEdward F. Mooney, noted Kierkegaard scholar and Professor of Religion at Syracuse UniversityEdward Mooney (footballer)Grant Robert Mooney, Building engineer,designer.PilotHercules Mooney, American Revolutionary War ColonelJames Mooney, anthropologist whose major works were about Native American IndiansJason Mooney (disambiguation), multiple peopleJohn Mooney (disambiguation), multiple peopleKatherine Mooney, linguistKathi Mooney, American scientistKevin Mooney, Irish musicianKyle Mooney, Saturday Night Live cast membersMalcolm Mooney, original lead singer of rock group |Can; inspiration for The Mooney Suzuki's name (see below)Melvin Mooney, American physicist, developed the Mooney Viscometer and other testing equipment used in the rubber industry.Paschal Mooney, Irish politicianPeter Mooney, Scottish educationalist and conductor (music)Paul Mooney, son of James MooneyPaul Mooney, American comedian, writer, and actorRobert Mooney, Canadian politicianSean Mooney, sports reporter and former WWF announcerShay Mooney, singer of country duo Dan + ShayShona Mooney, Scottish FiddlerTed Mooney, American authorThomas Mooney, American labour leader from San Francisco, CaliforniaTom Mooney, Australian rugby league footballerTommy Mooney, professional football playerTony Mooney, Australian politicianWalter E. Mooney, pilot and model aircraft designerBert Mooney Airport – MontanaCardinal Mooney High School (disambiguation)Mooney Bay – Candle Lake (Saskatchewan)Mooney Creek, KansasMooney Falls – Grand CanyonMooney Falls – Big Bay, Ontario, CanadaMooney Mooney, New South Wales, AustraliaMooney Pond – Lake Ronkonkoma, New YorkMooney's Woods – West Hartford, Connecticut