Surname O'Mullan - Meaning and Origin
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O'Mullan: What does the surname O'Mullan mean?
The last name O'Mullan is a common Irish surname and is typically found in the provinces of Connacht and Ulster in the west of Ireland. The root of the name is derived from the old Gaelic personal name “Mael Eamoin” which translates to “devotee or servant of Saint John.” This name is a patronymic, meaning that it was adopted upon a son taking their father’s first name as a surname.
The O'Mullan family is further connected to the Gallowglass O'Mullans, which were a class of warriors, who serve as mercenaries during the 13th and 14th centuries. This family became associated with the O'Neill dynasty, which at the time were Kings of Ireland. Their name is often seen today in the U.S., especially in counties of New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
Having strong ties to Irish history, the last name O'Mullan carries a legacy of notably hardworking and fiercely loyal individuals. Today it is most commonly understood to mean hardworking, robust determination in the pursuit of a cause. Many of those who proudly bear the last name today may feel a sense of connection to this storied past and cherish the emblematic representation of drive and ambition.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Mullan: Where does the name O'Mullan come from?
The last name O'Mullan is most commonly found in Ireland and areas of historic Irish migration, including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
The name originates from the Irish language word "Ó Maoláin," meaning grandchild of a devotee of St. John. During the 18th century, the anglicization of the name was written as Mullen or Mullane, and by the 19th century, the name changed to O'Mullan. The Irish people have a long history of emigration, with many O'Mullans leaving Ireland in the wake of the Great Famine in the mid-19th century.
In the United States, records show that O'Mullans began to arrive in New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Pennsylvania in the 1800s. Many of these immigrants went on to settle in other areas of the Midwest, particularly Pennsylvania and Nebraska. It's likely that a few O'Mullans traveled farther up the West Coast as well.
Today, the last name O'Mullan is still heavily concentrated in Ireland, England and Ireland's former colonies. Records show that in 2017, approximately 240 people in the United States had the last name O'Mullan, compared to over 22,000 in Ireland, and close to 11,000 in England and Wales. While many O'Mullans still retain the traditional spelling, many families have adopted more anglicized forms, such as Mullin or Mullen.
Variations of the surname O'Mullan
The surname O’Mullan is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic MacMaoil Eain, meaning "son of the devotee of Saint John". It is found mostly in the northern provinces of Ireland and can be spelled in several different ways, including O'Mullen, O'Maolain, O'Mullahane, O'Mullane, and O'Mullin.
Variants of the name include Mullan, Mullen, Mallon, Mullin, Macmullan, McMullan, Maollan, Malon, Maolan, O'Mullahan, and Mallane. In certain dialects, the name is legally shortened to one of several versions, including Mullin, Mullen, Muldoon, or Mooton.
The O'Mullan surname has multiple variants, mostly Irish in origin. Some spelling variations may also be attributed to Gaelic influences, as the spelling of names was not standardized until the eighteenth century. The earliest record of the O'Mullan name dates back to County Donegal, Ireland, in the 12th century.
The current distribution of O'Mullan families follows the medieval trend, staying primarily in Northern Ireland, with smaller numbers scattered throughout the British Isles. In the United States, O'Mullan descendants are most commonly found in New London, Connecticut, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In addition to the traditional spelling of the surname, several other spellings of the O'Mullan name have emerged over the centuries, including Muldoon, Mullin, Mullen, Malon, Maolan, and Mallane. Collectively, these spellings constitute the main variants of the surname, although there may also be other versions as well.
Famous people with the name O'Mullan
- Cathal O'Mullan, Irish actor
- Pádraig O'Mullan, Peace Activist
- Kayla O'Mullan, American actress
- Liam O'Mullan, Irish comedian
- Niamh O'Mullan, Irish musician
- Siobhan O'Mullan, Northern Irish rugby player
- Cora O'Mullan, Australian professional surfer
- Rónán O'Mullan, Irish politician
- Marion O'Mullan, Northern Irish singer and songwriter
- Catherine O'Mullan, American author