Editing Mooney

{{for multi|the radio show|Mooney (radio programme)|the aircraft manufacturer|Mooney International Corporation}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox surname
| name = Mooney
| image= 
| imagesize= 
| caption= 
| pronunciation = 
| meaning ="rich" or "descendant of the wealthy one"
| languageorigin = Irish
| origin = Ó Maonaigh
| variant = Moony, O'Moony, Moon, Money, Moonie, Mainey, Mauney, [[Meaney]] and Meeney
| seealso =
}}

'''Mooney''' is a family name which is probably predominantly derived from the Irish Ó Maonaigh, pronounced Om-weeneey.<ref>{{Cite web |title=O'Maonaigh Pronunciation |url=https://www.howtopronounce.com/o-maonaigh-1 |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.howtopronounce.com |language=en}}</ref> It can also be spelled Moony, Moonie, Mainey, [[Meaney]] and Meeney depending on the dialectic pronunciation that was anglicised.

==Origins==
The origin of the Moony or Mooney families is lost in antiquity. The name is derived from ''maoin'', a [[Irish language|Gaelic]] word meaning ''wealth'' or ''treasure of treasure'', hence when O'Maonaigh was anglicised to Mooney it meant ''the descendant of the wealthy one.''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cox|first=Liam|title=The Mooney Family of the Doon, County Offaly|url=http://www.irishmidlandsancestry.com/content/family_history/families/mooney_doon.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210205230/http://www.irishmidlandsancestry.com/content/family_history/families/mooney_doon.htm|archive-date=10 December 2008|website=Irish Midlands Ancestry}}</ref>

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 [[Érimón|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 [[Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill|Malachi II]], and [[Niall of the Nine Hostages|King Niall]] of the Nine Hostages.

Baptismal records, parish records, ancient land grants, the [[Annals of the Four Masters]], and books by [[John O'Hart|O'Hart]], [[Edward MacLysaght|McLysaght]], and [[O'Brien dynasty|O'Brien]] were all used in researching the history of the Mooney family name. These varied and often ancient records indicate that distant [[sept]]s of the name arose in several places throughout Ireland. The most known and most numerous sept came from the county of [[County Offaly|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]].<ref>{{cite web|author=HJK49 &nbsp;(Visualizza annunci) |url=http://boards.ancestry.it/surnames.mooney/2092/mb.ashx |title=The Ancient and Distinguished History of the – Mooney – Bacheca di storia familiare e genealogia – Ancestry.it |publisher=Boards.ancestry.it |date=23 February 2009 |access-date=22 April 2011}}</ref>

==People with the surname==
*[[Al Mooney]] (1906–1986), aircraft designer and founder of [[Mooney Airplane Company]]
*[[Alex Mooney]] (born 1971), member of Congress from West Virginia
*[[Bel Mooney]] (born 1946), English journalist and broadcaster
*[[Brian Mooney]] (born 1966), professional football player
*[[C. P. J. Mooney]] (1865–1926), American newspaper publisher
*[[Cameron Mooney]] (born 1979), Australian rules footballer
*[[Carol Ann Mooney]] (fl. 1970s–2010s), president of Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana
*[[Charles Mooney]] (born 1951), American boxer
*[[Charles W. Mooney Jr.|Charles ("Chuck") W. Mooney Jr.]] (born 1947), American, the Charles A. Heimbold, Jr. Professor of Law, and former interim dean, at the University of Pennsylvania Law School
*[[Chris Mooney (basketball)]] (born 1972), American basketball coach
*[[Clifton Mooney]] (born 1986), American Artist/ Photographer <ref>{{Cite news |last=Soller |first=Kurt |date=2022-01-06 |title=Sex, Death and Polaroids |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/06/style/clifton-mooney-polaroids.html |access-date=2024-01-31 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
*[[Darnell Mooney]] (born 1997), American football player
*Darren Mooney (born 1984)  Runner/ Triathlete
*[[Dave Mooney]] (born 1984), professional football player
*[[Debra Mooney]] (born 1947), American actress
*[[Edward Aloysius Mooney]] (1882–1958), Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Detroit, former Bishop of Rochester
*[[Edward F. Mooney]] (born 1941), noted Kierkegaard scholar and Professor of Religion at Syracuse University
*[[Edward Joseph Mooney]] (born 1965), United States Air Force/Independent Duty Medic/Veteran of War on Terrorism
*[[Francie Mooney]] (1922–2006), musician, fiddler
*[[Hercules Mooney]] (1715–1800), American Revolutionary War colonel
*[[James Mooney]] (1861–1921), anthropologist whose major works were about Native American Indians
*[[Jason Mooney (disambiguation)]], multiple people
*[[John Mooney (disambiguation)]], multiple people
*[[Kathi Mooney]] (fl. 2010s–2020s), American scientist
*[[Kevin Mooney]] (born 1962), Irish musician
*[[Kyle Mooney]] (born 1984), American comic actor, ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
*[[Malcolm Mooney]] (born 1944), original lead singer of rock group Can
*[[Matt Mooney]] (born 1997), American basketball player
*[[Melvin Mooney]] (1893–1968), American physicist, developed the Mooney viscometer and other testing equipment used in the rubber industry
*[[Paschal Mooney]] (born 1947), Irish politician
*[[Peter Mooney (conductor)]] (1915–1983), Scottish educationalist and conductor (music)
*[[Peter Mooney (footballer)]] (1897–?), English professional footballer
*[[Paul Mooney (writer)]] (1904–1939), son of James Mooney
*[[Paul Mooney (comedian)]] (1941–2021), American comedian, writer, and actor
*[[Ralph Mooney]] (1928–2011), Bakersfield sound steel-guitar player who backed Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and others
*[[Robert Mooney]] (1873–1953), Canadian politician
*[[Sean Mooney]] (born 1959), sports reporter and former WWF announcer
*[[Shay Mooney]] (fl. 2010s–2020s), singer of country duo [[Dan + Shay]]
*[[Shona Mooney]] (born c. 1984), Scottish fiddler
*[[Ted Mooney]] (1951–2022), American author
*[[Thomas Mooney]] (1882–1942), American labour leader from San Francisco, California
*[[Tim Mooney]] (1958–2012), American musician
*[[Tom Mooney (rugby league)]] (born 1952), Australian rugby league footballer
*[[Tommy Mooney]] (born 1971), professional football player
*[[Tony Mooney]] (fl. 1970s–2010s), Australian politician
*[[Walter E. Mooney]] (1925–1990), pilot and model aircraft designer
* [[Charles A. Mooney]] (1993) ,
Funeral Director and Amateur Rugby Player

==Fictional characters==
*"Albert Mooney" is a character in the Irish folk-song "[[I'll Tell Me Ma]]"
*"Officer Mooney" is a police officer who interacts with Superman in the [[Superman_(1978_film)|1978 movie]]<ref name="capedwonder.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.capedwonder.com/george-harris-officer-mooney/| url-status=live| website=www.capedwonder.com| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129202506/https://www.capedwonder.com/george-harris-officer-mooney/| archive-date=2022-11-29| title=SUPERDAD – A Memory of Superman's "Officer Mooney"}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Mooney (disambiguation)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{surname}}

[[Category:Surnames of Irish origin]]