Surname Mulally - Meaning and Origin
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Mulally: What does the surname Mulally mean?
The last name Mulally is an Irish surname derived from Ó Maoilriain which translates to "descendant of Maoilriain". Maoilriain itself is a Gaelic name meaning "servant of Saint Riain". The exact origin of the name is unclear, however it is likely that this surname was bestowed on a group of people as an honorific title for a local religious figure.
The surname Mulally is believed to have originated in the province of Leinster, specifically the counties of Kildare, Laois and Carlow. These areas had high concentrations of Gaelic-speaking people which is where the name is thought to have originated from.
The Mulallys were originally farmers and would have been active in local politics and commerce. They also had a reputation for being good musicians and were often referred to as 'the pipers of Laois'. The Mulallys could also be found in other parts of Ireland such as Dublin.
Today, the surname Mulally is still quite common in Ireland. It is also found in a number of countries around the world, particularly in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The number of people bearing the surname Mulally has grown over the years, however, not many Mulallys still call Ireland home.
Order DNA origin analysisMulally: Where does the name Mulally come from?
The last name Mulally is most common in Ireland, with the majority of bearers living in counties Cork and Kerry. It originated in France, and is thought to have been derived from the old French personal name Moulon, meaning "mill-stead". The surname is also shared by those of Irish-American, Irish-British, and Irish-Australian descent, as well as people of other ethnic backgrounds who have adopted it as their own.
The Irish branch of the Mulally family is largely concentrated in rural areas, with many still living in isolated hamlets and villages. The majority of Mulallys are also Catholic, and many have a long history of emigration to the U.S. and other countries. A knowledge of French and English as well as Irish is common among Mulallys, although the use of Irish has been in decline in recent generations.
Today, the last name Mulally can be found in other parts of the world due to emigration over the past couple of centuries. Those living in the UK, Australia, Canada, and the United States likely have some degree of ancestral ties to the surname. The largest communities of Mulally outside of Ireland can be found in the United States, particularly in cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston.
Overall, the last name Mulally is still relatively rare, although its presence is growing with people of all backgrounds increasingly embracing their Irish roots as part of their identity.
Variations of the surname Mulally
The surname Mulally has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants include Mallaly, Mullaly, Mullally, Mullally, Mulloy, Molloy, Molloye, Mulloney, Mullany, Mullaney, Mallaney, Malloy, Malloye, Malloney, and Mallany. Some of these variants have been found in records in Ireland, England, Scotland, and the United States.
The origin of the Mulally name can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic language of Ireland, in which it is derived from the word "Maolalaidhe" meaning “Chief” or “Prince”. It was initially given to the leader of a cavalry in the Irish military. In later centuries, this name was adopted by members of the ruling families of Meath and other parts of Ireland, and it also became popular as a surname among many Irish families.
The Mulally name has also been found in England as Mallow, Mullaly, Mulally, Mullally, Molloy, Mulloy, and Mulloye. It becomes more common in Scotland as Mulloney, Mullany, Mullaney, Mallaney, Malloy, Malloye, Malloney, and Mallany. In the United States, the surname is often spelled as Mallaly, Mullaly, Mulally, Mullally, Mulloy, Molloy, Molloye, Mulloney, Mullany, Mullaney, Mallaney, Malloy, Malloye, Malloney, and Mallany.
The many variants, spellings, and surnames of the Mulally name are all connected to the same origin and are testament to how the name has travelled and evolved throughout history.
Famous people with the name Mulally
- Alan Mulally: Alan Mulally is a former American executive who is widely known for having formerly served as the President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and later serving as the President and CEO of the Ford Motor Company from 2006 to 2014.
- Laura Mulally: Laura Mulally is an American voiceover artist and Hollywood actress who lent her voice to various TV shows, films, apps, websites, and video games.
- Michał Mulally: Michał Mulally is a Polish football player, he currently plays for Puszcza Niepołomice.
- John Mulally: John Mulally is a former professional American football player who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills in the National Football League.
- Patrick Mulally: Patrick Mulally is an American actor, best known for his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Officer Liam Jameson in the film Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
- Patrick Mulally Jr.: Patrick Mulally Jr. is an American actor and model. He has appeared in films such as Spider-Man: Homecoming, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Venom.
- Gary McT Mulally: Gary McT Mulally is an American actor and screenwriter, best known for his role as Hank Rafferty in the television series The Event.
- P. J. Mulally: P. J. Mulally is an American actor, best known for his recurring role as "Detective Wallace" on the popular television series NCIS.
- Jamie Mulally: Jamie Mulally is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray in the Victorian Football League.
- Sandy Mulally: Sandy Mulally is an American bass player and singer-songwriter, best known for being the associate producer of the multi-platinum album It's Time by country music superstar Garth Brooks.