Ó Maoil Eoin, denotes descent from a grandson of a person baptised in honour of Saint John. This assumption was introduced long after Maol Eoin had lived. It was contrived to demonstrate a long-standing association with the Church. As such "maol" is often described as meaning bald and then quickly followed by the idea of a monks shaved head. While "maol" does mean bald it also can mean thin. However, in both cases it is used in reference with the landscape; bald might mean lacking in trees, and thin might mean a peninsula or island. It defines a feature of the landscape that is associated with the family. The use of maol, in a family name, is found recorded some 200 years before Maol Eoin was born. Maolrunaigh was a past family name that was passed down, mostly in part, through the generations. This was a common way to include the name of the bride's father, as a mark of respect. If Maol Eoin means devotee of St John, then it would stand to reason that Maolrunaigh must be a devotee of St. Rooney. However, a St. Rooney does nor exist. The Ó Maoil Eoin were wrongly accorded kinship with the Uí Briúin, based on the statement that "Maoliosa, Bishop of Roscommon, who had a son named Maol Eoin... a quo O'Maoil Eoin, anglicised Malone." However, the family were already in existence before Tairrdelbach was born, so the kinship is mistaken, or possibly a forgery, though at least one very old family traditionholds the name was intended to signify a friendship or political alliance at the time of baptism. They seemed to have been an ecclesiastical or Erenagh family native to the area, with no links to any great royal houses.
Abbot Gilla Críst
Gilla Críst is the earliest known member of the family associated with Clonmacnoise, and perhaps the ancestor of all subsequent Ó Maoil Eoin's associated with it. He was associated with Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair, as attested in an entry in Chronicon Scotorumsub anno 1124 - "The great bell-tower of Cluaín moccu Nóis was completed by Gilla Críst ua Maíleoin and Tairdelbach ua Conchobuir." Two years later the same text records that "Gilla Críst ua Maíleoin, abbot of Cluaín moccu Nóis, the fount of wisdom and charity, the head of wealth and riches of Ireland, rested."
Chronicon Scotorum
Chronicon Scotorum is an account of Irish affairs that ends in an unfinished manner in the entry dated 1150. Gilla Crist has been associated with the text as its compiler, but if so, it was continued at some point after his death. His actual role in relation to the Chronicon is uncertain.
