Mac Maoláin


Mac Maoláin Gaelic-Irish surname.

Overview

Mac Maoláin was a surname borne by a number of unrelated families in Gaelic Ireland, anciently found in Breifne, Mide, Brega, Connacht and Ulster.
Now anglicised MacMullan, MacMullen, MacMoylan, McMullen, McMullan, McMellon, and McMullin, this name finds its origins as the collateral form of the root forenames: Maelan ; Maolain and Meallain. The Irish form Mac Maoláin evolved primarily in the provinces of Connacht, Leinster and also in Ulster, where the influx of Scot Irish McMillan who adopted the Irish form McMullen makes separation of the native Irish difficult.

Mac Maoláin of Maigh Seóla

was king of Maigh Seóla at his death in 848, claimed as an ancestor of the southern Ui Briuin family, though historians such as T. F. O'Rahilly thought the connection fictitious. The townland of Cluain Mhic Mhaolain in Roscommon immortalises the presence of a collateral surname family there.

Mac Maoláin of Gaileanga Brega

A sept of the Gailenga of Brega adopted the surname Mac Maoláin. The Annals of Ulster sub anno 1018 state "Maolán, mac Eccnígh uí Leochain, tigherna Gaileng & Tuath Luicchne uile, do mharbhadh dona Saithnibh". In 1051, Laidcenn mac Maolain h-Uí Leocáin is listed as tigherna Gaileng, in 1076 the son of Mac Maolain is recorded in the round tower of Kells and in 1144, Mac Mic Maoláin, tigherna Gaileang Breagh was slain. Entries in the Book of Kells page 139 also reference Laidgnean Mac Moelan as laity. The townland of Ballymullen alias Mc.Mullen Abbyleix is one of the lasting indications of this surname and presence of a collateral family in the province of Leinster.

Mac Maoláin Uíbh Echach

MacMullan and McMullen families are recorded in the Barony of Uíbh Echach, as Bishops of the Diocese of Connor and Down with the Bishops seat identified as the townland of Cabra, parish of Clonduff, ancient territory of Mac Aenghusa, Lords of Iveagh.

Noteworthy Mac Maoláins

  1. Billy McMillen, IRA Commander
  2. Ernan McMullin, American academic and educator
  3. Daniel McMullan, American activist and Human Welfare Commissioner