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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{|class=infobox width=200px {|class=infobox width=200px
| |
|'''Mulcahy Surname''' |'''Mulcahy Surname'''
|-
|colspan=2 align=center |]
|- |-
| '''Gaelic Form''' ||Ó Maolchatha, Ó Maolchathaigh | '''Gaelic Form''' ||Ó Maolchatha, Ó Maolchathaigh
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|'''Heraldry''' ||A White Yew Tree |'''Heraldry''' ||A White Yew Tree
|- |-
|'''Variants''' ||Mulcaghy, Mulkay, Mulkey, O'Mulcahy, Mulcahey |'''Variants''' ||Mulcaghy, Mulkay, Mulkey, O'Mulcahy, Mulcahey, McCauley
|- |-
|'''Motto''' || Cathach Abú - Cathach to Victory |'''Motto''' || Cathach Abú - Cathach to Victory
|} |}


'''Mulcahy''' is a surname of ] ] origin. The anglicized form of "Ó Maolchatha" which in Gaelic means 'a descendant of a devotee of Cathach', a personal name meaning Warlike. <ref>{{cite book|last1=MacLysaght|first1=Edward|title=More Irish Families|date=1960|publisher=O'Gorman Press|pages=270}}</ref> The name is thought to originate in County Tipperary, However the earliest mention of the family appears in the ] in 1317 AD<ref>Annals of Inisfallen, Entry 1317.7 . P.427,</ref> and subsequent references in and around the Churches of ] in the 15th century. <ref>{{cite journal|last1=O'Connell|first1=Rev. J.|title=Obligationes Pro Annatis Diocesis Ardfertensis|journal=Archivium Hibernicum|date=1958|volume=21|pages=4}}</ref> '''Mulcahy''' is a surname of ] ] origin. The anglicized form of "Ó Maolchatha" which in Gaelic means 'a descendant of a devotee of Cathach', a personal name meaning Warlike.<ref>{{cite book|last1=MacLysaght|first1=Edward|title=More Irish Families|date=1960|publisher=O'Gorman Press|pages=270}}</ref> The name is thought to originate in County Tipperary, however the earliest mention of the family appears in the ] in 1317 AD<ref>Annals of Inisfallen, Entry 1317.7 . P.427,</ref> and subsequent references in and around the Churches of ] in the 15th century.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=O'Connell|first1=Rev. J.|title=Obligationes Pro Annatis Diocesis Ardfertensis|journal=Archivium Hibernicum|date=1958|volume=21|pages=4}}</ref>


==History== ==History==
The pre-eminent authority on Irish surnames, ] wrote of the remarkable lack of medieval reference to the Mulcahy surname in the annalistic records.<ref>MacLysaght, E. Irish families: their names, arms, and origins</ref> The only known reference to a member of the sept in any Annalistic record is from the ] in 1317AD <ref>Annals of Inisfallen CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts: a project of University College Cork p.427</ref> A Giolla Moenaig Ó Maolchatha is mentioned as a "''Keeper of the Island''" which could possibly be evidence of the families earlier ] status within the local area. Furthermore, the Uí Mhaolchatha sept appears to have been active in the 15th century in the churches of Co. Kerry. Benefices were granted by papal decree to a number of the sept, including the Vicarages of Killarney, Ardfert and Aghadoe. There is evidence that these benefices were held within the sept for a number of generations, supporting the notion that the family had developed a political hold on the offices without having even been ordained as priests.<ref>Lateran Regesta 728: 1473 Pages 342-345</ref> The Annalistic record for a Giolla Moenaig Ó Maolchatha in the Annals of Inisfallen in 1317 AD combined with the above-mentioned appointments of the vicarages would support the idea that the Uí Mhaolchatha of Co. Kerry had developed into a modest ecclesiastical dynasty.<ref>Lateran Regesta 799: 1479-1480 Pages 680-686</ref> The pre-eminent authority on Irish surnames, ] wrote of the remarkable lack of medieval reference to the Mulcahy surname in the annalistic records.<ref>MacLysaght, E. Irish families: their names, arms, and origins</ref> The only known reference to a member of the sept in any Annalistic record is from the ] in 1317 AD<ref>Annals of Inisfallen CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts: a project of University College Cork p. 427</ref> A Giolla Moenaig Ó Maolchatha is mentioned as a "''Keeper of the Island''" which could possibly be evidence of the families earlier ] status within the local area. Furthermore, the Uí Mhaolchatha sept appears to have been active in the 15th century in the churches of County Kerry. Benefices were granted by papal decree to a number of the sept, including the Vicarages of Killarney, Ardfert and Aghadoe. There is evidence that these benefices were held within the sept for a number of generations, supporting the notion that the family had developed a political hold on the offices without having even been ordained as priests.<ref>Lateran Regesta 728: 1473 Pages 342-345</ref> The Annalistic record for a Giolla Moenaig Ó Maolchatha in the Annals of Inisfallen in 1317 AD combined with the above-mentioned appointments of the vicarages would support the idea that the Uí Mhaolchatha of County Kerry had developed into a modest ecclesiastical dynasty.<ref>Lateran Regesta 799: 1479-1480 Pages 680-686</ref>


==Etymology== ==Etymology==
The surname is of ecclesiastical origin<ref>{{cite book|last1=MacLysaght|first1=Edward|title=More Irish Families|date=1960|publisher=O'Gorman Press|pages=270}}</ref>. While it is true that Cathach means Warlike, the inclusion of the prefix Maol refers to a 'devotee' of an individual whose name was Cathach. So the full name of Ó Maolchatha means 'A descendant of a devotee of Cathach' A devotee to the Cathas religious sect, which was the earliest form of the catholic church. <ref>{{cite book|last1=MacLysaght|first1=Edward|title=More Irish Families|date=1960|publisher=O'Gorman Press|pages=270}}</ref> The surname is of ecclesiastical origin.<ref>{{cite book|last1=MacLysaght|first1=Edward|title=More Irish Families|date=1960|publisher=O'Gorman Press|pages=270}}</ref> While it is true that Cathach means Warlike, the inclusion of the prefix Maol refers to a 'devotee' of an individual whose name was Cathach. So the full name of Ó Maolchatha means 'A descendant of a devotee of Cathach' most likely the name of a saint.<ref>{{cite book|last1=MacLysaght|first1=Edward|title=More Irish Families|date=1960|publisher=O'Gorman Press|pages=270}}</ref>


==O'More theory== ==O'More theory==
]
] There exists a popularly circulated theory regarding the Mulcahy families origins. The theory first proposed by historian ] in his highly flawed work, Irish Pedigrees, claims that the Mulcahy family descend from the ] family of ]. O'Hart makes mention of a John O'More who he claims was a younger brother of ] and who adopted the surname Maolcatha.<ref>J. O'Hart, Irish Pedigrees, Stem of the Irish Nation</ref> This theory is almost certainly wrong. O'Hart, intentionally or unintentionally had attributed the origins of the Mulcahy family with O'More on the basis of the name which John O'More had adopted. The name John O'More adopted was not ''Maolchatha'' as O'Hart had claimed but Actually ''Maolchathail'',<ref>The General armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, p. 715</ref> and it is from him that the County Laois sept of Ó Maolchathail usually anglicized Mulhall, claim descent. It should also be noted that, no substantial evidence exists to support the notion that ] even had a brother named John, making even the claim of the Mulhall family suspect.


There exists a popularly circulated theory regarding the Mulcahy families origins. The theory first proposed by historian ] in his highly flawed work, Irish Pedigrees, claims that the Mulcahy family descend from the ] family of ]. O'Hart makes mention of a John O'More who he claims was a younger brother of ] and who adopted the surname Maolcatha.<ref>J. O'Hart, Irish Pedigrees, Stem of the Irish Nation</ref> This theory is almost certainly wrong. O'Hart, intentionally or unintentionally had attributed the origins of the Mulcahy family with O'More on the basis of the name which John O'More had adopted. The name John O'More adopted was not ''Maolchatha'' as O'Hart had claimed but actually ''Maolchathail'',<ref>The General armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, p. 715</ref> and it is from him that the County Laois sept of Ó Maolchathail usually anglicized Mulhall, claim descent. No substantial evidence exists to support the notion that ] even had a brother named John, making even the claim of the Mulhall family suspect.
To this day many commercial heraldic outlets continue to pass the traditional arms of the O'More family of Laois, which are ''"Vert a lion rampant or in chief three mullets of the last"'', off as those of Mulcahy when there is clearly no connection between the two families.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Clan Mulcahy Association|url=https://www.facebook.com/The-Official-Mulcahy-Clan-185002604880116/}}</ref> To this day many commercial heraldic outlets continue to pass the traditional arms of the O'More family of Laois, which are ''"Vert a lion rampant or in chief three mullets of the last"'', off as those of Mulcahy when there is clearly no connection between the two families.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Clan Mulcahy Association|url=https://www.facebook.com/The-Official-Mulcahy-Clan-185002604880116/}}</ref>


==Chieftainship== ==Chieftainship==
No reliable source exists which names any Chiefly line for this sept. Therefore any modern claimants to such a title would be highly questionable. As the family has an ecclesiastical origin, any Chiefly line would most likely be associated with the holding of a particular church title over several generations. Unlike the greater political dynasties whose power came from mainly land and cattle ownership, ecclesiastical lineages relied manly on income from these benefices to grow their influence and standing. No reliable source exists which names any Chiefly line for this sept. Therefore, any modern claimants to such a title would be highly questionable. As the family has an ecclesiastical origin, any Chiefly line would most likely be associated with the holding of a particular church title over several generations. Unlike the greater political dynasties whose power came from mainly land and cattle ownership, ecclesiastical lineages relied manly on income from these benefices to grow their influence and standing.


An individual had recently come forward claiming Chiefly status by means of ], however in a statement issued on the website of The Clan Mulcahy Association, the individual in question declared that he no longer wishes to claim the position, citing dissatisfaction with the authenticity of the 'ad hoc' system. The Uí Mhaolchatha sept has no reliably recorded Chiefly lineages. However the individual in question does claim descent from the County Kerry branch and ultimately from Giolla Moenaigh Ó Maolchatha, the earliest recorded bearer of the name. An individual had recently come forward claiming Chiefly status by means of ], however in a statement issued on the website of The Clan Mulcahy Association, the individual in question declared that he no longer wishes to claim the position, citing dissatisfaction with the authenticity of the 'ad hoc' system. The Uí Mhaolchatha sept has no reliably recorded Chiefly lineages. However the individual in question does claim descent from the County Kerry branch and ultimately from Giolla Moenaigh Ó Maolchatha, the earliest recorded bearer of the name.
Line 69: Line 69:


==Heraldry== ==Heraldry==
It is a common misconception that Coats of Arms were used to identify families. They were in fact personal property of individuals. It is therefore possible for multiple Coats of Arms to exist under the same surname. However in the case of Mulcahy, no bearer of the surname has ever registered a Coat of Arms with any Irish Heraldic Authority in Medieval times. No Heraldic symbols can be authentically associated with the family. It is a common misconception that Coats of Arms were used to identify families. They were in fact personal property of individuals. It is therefore possible for multiple Coats of Arms to exist under the same surname. However, in the case of Mulcahy, no bearer of the surname has ever registered a Coat of Arms with any Irish Heraldic Authority in Medieval times. No Heraldic symbols can be authentically associated with the family.

The Mulcahy Association - the premier authority on the name - has adopted the symbol of a Yew Tree as their emblem. The Yew, according to the organisation, is closely associated with early church sites as well as having important meaning for the Gaelic Irish.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/OMaolchatha/</ref>


The Mulcahy Association, has adopted the symbol of a Yew Tree as their emblem. The Yew, according to the organisation, is closely associated with early church sites as well as having important meaning for the Gaelic Irish.


;Places: ==Places==
*Ballyogaha (Baile Uí gCathaigh), in ], which may or may not have had some connection with the family *Ballyogaha (Baile Uí gCathaigh), in ], which may or may not have had some connection with the family
*Mulcahy Middle School, a middle school in the ] in California *Mulcahy Middle School, a middle school in the ] in California
*], a baseball stadium in Anchorage, Alaska *], a baseball stadium in Anchorage, Alaska


;Persons: ==Persons==
*] (born 1983), Irish professional football player
*] (born 1952), American businesswoman, chairman and CEO of Xerox *] (born 1952), American businesswoman, chairman and CEO of Xerox
*] (born 1958), Irish mathematician, academic, columnist and author
*] (1882-1953), Australian politician *] (1882-1953), Australian politician
*] (born 1956), Irish hurling player *] (born 1956), Irish hurling player
*], several people
:* ], deputy to Assistant United States Secretary of State Nathaniel Davis
:* ] (1850–1927), Irish-born Australian politician in Tasmania
:* ] (1921–2006), American diplomat and ambassador
*] (1894-1973), ] general and commander during ]. *] (1894-1973), ] general and commander during ].
*] (born 1942), British businessman with Kingfisher plc *] (born 1942), British businessman with Kingfisher plc
*] (1913–2001), American professional baseball player *] (1913–2001), American professional baseball player
*] (1876–1942), American Olympic double scull rower in the 1904 Olympics
*] (born 1997), Businessman, Kanye West enthusiast
*] (1876–1942), American Olympic double scull rower in the 1904 Olympics
*], American Roman Catholic bishop *], American Roman Catholic bishop
*] (born 1945), American professor and culture scholar *] (born 1945), American professor and culture scholar
Line 94: Line 96:
*] (born 1952), Irish expressionist painter *] (born 1952), Irish expressionist painter
*] (born 1960), Irish Fianna Fáil party politician; TD for Dublin South-Central *] (born 1960), Irish Fianna Fáil party politician; TD for Dublin South-Central
*] (born 1975), Irish hurling player *] (born 1975), Irish hurling player
*] (1942–2012), Irish academic and author
*] (1886–1971), Irish politician, leader of Fine Gael and Cabinet Minister; Chief of Staff of the IRA *] (1886–1971), Irish politician, leader of Fine Gael and Cabinet Minister; Chief of Staff of the IRA
*] (born 1953), Australian film director *] (born 1953), Australian film director
*] (born 1963), Irish hurling player *] (born 1963), Irish hurling player
;Fictional person: ;Fictional person:
*], character in the film and television show ''M*A*S*H'' *], American character in the U.S. film and television show ''M*A*S*H''


==See also== ==See also==
* *
* ]


==References== ==References==

Latest revision as of 18:10, 6 January 2025

Mulcahy Surname
Gaelic Form Ó Maolchatha, Ó Maolchathaigh
Origin South Munster
Chieftainship No Chiefly line known
Heraldry A White Yew Tree
Variants Mulcaghy, Mulkay, Mulkey, O'Mulcahy, Mulcahey, McCauley
Motto Cathach Abú - Cathach to Victory

Mulcahy is a surname of Irish Gaelic origin. The anglicized form of "Ó Maolchatha" which in Gaelic means 'a descendant of a devotee of Cathach', a personal name meaning Warlike. The name is thought to originate in County Tipperary, however the earliest mention of the family appears in the Annals of Inisfallen in 1317 AD and subsequent references in and around the Churches of County Kerry in the 15th century.

History

The pre-eminent authority on Irish surnames, Edward MacLysaght wrote of the remarkable lack of medieval reference to the Mulcahy surname in the annalistic records. The only known reference to a member of the sept in any Annalistic record is from the Annals of Inisfallen in 1317 AD A Giolla Moenaig Ó Maolchatha is mentioned as a "Keeper of the Island" which could possibly be evidence of the families earlier erenagh status within the local area. Furthermore, the Uí Mhaolchatha sept appears to have been active in the 15th century in the churches of County Kerry. Benefices were granted by papal decree to a number of the sept, including the Vicarages of Killarney, Ardfert and Aghadoe. There is evidence that these benefices were held within the sept for a number of generations, supporting the notion that the family had developed a political hold on the offices without having even been ordained as priests. The Annalistic record for a Giolla Moenaig Ó Maolchatha in the Annals of Inisfallen in 1317 AD combined with the above-mentioned appointments of the vicarages would support the idea that the Uí Mhaolchatha of County Kerry had developed into a modest ecclesiastical dynasty.

Etymology

The surname is of ecclesiastical origin. While it is true that Cathach means Warlike, the inclusion of the prefix Maol refers to a 'devotee' of an individual whose name was Cathach. So the full name of Ó Maolchatha means 'A descendant of a devotee of Cathach' most likely the name of a saint.

O'More theory

The Arms of O'More, often erroneously attributed to Mulcahy

There exists a popularly circulated theory regarding the Mulcahy families origins. The theory first proposed by historian John O'Hart in his highly flawed work, Irish Pedigrees, claims that the Mulcahy family descend from the O'More family of County Laois. O'Hart makes mention of a John O'More who he claims was a younger brother of Rory Caech O'More and who adopted the surname Maolcatha. This theory is almost certainly wrong. O'Hart, intentionally or unintentionally had attributed the origins of the Mulcahy family with O'More on the basis of the name which John O'More had adopted. The name John O'More adopted was not Maolchatha as O'Hart had claimed but actually Maolchathail, and it is from him that the County Laois sept of Ó Maolchathail usually anglicized Mulhall, claim descent. No substantial evidence exists to support the notion that Rory Caech O'More even had a brother named John, making even the claim of the Mulhall family suspect. To this day many commercial heraldic outlets continue to pass the traditional arms of the O'More family of Laois, which are "Vert a lion rampant or in chief three mullets of the last", off as those of Mulcahy when there is clearly no connection between the two families.

Chieftainship

No reliable source exists which names any Chiefly line for this sept. Therefore, any modern claimants to such a title would be highly questionable. As the family has an ecclesiastical origin, any Chiefly line would most likely be associated with the holding of a particular church title over several generations. Unlike the greater political dynasties whose power came from mainly land and cattle ownership, ecclesiastical lineages relied manly on income from these benefices to grow their influence and standing.

An individual had recently come forward claiming Chiefly status by means of ad hoc Derbfine, however in a statement issued on the website of The Clan Mulcahy Association, the individual in question declared that he no longer wishes to claim the position, citing dissatisfaction with the authenticity of the 'ad hoc' system. The Uí Mhaolchatha sept has no reliably recorded Chiefly lineages. However the individual in question does claim descent from the County Kerry branch and ultimately from Giolla Moenaigh Ó Maolchatha, the earliest recorded bearer of the name.


                          POSSIBLE CHIEFLY LINE OF THE UÍ MHAOLCHATHA KERRY BRANCH
                                                     ...
                                                Giolla Moenaig
                                    Keeper of the Island of Innisfallen
                                                   1317 AD
                                                       |
                                                       |
                                                Giolla na Naomh 
                                      = Niamh Dau. of Y Chwoma (Uí Chiabhaigh)
                                                    1401 AD 
                                                       |
                                                       |
                                           Thomas, Vicar of Killarney
                                  First record of the Vicarage in the family
                                                    1426 AD
                                                       |
                                                       |
                                                 Thady (Tadhg), 
                                         Vicar of Killarney and Aghadoe, 
                                    Rector of Kyllmicluym (Drishane parish)
                                                    1473 AD
                                                       |
                                                       |
                                       — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —  
                                      |                                   |
                                     John                               Thomas 
                    John and Thomas (Possibly brothers) both claimed the Vicarage of Killarney in 1480. 
                             Thomas was said to have claimed the office without proper cause. 
                           John was granted the Vicarage by Papal decree however it seems John 
                              would not dare meet with Thomas for fear of violence.

Heraldry

It is a common misconception that Coats of Arms were used to identify families. They were in fact personal property of individuals. It is therefore possible for multiple Coats of Arms to exist under the same surname. However, in the case of Mulcahy, no bearer of the surname has ever registered a Coat of Arms with any Irish Heraldic Authority in Medieval times. No Heraldic symbols can be authentically associated with the family.

The Mulcahy Association, has adopted the symbol of a Yew Tree as their emblem. The Yew, according to the organisation, is closely associated with early church sites as well as having important meaning for the Gaelic Irish.

Places

  • Ballyogaha (Baile Uí gCathaigh), in County Cork, which may or may not have had some connection with the family
  • Mulcahy Middle School, a middle school in the San Joaquin Valley in California
  • Mulcahy Stadium, a baseball stadium in Anchorage, Alaska

Persons

Fictional person
  • Father Mulcahy, American character in the U.S. film and television show M*A*S*H

See also

References

  1. MacLysaght, Edward (1960). More Irish Families. O'Gorman Press. p. 270.
  2. Annals of Inisfallen, Entry 1317.7 . P.427,
  3. O'Connell, Rev. J. (1958). "Obligationes Pro Annatis Diocesis Ardfertensis". Archivium Hibernicum. 21: 4.
  4. MacLysaght, E. Irish families: their names, arms, and origins
  5. Annals of Inisfallen CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts: a project of University College Cork p. 427
  6. Lateran Regesta 728: 1473 Pages 342-345
  7. Lateran Regesta 799: 1479-1480 Pages 680-686
  8. MacLysaght, Edward (1960). More Irish Families. O'Gorman Press. p. 270.
  9. MacLysaght, Edward (1960). More Irish Families. O'Gorman Press. p. 270.
  10. J. O'Hart, Irish Pedigrees, Stem of the Irish Nation
  11. The General armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, p. 715
  12. "The Clan Mulcahy Association".
  13. Papal Registers of Great Britain and Ireland
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