ORigins of the surname "Mac Maoláin"

 

 

Mac Maoláin as a surname evolved from the ancient Irish Gaelic root form "Maelan", a early variant which remained in use circa 700-900 AD. The later middle Irish variant forms Maoláin; Mailin; Maellain common circa 900-1200AD, are verified in numerous Irish "annal" entries often varied for the same individual spanning hundreds of years.

 

A less certain possibility for a Co. Tyrone family of the name, is found in the translation of an Ogham narrative cut into the Aghascrebagh Standing Stone. One of the very few Ogham stones in the north of Ireland, it was almost certainly a standing stone before this Ogham script was added.

 

 

1.2 metres high, the stone itself appears to be from circa 500AD, but when exactly the now much worn oghamic inscription interpreted as "Dottetto Maqi Maglani" was added, remains unknown. MAQI according to oghamic expert analysis, was one of the earliest oghamic forms of Mac=son of, leaving some convinced this script was referencing an individual who was a son of Maelan

 

 

 

Eugence “O'Growney” in his research publication of Irish forenames, suggested Maelan in the original Celtic form, evolved from forename Maol which translates as "Head or Hero". He provides us examples of sites connected to early ecclesiastic tradition, where the forename variant Maelán (Daire Maelain Fermanagh, Cell Maelain Limerick and Killmoylan Galway), was used by individuals engaged in ecclesiastic endevours.

 

Widely dispersed ecclesiatic sites where a variant of Maelan emerged include several in county Laois, one of which according to "O’Growney, in his research conclusions", may have been the very 1st to house a monastic given the forename of Maelan:

 

 

 

 

These "original Celtic forename variants" would eventually became anglicized, evolving 1st to the surnames: Mullan/Mullen/Mullin and then "son of"= Mac Mullan, Mac Mullen, Mac Mullin and Mac Moylan. Later they would be shortened to the more common variant style in use today of: McMullan, McMullen, McMullin, but the existence of those earlier forms (Mac Maoláin, Mic Maoláin, Mhic Mhaoláin, Mec Mellain and Mec Maoilin), can all be verified by:

 

1.Ancient Irish townland names established in topographic locales these families had once inhabited;

 

 

2.Diversified Irish annal entries recorded by scribes located in different areas and influenced in their style of spelling by different monastic orders;

 

 

3.The written notes, recorded in the Irish language discovered in the charter section of the famous "Book of Kells"; and

 

 

4. Individuals identified in ecclesiastic histories for several Irish dioceses bearing a variant of this surname.

 

 

These diverse resources highlight the factual reality, that several unrelated families adopting a variant of this forename as their family (clan) surname in Ireland over many centuries. Importantly this diversity exposes the simplistic research efforts adopted by crest marketing companies, who cobble together questionable analysis about each specific surname, post varied suggestions of where it supposedly first emerged, then select and display one common crest for all, based it would appear on who they are marketing.

 

 

These outdated general descriptions were perhaps acceptable in the past, but have continued to remain static, ignoring vast amounts of modern database research evidence illuminating several specific families of the surname and several different crests adopted by those families for a particular lineage.

 

 

 

 

 

The chiefly forename Maelán, Maolán, Maoláin, Meallain and collateral medieval surname Mac Maoláin (son of), all surface in terms of historic identification, in the transcriptions of very early locational enumerations for populations and affiliated families within dynastic tribal clusters (Rawlinson B502 "Genelach Laigin", the book of Glendalough, the book of Leinster, and the history of Clanna Rory (F. Cronnelly), plus diverse Irish Annals just to name a few).

 

These ancient texts reference significant chieftain’s, use of his name to enumerate family groupings, and that particular variant form found published in antiquarian research. These sources sequentially reveal where those forenames and collateral surnames can be found:

 

 

* In the early chiefly families of the Laigin (Lein/Lyne) ), specifically the dynastic Ui Bairrche tribal clusters, which included their mercenary allies, the fianna of Clanna Rory (the Laighsi);

 

 

Ui Maeláin (line 190, line 201, line 207, Ui Bairrche, Glind Uissen, Leinster, Chieftain Ui Cellaig (Kelly Kelley) located in Magh Ailbe, Kells plain, Co. Kilkenny and later in the Killeshin barony of Slievemargy Co. Laois;

 

 

* In the downstream dynastic evolution of the territorial tribes of the Laigin i.e, the Ui Failghe; Ui Dunlaigne; Ui Fergusa, and Clan Donnchada:

 

 

Rus Failge m. Cathaír Máir sé mc la suide .i. Nath Í, Brénaind, Óengus Find, Óengus Dub, Dálán, Eochaid, Clann Coibdenaig: Úi Móenaig & Úi Máele, mc Máelíne. Line 1513 Colmán m. Cináeda m. Máeláin m. Dub Dá Braine m. Donchada.

 

 

*In the genelach (pedigree) for the Luighne & Gaileanga alliance of Mide and Brega (=modern counties of Westmeath and Meath):

 

 

O’Maelláin, Dealbhna Bec, Chieftain O’Mellon, tributary to Mael Sechlain (McLoughlin) Clan Cholmain, Uisneach, located in townland of Clonmellon, barony of Fore, Co. Meath.

 

 

Ui Maelán & Mac Maoláin, tigherna of the Luighne & Gaileang Mora & Breagh, tributary to Mael Sechlain (MacLoughlin) Clan Cholemain, baronies of Lower Kells/Morgallion Meath plus Castlerahan/Clankee Cavan.

 

 

These territorial dynasties emerging over periods in excess of several thousand years, were constantly reshaped by conquest and defeat, producing several diverse variants of an original form of the forename Maelan, recorded in different locations for clearly unrelated families (clan/sept) and in diverse monastic sites such Ceanannus (Meath), Clonmacnoise (Offaly), Clones (Monaghan), Swords (Dublin) Clonfert (Galway), Kilnamanagh (Roscommon), Kilmactranny (Sligo), Daire (Derry columcille), Downpatrick (Down) and Ahoghill Kilconway (Antrim).

 

 

Monastic occupational records and the common variant spelling form selected most frequently by scribes for the individuals recorded, contributed to the more frequent selection of the transcribed tonsured form (Maolain= bald) versus the original form Maelan.

 

 

 

 

 

Tracking territorial population groups where a prominent Maelan & Mc has surfaced, illuminates that different cultural, topographic tribal clusters, and tributary relationships are linked to this surname. Where tribal references appear in ancient historic renderings, they often include a mention of the pagan deities of Lugh, Nauda, Cian and the mystic Tauth De Dannan. Most give tribal affiliations of Luighne (Lune) & Gaileanga (Gallen).

 

More recently published research efforts (all of which predate modern genetic evolution and haplogroup analysis) identify specific families:

 

 

Irish Genealogical Society's history of Clanna-Rory, identifying the ecclesiastical family of MacMullen on page 16 and migration of Fergus Gaileang to "Teffia" (modern day Westmeath) on page 86;

 

 

Ethnology of the Gael, by C. Thomas Cairney, listing O'Mullan on pages 78, 82 and 87, with a suggested origin as from the earlier families of Cahair Mor and the Laigin;

 

 

O'Hart "Irish Pedigrees" (Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation) suggesting descent from a Connor brother of Dathi, #102 on the Concannon pedigree, his son Donall, his son Maolan, origin conclusion as a descendant of O’Connor Connacht; and

 

 

Geoffrey Keating (Seathrún Céitinn)’s Foras feasa ar Éirinn 1634, stating Mullen of “Meath” as descended from Conchubar (Connor) Ui Failge a dynastic line of the earlier Laigin.

 

 

 

 

 

Generally, antiquarians consider recorded ancient pedigree's as only completely reliable from about the 9th century (=800AD+) onward, due to the constant shifts in dynastic affiliations of earlier times. Ancient pedigrees must be read with the view of being indicative of topographic alliances versus agnatic descent.

 

Below are listed the ancient pedigrees based on antiquarian Irish text research, describing evolutionary pathways where a prominent male forename in that territorial cluster, is said to have spawned a later clan surname of Mullan, Mullen, McMullen in the more reliable era’s.

 

 

Note that all three, claim ancient descent from either a Ailella Auluimm (Munster which included earlier Offaly) or, an Oiliol (alternate variant of Ailella).

 

 

Pedigree forenames significant to later Mullen or Mc research conclusions, such as Cormac, are found in all three. Donchada which links directly to the Leinster Mac Maolain lineage, is only found in two, Conchubar (Connor) and Máeláin are only found in the pedigree for the Luighne & Gaileanga of Meath.

 

 

Sil Cormaic Gaileng: (Leinster)

 

Clothna m. Colggan m. Móenaich m. Crunnmáel m. Báetáin m. Báeth m. Findich m. Gossa m. Tálgluind m. Brócáin m. Cormaicc m. Taidgc m. Céin m. Ailella Auluimb

 

 

Fergus Gaileang Teffia: (Clana Rory to Leinster)

 

Lughaidh m. Fergna m. Gillacha m. Ronain m. Oiliol m. Donchada m. Saoi Mor m. Oildgoid m. Gailne m. Cormac m. Blathnaine m. Felim m. Oiliol m. Fergus [Gaileang] m. Rosa m. Rory

 

 

Luighne & Gaileang Mora: (Rawlinson B502)

 

Léocán m. Laidgneáin m. Máeláin m. Éicnich m. Dúnchada m. Cináeda m. Léocáin m. Donngaile m. Conchobair m. Moínaich m. Máel Mórda m. Adamra m. Dechraich m. Dergscáil m. Leae nó oe m. Cormaicc [Gaileang] m. Taidg m. Céin m. Ailella Auluim

 

Mac Maoláin

The 1st family recorded anywhere with a surname of "Mac Maoláin" emerged in annalistic records early 11^th/12th century, from the pedigree line above. They were associated at that time with the Mide & Brega tribal clusters of Luighne & Gaileanga, tributary to the families of the Southern Ui Neill, Clan Cholmain & Sil nAedo Slaine (the Mael Seachlain kings of Mide and Tara (Brega) and responsible to secure the borders of Mide & Brega for the High King (Ard Ri).

Notices found in diverse Irish Annals relating to this specific family of Maelan, Maoláin, and Mac Maolain, identify them as originally Lords of the Luigne Sequential entries record the territorial tribal clusters they were aligned with, and eventually held lordship over, which included the Gaileanga Mora. Records reveal their wider involvement with those territorial tribal elements both in conflicts of the region and monastic ordes that were part of it.

In short, Clan Maoláin were a "warrior class" and following the practice of all ruling noble families, derbfine (agnatic) relatives also held important positions in monastic orders, with time related sources illuminating their ecclesiastic links to the monastic sites of Kildalkey, Swords, Kells (Ceannanus) and the "Alumnus of Columcille".

Importantly this took place during the specific period when Kells had become the primacy (head of this monastic branch of columcille), responsible for educational sites in both Ireland and Scotland. Monastic members of this family migrated to Scotland serving in rotational sites of Iona, Oban & Dunkeld.

For more specific details such as sequential annal entries, book entries, and annalistic summaries, click those sections titled Morgallion & Alumnus of Columcille.