| ![Show Contents]() Minney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of MinneyWhat does the name Minney mean? The Irish name Minney was originally written in a Gaelic form as Ó Maolmhuaidh, which is derived from the word "muadh," which has the dual meaning of "noble" and "big and soft." 1 The Sept Molloy are the traditional Lords of Fircall, King's County and claim direct "descent from Eochaidh, brother of Tuahal who No. 89 on the 'MacGeoghagens' pedigree, ancestor of O'Maoluaidh, anglicised O'Molloy, and Molloy." 2 From the Lords, the Molloys of Aghadonoher, King's County and the Molloys of Harperstown and Oakport, County Roscommon descend. 2 Early Origins of the Minney familyThe surname Minney was first found in County Offaly (Irish: Uíbh Fháilí) originally the Kingdom of Uí Failghe, located in central Ireland in the Province of Leinster, where they held a family seat from ancient times. The aforementioned MacGeoghagan who were Lords of Moycassell and Fertullagh, in Westmeath claim descent from Fiach, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, the 126th Monarch of Ireland who reigned c. 405. He was one of the Heremon Kings of Ireland. 2 Albin O'Molloy or Alpin O'Moelmhuaidh (d. 1223), was Bishop of Ferns, a native Irishman, "who became a Cistercian monk at Baltinglass, and eventually rose to be abbot of that house. In Lent 1186, when John, archbishop of Dublin, held a synod at Holy Trinity Church, Albin preached a long sermon on clerical continency, in which he laid all the blame for existing evils on the Welsh and English clergy who had come over to Ireland. On 5 Nov. he was appointed by Pope Innocent III, with the Archbishop of Tuam and Bishop of Kilmacduagh, to excommunicate the Bishop of Waterford, who had robbed the Bishop of Lismore." 3 Early History of the Minney familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Minney research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1110, 1640, 1641, 1652, 1660, 1663, 1667, 1669, 1690, 1702, 1742, 1758, 1764 and 1767 are included under the topic Early Minney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Minney Spelling VariationsBefore widespread literacy came to Ireland, a name was often recorded under several different variations during the life of its bearer. Accordingly, numerous spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name Minney family name. Variations found include Molloy, Mulloy, Miley, O'Molloy, O'Mulloy, Mullee and many more. Early Notables of the Minney familyProminent amongst the family at this time was John O'Molloy of English parish, Sugawn chief, Lord of Fercal (Feara Ceall), Offaly
Francis Molloy or O'Maolmhuaidh (fl. 1660), was an Irish theologian and grammarian, a native of the county of Meath, Ireland. "The family of which he was a member had extensive landed possessions in the district known as O'Molloys' Country, and some of them engaged actively in the Irish movements from 1641 to 1652." 3
Charles Molloy (1640-1690), was an Irish lawyer of the Middle Temple, born in County Offaly. He was "a native of King's County and was probably a member of...
Another 154 words (11 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Minney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Minney migration to the United States | + |
To escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name Minney or a variant listed above, including:
Minney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- J Minney, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
| Minney migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Minney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Jeffery Minney, aged 32, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Oregon" 5
- Isaac Minney, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Oregon" 5
- Joseph Minney, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Oregon" 5
| Minney migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Minney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- William Minney, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ionic" in 1884
- Frederick Minney, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ionic" in 1884
| Contemporary Notables of the name Minney (post 1700) | + |
- Bruce Minney (1928-2013), American artist, commercial illustrator for over 40 years
- John Harry Minney, English former cricketer who played from 1959 to 1967
- Safia Minney, English business woman and author, founder and CEO of People Tree, a Fair Trade and environmentally conscious fashion label
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Malo mori quam foedari
Motto Translation: I would rather die than be disgraced.
- MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
- O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The barque OREGON, 521 tons - 1851 voyage to South Australia. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Oregon.htm
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