On a whim I thought I'd see what the World Wide Web could tell me about my surname. In a strangely interesting afternoon I collected the following bits & bobs...
Origin And Meaning
This Gaelic surname means descendent of Maol Mhuadh which means 'noble, proud'. The Molloys were descendents of the son of Niall of the Nine Hostages who was called Fiachra. They were lords of Feara Ceall and their territory was primarily Offaly.
Molloy Heraldry
Heraldic Glossary:
- Argent (white or silver) :- Peace and sincerity.
- Lion :- Deathless courage.
- Sable (black) :- Constancy, sometimes grief.
- Gules (red) :- Military fortitude and magnanimity. A warrior, brave and strong but generous and just. A martyr's colour.
- Oak Tree :- Symbolizes great strength and age.
- Greyhound :- Courage, vigilance and loyal fidelity.
In addition I found several 'family mottos' which when translated into English become "I would rather die than be disgraced" or "Cut and burn to victory" ("Gearaigh agus Dogh Buadh") - the latter strikes me as being deliciously butch.
Molloy Links
My Wee Branch Of The Molloy Family Tree
In case this is of any interest or use to avid Molloy genealogists out there...
The patriarch and matriarch of the following tree were:- Full Name: John Patrick MOLLOY; Born: 3rd January, 1892 @ Queensland, Australia; Died: 11th November, 1957 @ Auckland, New Zealand.
- Full Name: Ethel DEMPSEY; Born: 28th May, 1888 @ Ngahere, New Zealand; Died: 4th March, 1976 @ Auckland, New Zealand.
| Full Name: Charles Boyd MOLLOY Born: 30th September, 1916 @ Auckland, New Zealand Died: ?? @ Auckland, New Zealand |
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| Full Name: Jeanne Olwyn SAMPSON Born: 30th July, 1922 @ Westcliffe, England |
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| Full Name: John Joseph MOLLOY Born: 15th November, 1917 @ Auckland, New Zealand Died: 8th November, 2000 @ Orewa, New Zealand |
Full Name: Michael John MOLLOY Born: 1943 @ Auckland, New Zealand |
Full Name: Christopher Michael MOLLOY Born: 1971 @ Tauranga, New Zealand |
Full Name: Holly McDonough MOLLOY Born: 2005 @ Wellington, New Zealand |
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| Full Name: Mary Josephine WARD Born: 14th December, 1919 @ Auckland, New Zealand Died: 27th July, 1991 @ Harare, Zimbabwe |
Full Name: Tessa Margaret WRIGHT Born: 1944 @ Timaru, New Zealand |
Full Name: Andrea Catherine Fiona McDONOUGH Born: 1968 @ Dublin, Ireland |
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| Full Name: Peter GRIFFIN Born: 1975 @ Timaru, New Zealand |
Full Name: Samuel Peter MOLLOY-GRIFFIN Born: 2007 @ Auckland, New Zealand |
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| Full Name: Rebecca Sarah MOLLOY Born: 1973 @ Tokoroa, New Zealand |
Full Name: Zoe Tessa MOLLOY-GRIFFIN Born: 2007 @ Auckland, New Zealand |
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| Full Name: Madeleine Celeste MOLLOY-GRIFFIN Born: 2009 @ Auckland, New Zealand |
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| Full Name: Timothy John MOLLOY Born: 1979 @ Auckland, New Zealand |
Full Name: Mila MOLLOY Born: 2015 @ Sydney, Australia |
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| Full Name: Marina PAJIC Born: 1981 @ ??, Serbia |
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| Full Name: Michael Victor BLAND Born: 1978 @ Lincoln, New Zealand |
Full Name: Farrah Josephine MOLLOY-BLAND Born: 2012 @ Oxford, England |
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| Full Name: Amelia Elizabeth Josephine MOLLOY Born: 1982 @ Haywards Heath, United Kingdom |
Full Name: Owen MOLLOY-BLAND Born: 2016 @ Christchurch, New Zealand |
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| Full Name: Patrick MOLLOY Born: 10th August, 1919 @ Auckland, New Zealand. Died: 8th December, 1988 @ Auckland, New Zealand |
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| Full Name: Joan Catherine SNEDDEN Born: 27th May, 1922 @ Auckland, New Zealand |
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| Full Name: Terence George MOLLOY Born: 12th February, 1921 @ Auckland, New Zealand Died: ?? @ ?? |
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| Full Name: Patricia Clare SAMPSON Born: 27th February, 1927 @ Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex, United Kingdom |
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| Full Name: Thomas Alexander MOLLOY Born: 25th April, 1923 @ Auckland, New Zealand Died: ??, 1934? @ Auckland, New Zealand |
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