Surname Mulherron - Meaning and Origin

Mulherron: What does the surname Mulherron mean?

Mulherron is a surname of Irish origin. As with many Irish surnames, it's derived from a Gaelic personal name. Specifically, Mulherron stems from the Gaelic name "Ó Maolchiaráin," which means “descendant of Maolchiaráin”. The name “Maolchiaráin” itself is composed of two parts - "maol," meaning bald or tonsured, often indicating a religious devotee, and "ciarán," a diminutive of "ciar," meaning dark or black. So, it could be interpreted as the descendant of a dark-haired religious devotee. It's important to note that interpretations can vary since surnames often changed significantly through transcription, Anglicization, and translation over many centuries. Family surnames like Mulherron can speak to historical family occupations, characteristics, or locations. However, the specific family history and location can significantly impact the surname's meaning.

Mulherron: Where does the name Mulherron come from?

The last name Mulherron is most commonly found today in Ireland, primarily in the province of Ulster in the north, and to a lesser extent in areas of Scotland. It is one of the many surnames of Scots-Irish origin in Ireland, having first spread from Scotland to Northern Ireland in the 17th century. The name Mulherron is an Anglicised version of the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Mhuire, which may mean “Son of Mary” or “Son of the Virgin.” It is also found among Irish people living in the U.S., Australia, and the U.K., the result of 19th and 20th century emigration from Ireland. In the U.S., Mulherrons are most commonly found in southern parts of the country that have a significant Irish population, including states such as New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Some Mulherrons in the U.S. with Irish origins may also be descended from Scottish-born immigrants, who began arriving in the Americas in the mid-1700s.

Variations of the surname Mulherron

Mulherron is an Ulster-Scots surname derived from the Gaelic name Mac an Mhuilichain, meaning "son of the servant of St. Moling", referring to a church or monastery that was dedicated to Moling, an Irish saint. The name is also found to be spelled as Muleheron, Muhleron, Moleheron, Mauleron, Molbery, Mullbery, Mollberry, Mulberry and others.

The variants of the surname Mulheron are predominantly confined to those parts of the British Isles where Ulster-Scots inhabitants are most concentrated, primarily parts of Northern Ireland. Within this region, those bearing the surname are descended primarily from the ancient Mac an Mhuilichain clan.

The name is also seen in Scotland, among the communities of Scots-Irish immigrants that were common to the industrial communities of Scotland's west coast in the 1800s and early 1900s. Along with the other surnames of Presbyterian Scots-Irish origin that were common in these parts of the country, variants of Mulheron, such as Mulberry and Mullbery, are still common there today.

The surname has also spread to other parts of the world, particularly to North America. For example, the Mulheron family tree claims that the Mulheron family has been in the United States since 1720, when Obadiah Mulberry emigrated from Ireland. During this time, other variants of the surname, such as Mullery, Muhleron and Molbery were common in the same area.

In conclusion, the surname Mulherron has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including Muleheron, Muhleron, Moleheron, Mauleron, Molbery, Mullbery, Mollberry, Mulberry, Mullery and Molbery. These names have spread from their original Ulster-Scots source to Scotland, England, Ireland, the United States and other parts of the world.

Famous people with the name Mulherron

• John Mulherron: Award-winning illustrator who was known for his work in DC, Vertigo, Marvel, and Image comics.
• Matthew Mulherron: Director, writer, editor, and journalist based in Los Angeles.
• Sean Mulherron: Hollywood actor, known for his work on projects like American Horror Story and Mad Men.
• Rebecca Mulherron: English actress who has appeared in numerous TV series and films, most notably in Coronation Street and Doctor Who.
• Drew Mulherron: American football coach who has held various positions at the collegiate and professional level.
• Claire Mulherron: Canadian voice actress known for her work on animated projects.
• Tom Mulherron: British actor who's appeared in films such as The Woman in Black and Me Before You.
• John Mulherron Jr.: Sports agent and Power of Attorney for several professional athletes.
• Tim Mulherron: Football administrator and Head of Operations at the English Premier League.
• Nicola Mulherron: International fashion designer, who has presented her designs on the catwalk at New York Fashion Week.

Other surnames

Mulherrin