Surname Multully - Meaning and Origin
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Multully: What does the surname Multully mean?
The last name Multully is an Irish surname that originated in County Galway, Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic “Mealltullach,” which translates to “the summit of the hill.” Families with this surname were most likely descended from hereditary chiefs, clan leaders, or individuals of importance among the local population. It is believed that the name was bestowed upon the original person as a title of honor or appreciation for a job well done, and the surname was then passed down through the generations.
Over time, the spelling of the name changed, and it can now be found written as “Mulally”, “Mulally”, “Multully”, or “Multill”. A variant form of the name is "Mulholland", which is a common name in Northern Ireland.
Some of the first recorded bearers of the Multully name were Patrick and William Multully in County Galway, who were mentioned in documents dated 1584. There are also several references to the family in 19th century records. The Mulallys were prominent in Galway, and several branches of the family can still be found there today. The Mulallys were also documented in County Mayo and County Clare, as well as in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Multully family has left its mark on Irish history, and its legacy can be found around the world. People with this surname often cherish their heritage and strive to keep their heritage alive. Nonetheless, the true origin of the Multully name may never be known.
Order DNA origin analysisMultully: Where does the name Multully come from?
The last name Multully is mostly associated with the Irish heritage and appears to be most common in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Descendants of the Multully name are often found in counties along the western coast of Ireland, particularly in counties Limerick, Cork, and Galway. The Multullys have been in Ireland since at least the late 1500s and have since scattered abroad from there.
In the United States, a large population of Multullys can be found in counties across the states of Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Louisiana, and California. Census records also indicate the presence of Multully in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, and Texas.
In the United Kingdom, a small population of Multullys live in England, although most are spread across Scotland, particularly in Glasgow. Other areas of the UK with less population of Multullys include Northern Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, and some smaller islands.
Multullys living abroad, often as a result of family emigration, can be found in Australia, Canada and South Africa, with smaller pockets living in Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and other European countries.
Overall, the Multully last name is most common still in Ireland, but with a significant worldwide presence, its descendants can be found in most parts of the globe.
Variations of the surname Multully
Multully is an anglicized spelling of the Irish surname 'Mac an Ultaigh', which can be translated as meaning 'son of the Ulsterman'. Variants and alternate spellings of the name include Macultee, Maculty, Macultaigh, Maculate, Macultai, Maceltaigh, MacEltee, MacElteigh, and MacUltaigh.
The name Multully is derived from the ancient Irish Kingdom of Ulster in the north of Ireland. Specifically, the name was most likely derived from the old Irish district of Uladh (Ulster), and was most likely first used to designate a person who was from there. This is often referred to as a 'territorial origin name,' as the original bearer obtained the name from the place from which he hailed.
The various spelling variants of the name were often attributed to the differing dialects and pronunciations in different parts of Ireland. Multully is also the name found in the mid 19th century Griffith's Valuation among Co. Fermanagh Ulster Scots descendants.
Surnames of the same origin, such as Mac an Ultaigh or MacEltee, can also be found in Scotland. Some of these spellings are more commonly found in Scotland, while others, such as Macultee and Maculate, are more commonly found in Ireland.
The spelling of the name has also been Anglicized, as it was not uncommon for names to be spelled phonetically in the records of the day. Thus, today, many variant spellings are found including O’Multy, Mullty, Multly, Multhy, Moltly, Multlee, and Multee, among others.
Famous people with the name Multully
- Stephen Mulholland: a Northern Irish footballer who played for various teams in the English Football League, most notably Tranmere Rovers, and represented the Northern Ireland national team.
- Willie Mullally: an Irish Gaelic footballer who began playing for the Cork county team in 1951, later becoming the longest-serving member of the team by playing for an 18-year period. He also served as team captain and manager.
- Robert Mulholland: a former Republican politician in Northern Ireland, and the first Deputy Speaker of the Belfast City Council.
- Ellen Mulholland: an Irish actress, known for her television and film roles in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as playing Liz Carpenter in the series Monarch of the Glen.
- Maddie Mulholland: an Irish basketball player who played professionally for the Kilkenny Wildcats in the Women's Superleague.
- Clem Mulholland Jr.: an American folk artist who created pop-art inspired portraits for the inspired New Orleans music scene.
- Sean Mulholland: an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, and St. Louis Cardinals.
- Micheal Mulholland: an Irish businessman and former director of Royal Dutch Shell, one of the world's largest energy and petrochemical companies.
- Mark Mulholland: a British author who wrote the novel Sons of the Rock, which tells the story of the Irish Republican Army's struggle to establish an independent Irish Republic.