2-486: Molloy or O' Molloy is an Irish surname, anglicised from Ó Maolmhuaidh, maolmhuadh meaning 'Proud Chieftain'. (See also Malloy .) They were part of the southern Uí Néill , the southern branch of the large tribal grouping claiming descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages , the fifth-century king who supposedly kidnapped St Patrick to Ireland. They held power over a large part of what is now County Offaly , where
4-523: The surname is still very common. A second family were the O Maoil Aodha, 'descendant of the devotee of (St) Aodh', from maol, literally 'bald', a reference to the distinctive tonsure sported by early Irish monks . As well as Molloy, this surname has also been anglicised as Mulloy, Malloy, Maloy, 'Miley' and 'Millea'. The name arose in east Connacht , in the Roscommon/east Galway region, and remains numerous there today. Notable people with
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