Find out how popular the last name Moroney is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Moroney.

Moroney, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Moroney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Moroney in America

Moroney is the 13383rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Moroney surname appeared 2,276 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Moroney.

We can also compare 2010 data for Moroney to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Moroney

The surname Moroney is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "O' Muirgheasain," which means "descendant of the navigator or mariner." It is believed that the name originated in County Mayo, Ireland, in the 16th century.

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be traced back to the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history written in the early 17th century. The annals mention a notable figure named Muirgheas O'Muirgheasain, who was a prominent chieftain in County Mayo during the 15th century.

As the name evolved over time, various spellings emerged, such as O'Moroney, O'Murroghoe, and Morroghoe, before eventually settling on the modern form of Moroney. The variations in spelling were often influenced by local dialects and the interpretations of scribes and record-keepers.

One notable bearer of the Moroney name was Reverend Patrick Moroney, who lived from 1703 to 1783. He was a Catholic priest and educator in County Kerry, Ireland, and played a significant role in preserving Irish language and culture during the Penal Laws era, when Catholic education was suppressed.

Another prominent figure was John Moroney, born in 1822, who was a successful businessman and politician in New York City during the 19th century. He served as a member of the New York State Assembly and was actively involved in the Irish-American community.

In the realm of literature, one can find references to the Moroney name in the works of renowned Irish writers, such as James Joyce's "Ulysses," where the character Myles Crawford is referred to as "Crawford Moroney."

Additionally, the name Moroney is closely associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Moroneymore and Moroney's Hill, both located in County Mayo. These place names serve as a testament to the historical presence and influence of the Moroney family in the region.

Throughout the centuries, the Moroney surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, soldiers, and statesmen. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation, its Irish roots and maritime connotations have remained an integral part of its rich heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Moroney

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Moroney.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Moroney was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Moroney has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Moroney was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Moroney, please contact us.

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