Moynahan
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Muimhneacháin meaning "descendant of Muimhneachán".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 720 Americans carry the last name Moynahan. That puts it at #35,489 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.21 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 476,048 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Moynahan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
720
1 in 476,048
Census rank
#35,489
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
634
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 634 bearers of the surname Moynahan in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 35489th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Moynahan, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Moynahan
The surname Moynahan is of Irish origin, and it is derived from the Gaelic word "Maonghamhain," which means "descendant of Maonghamhain." The name Maonghamhain itself is a combination of two Gaelic words: "maon," meaning "wealthy," and "ghamhain," meaning "calf."
The earliest recorded use of the name Moynahan dates back to the 16th century in County Tipperary, Ireland. In 1601, the Moynahan name appeared in the "Fiants of County Tipperary," which were records of grants of land made by the Crown in Ireland.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Moynahan family was prominent in County Tipperary, particularly in the areas of Cashel and Fethard. Some notable individuals with the Moynahan surname from this period include John Moynahan (1640-1718), a member of the Irish Parliament, and William Moynahan (1705-1779), a landowner and businessman.
In the 19th century, the Moynahan name spread to other parts of Ireland and beyond. One notable individual from this period was Michael Moynahan (1835-1902), an Irish-American politician who served as the Mayor of Syracuse, New York, from 1892 to 1894.
Other notable individuals with the Moynahan surname include:
1. James Moynahan (1868-1943), an Irish-American Catholic priest and educator in New York City.
2. Brendan Moynahan (1891-1971), an Irish politician and member of the Dáil Éireann (Irish Parliament) from 1927 to 1937.
3. Patrick Moynahan (1918-1987), an Irish hurler who played for the Tipperary senior hurling team.
4. Brian Moynahan (born 1941), a British author and journalist who has written extensively on military history and international affairs.
5. Bridget Moynahan (born 1971), an American actress and model, best known for her roles in films such as "Coyote Ugly" and "The Recruit."
The Moynahan surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Moynahancourt and Moynahan's Bridge, both located in County Tipperary.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Moynahan
Among Census respondents with the surname Moynahan, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Moynahan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Moynahan surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.9%
- Two or more races1.9%
- Hispanic or Latino1.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Moynahan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #35,489 | #35,489 | 0.0% |
| Count | 634 | 634 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Moynahan bearers went from 634 to 634 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #35,489 to #35,489.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Moynahan
FAQ
Moynahan surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Moynahan?
The surname Moynahan holds position #35,489 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 720 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Moynahan surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Moynahan, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.