Muldoon
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Maoldúin, meaning "descendant of the devotee of the church."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,730 Americans carry the last name Muldoon. That puts it at #8,121 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.38 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 72,464 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Muldoon 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
4.7K
1 in 72,464
Census rank
#8,121
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,084 bearers of the surname Muldoon in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.38 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 8121st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Muldoon, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Muldoon
The surname Muldoon is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Ó Maoldúin". This name is believed to have originated in the 10th century and can be traced back to County Sligo in the northwest of Ireland.
Ó Maoldúin translates to "descendant of Maoldún", with "Maol" meaning bald or tonsured and "dún" signifying a fortified place or stronghold. This suggests that the name may have belonged to an early chieftain or landowner in the region.
The earliest recorded instance of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. It mentions a "Maoldún Ua Maoil Doraid" who died in 1035 AD. This entry highlights the name's longevity and its association with the area now known as County Sligo.
Over time, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Muldoon, Muldowney, and Muldowny emerging. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and anglicization of the original Irish name.
Notable individuals with the surname Muldoon include:
1. Patrick Muldoon (born 1969), an American actor best known for his roles in films like "Starship Troopers" and "Stigmata".
2. Sir Robert Muldoon (1921-1992), a New Zealand politician who served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984.
3. Paul Muldoon (born 1951), an Irish poet and academic who has won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 2003.
4. William Muldoon (1845-1933), an American wrestler and physical culture pioneer who trained several notable figures, including President Theodore Roosevelt.
5. John Joseph Muldoon (1849-1919), an Irish-American prelate who served as the Bishop of Rockford, Illinois, from 1908 until his death.
The name Muldoon can also be found in various place names, such as Muldoon, Texas, and Muldoon Road in Auckland, New Zealand, further solidifying its historical presence and geographic spread.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Muldoon
Among Census respondents with the surname Muldoon, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Muldoon 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 Muldoon surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Two or more races0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7%
- Black or African American0.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Muldoon 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,646 | #8,121 | -6.2% |
| Count | 4,011 | 4,084 | 1.8% |
| Per 100K | 1.49 | 1.38 | -7.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Muldoon bearers went from 4,011 to 4,084 (+1.8% change). The surname moved down 475 positions in the national ranking, going from #7,646 to #8,121.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Muldoon
FAQ
Muldoon surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Muldoon?
The surname Muldoon holds position #8,121 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 4,730 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.38 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Muldoon surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Muldoon, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (0.9%). 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.