Mulhall
An Irish surname meaning "summit of the hill" or "summit dweller".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,022 Americans carry the last name Mulhall. That puts it at #16,494 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.59 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 169,513 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mulhall 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
2.0K
1 in 169,513
Census rank
#16,494
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,742 bearers of the surname Mulhall in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.59 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 16494th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mulhall, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mulhall
The surname Mulhall originated in Ireland during medieval times. It is an Anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Maolchallann, meaning "descendant of Maolchallann," a personal name composed of the Gaelic elements "maol" meaning "bald" and "callann" meaning "chalice" or "vessel."
The Ó Maolchallann family was primarily located in County Kildare, where they were part of the ancient Irish dynasty known as the Uí Faelain. This clan held significant power and influence in the region during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, an ancient Gaelic manuscript compiled in the 17th century. The annals reference several members of the Ó Maolchallann family, including Aongus Ó Maolchallann, who is mentioned in an entry for the year 1140.
As the name evolved over time, various spellings emerged, including Mullholland, Mulholland, and Mulhallen, before eventually settling on the modern form, Mulhall. The name's transition to its Anglicized form likely occurred during the 16th and 17th centuries, when English influence and administration increased in Ireland.
Notable individuals with the surname Mulhall throughout history include:
1. Thomas Mulhall (c. 1775-1846), an Irish-born merchant and landowner in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2. Michael G. Mulhall (1836-1900), an Irish-Argentine statistician and author of several works on South American economics and demographics.
3. John Mulhall (1880-1954), an Irish-American actor and playwright known for his work on Broadway and in Hollywood films.
4. Sister Michael Mulhall (1910-1998), an Irish nun and educator who served as the President of Trinity College in Washington, D.C.
5. Brendan Mulhall (1947-2022), an Irish hurler and Gaelic footballer who played for the Kilkenny senior teams in both sports.
The surname Mulhall has a rich history rooted in medieval Ireland, reflecting the cultural significance of the Uí Faelain clan and the linguistic evolution of Irish names during the era of English colonization.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mulhall
Among Census respondents with the surname Mulhall, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Mulhall 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 Mulhall surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.2%
- Hispanic or Latino3.0%
- Two or more races1.0%
- Unknown or suppressed0.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mulhall 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 | #15,167 | #16,494 | -8.7% |
| Count | 1,784 | 1,742 | -2.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.66 | 0.59 | -10.6% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mulhall bearers went from 1,784 to 1,742 (-2.4% change). The surname moved down 1,327 positions in the national ranking, going from #15,167 to #16,494.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mulhall
FAQ
Mulhall surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mulhall?
The surname Mulhall holds position #16,494 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,022 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.59 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mulhall surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mulhall, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Two or More Races (1.0%). 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.