Mulroney
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Maolruanaidh meaning "descendant of the tonsured one."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 411 Americans carry the last name Mulroney. That puts it at #56,444 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 833,952 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mulroney 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
411
1 in 833,952
Census rank
#56,444
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
362
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 362 bearers of the surname Mulroney in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 56444th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mulroney, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mulroney
The surname Mulroney has its origins in Ireland, traced back to the Gaelic O'Maolruanaidh clan. The name is derived from the Irish words "maol" meaning "bald" and "ruanaidh" meaning "champion." It is believed that the name originated in County Roscommon in the 16th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mulroney can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In 1596, a reference is made to "Maolruanaidh mac Conchobhair," a member of the O'Maolruanaidh clan.
The Mulroney name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. In the 17th century, Terence Mulroney was a prominent Irish Catholic landowner and supporter of the Jacobite cause. He was born in County Mayo in 1640 and died in 1713.
In the 19th century, John Mulroney (1826-1901) was an Irish-born Canadian politician and lawyer. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and was a prominent figure in the early days of Canadian Confederation.
Another notable bearer of the Mulroney name was Brian Mulroney (born 1939), a Canadian politician who served as the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from 1984 to 1993. He played a significant role in negotiating the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
In the world of literature, author and poet Mary Mulroney (1860-1941) was born in County Sligo, Ireland, and published several collections of poetry and short stories during her lifetime.
The name Mulroney has also been associated with various place names, such as Mulroney's Townland in County Roscommon, Ireland, and Mulroney Park in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mulroney
Among Census respondents with the surname Mulroney, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Mulroney 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 Mulroney surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.6%
- Unknown or suppressed2.2%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mulroney 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 | #54,385 | #56,444 | -3.8% |
| Count | 355 | 362 | 2.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.13 | 0.12 | -7.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mulroney bearers went from 355 to 362 (+2.0% change). The surname moved down 2,059 positions in the national ranking, going from #54,385 to #56,444.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mulroney
FAQ
Mulroney surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mulroney?
The surname Mulroney holds position #56,444 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 411 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mulroney surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mulroney, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%). 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.