From Where Does The Surname Originate? ^{meaning and history}

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While I understand the difficulty in producing accurate records on the meaning of every surname, the lack of in-depth research produces inaccuracies that become fact only through continuous repetition. The inaccuracy in the origins of the surname Malone is as follows;The idea that Maol Eoin is associated with religion was contrived, at a time in Ireland, when it was beneficial to be associated with the growing power of the Church. Authors of family history were paid handsomely, by those wishing to be part of that power, to concoct those associations.The term Maol may well refer to "bald" but as a description of the long since lost geographical area from which the family originated. It may refer to an area lacking in trees, but the term (maol) can also means word "thin", as in a thin landmass such as a peninsula, or island for example. Therefore, long before Maol Eoin was born, the word maol was in widespread use in the gaelic language before the rise of the Church. It i s easy to see how unscrupulous, and perhaps fearful, family historians could find a new meaning for "bald", that fitted well with the prevailing need to draw favor with the Church and the Church's followers.The grandfather of Maol Eoin may have determined that the Church was going to be the new power in the land and so gave one of his sons the name Maol Iosa (MaolJesus) and directed him toward the Church: whereupon Maol Iosa became a bishop. This tradition of offering one son to the Church would continue up until recent times before the Church finally lost power in Ireland. However, although both father and son were given Christian names (Jesus and John), the prefix of their name (Maol) was associated with a much older tradition that was NOT associated with the Church. In recent times, although undergoing some change today, the bride loses her family name when married. However, this was not always the case. In the distant past, as a mark of respect for the family of the bride, particularly if the bride's family were more powerful than the groom's, the children were given names that included at least part of the brides family name. It is no surprise, therefore, to discover that the father of the mother of Maol Iosa (Maol Eoin's great grandfather) carried the name Maolruanaidh: a name that first appears around the year 950, some 250 years before Maol Eoin was born. Therefore, Maol Eoins father, Maol Iosa, was given the still politically powerful name of Maol and the newer religiously powerful name of Jesus. It was inevitable, or perhaps pre-ordained, that he would be the family's power connection within the Church. Whether he became Bishop of Roscommon through religious piety or political clout is unclear. However, as remaining unmarried was not a prerequisite for the job he was able to maintain power and produce heirs in much the same manner as his ancestors had done, albeit in a newly combined political-religious era.Creating a connection therefore, between the prefix Maol and that of a monk shaving his head is a complete fabrication of a later period and nothing less than propaganda used by the family to establish themselves as legitimate rulers within the growing power structure of the Church. Yet, here we are today still regurgitating that propaganda as fact! No one seems to find any contradiction in the discrepancy between the translation of Maol Eoin (Malone) and that of Maolrunaigh (Mulrooney). If the former was " a devotee of St. John" then it must follow that the latter was a devotee of St. Rooney. However, to my knowledge, no such person exists. We need to understand that the descendants of Maol Eoin simply had a desire to maintain their social stature as the Church gained greater and greater power over the inhabitants of Ireland. Indeed, in later centuries, one sector of the family would attempt to continue this tradition by converting to Protestantism. Their unremitting Catholic cousins would be forced from their lands, thus losing their political power. Although achieving some distinction, during English rule of Ireland, the Protestant sector of the family slowly dwindled away. Lack of offspring and relocation to England eventually caused the last great ruling family of the Malone's to die out in the early 1800's. Nevertheless, the name Maol Eoin/Malone had been associated with and governed a specific area of Ireland for some 800 years up to that point; not a bad track record. With the other family members scattered across Ireland the name never again established a central political base from which to continue the tradition.