Surname Mulryan - Meaning and Origin
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Mulryan: What does the surname Mulryan mean?
Mulryan is an Irish surname of Gaelic origin. The surname is derived from the Gaelic "Ó Maoilriain" or "Ó Maolriain", which means "descendant of the follower of Rian." The prefix "Ó" signifies "descendant of," while "Maoil" or "Maol" translates to "follower" or "devotee." Therefore, those with the Mulryan surname are said to be descendants of a devotee or follower of Rian. Rian may refer to a saint, a historical figure, or simply a common name during the era when surnames were beginning to be used. Like many traditional Irish surnames, Mulryan has been anglicized throughout history, undergoing numerous spelling variations such as Mulrine, O’Mulrine, O’Mulrean, Mulrean, and others. Despite these changes, the root meaning of the name remains anchored in its Gaelic origin.
Order DNA origin analysisMulryan: Where does the name Mulryan come from?
The last name Mulryan is most commonly found today in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States of America. Of these countries, the highest concentration of people with the surname Mulryan appears to be the Republic of Ireland, where it is one of the 100 most common surnames in the country.
In the United Kingdom, the last name appears to be quite rare, having experienced a steep decline in popularity over the past century. However, it is still found in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and there are more than 1,000 people with the surname registered in the UK.
In Australia, the last name Mulryan has been found in Victoria to a large extent, and the name has been common in Victoria since the state's foundation. There are also large numbers of people with the name in Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, and South Australia.
The United States is the least populous of these countries with the name Mulryan, but there are still approximately 2,000 people in the US who have the surname. Most of these people trace their families back to an Irish immigrant ancestor who first arrived in America in the 19th or early 20th century.
Variations of the surname Mulryan
The surname Mulryan is derived from the Gaelic name ‘O Maol Rdnaigh’ which translates to mean ‘Descendant of the red one’. Through history, this surname has taken on a number of variations and spellings and also been used as a given name.
Variations of this surname are: Mulrian, Mulroney, Muherany, Mulraney, Mullarney, Mulrane, O’Mullarney, O’Mulryan, O’Maoldrainy, O’Maoldora, O’Maoldron, O’Maoldroin, O’Maolruain, O’Moirain, and O’Morony, with several other minor variants.
In some cases, variations of this surname may also be used as given names such as Maolrony, Maoldrain, Maolruain, Moirain, Morony, Maldrona, and Mulrony.
The surname Mulryan has been used in many parts of Ireland with strongest concentrations in counties Cork and Roscommon. It is also found in other parts of Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom.
This surname is relatively uncommon outside of Ireland and the United Kingdom, but is known to be found in locations such as Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Despite its regional popularity, the surname Mulryan appears to be slowly declining in use over the centuries, with many modern-day families using more popular given names or variations on the original Gaelic spelling.
Famous people with the name Mulryan
- Aidan Mulryan: internationally recognized Irish music producer, sound engineer, and composer known for his production work with artists such as Hikaru Utada, Chemical Brothers, and Christina Aguilera.
- Donal Mulryan: Irish professional golfer who has competed on the European Tour.
- Michael Mulryan: professional American basketball player who formerly played with the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers.
- Rosemary Mulryan: American stage and screen actress best known for her roles in the films The Black Dahlia, The Blues Brothers, and Benny & Joon.
- Tom Mulryan: Irish professional footballer who has played in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland for Galway United.
- Willie Mulryan: British actor who appeared on the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 1965 to 1969 and is remembered for his role in the 1968 film The Devil's Brigade.
- William Mulryan: Canadian-American actor, writer and director with many credits in television and movies.
- Sarah Mulryan: Irish professional horse rider who achieved multiple awards including the Irish Sport Horse National Champions award.
- Eoin Mulryan: Irish comedian, radio and television presenter and author of several books.
- Colm Mulryan: Irish YouTuber best known as the creator and star of the popular Colm vs Food series.