Ó Maoileóin

Ó MAOILEÓIN—I—O Mullone, O Melone, O Malone, Malone; 'descendant of Maoleóin' (servant of St. John); the name of a distinguished ecclesiastical family at Clonmacnoise, of which several O'Malones were abbots and bishops. In the 17th century, they rose to power and influence as landed proprietors, and after 1691 seem to have thrown in their lot with the English. Anthony Malone was a celebrated figure in Irish public life about the middle of the 18th century. His nephew, Richard Malone, was in 1785 created Baron Sunderlin; while another nephew, Edmond Malone, was the celebrated Shakesperian commentator.

Alphabetical Index to Irish Surnames