Ó Mocháin

Rev Patrick Woulfe

Irish Names and Surnames

1923

Ó MOCHÁIN—I—O Mochane, O Moghane, O Muoghane, O Moughan, O Moone, Moghan, Mohan, Moughan, Moohan, Moan, Moen, Mowen, Moon, Mahon, Maughan, Voghane, Vaughan; 'descendant of Mochán' (a 'pet' form of some name commencing with moch-, early); also Ó Macháin, which see; the name (1) of a family of Cinel Ianna, in the diocese of Kilmacduagh, who are still numerous in Co. Galway, where they generally anglicise the name Mahon; (see Ó Macháin); and (2) of an ecclesiastical family—a branch of the Ui Fiachrach— in Co. Sligo, who were erenaghs of Killaraght, in the barony of Coolavin, and keepers of the cross of St. Attracta. They were great patrons of learning. Many of them were distinguished ecclesiastics. Gregory O Mochain was Archbishop of Tuam in the early part of the 14th century. Ó Mocháin is now a fairly common surname all through the South of Ireland, as well as in Connacht. In Munster, it is generally anglicised Vaughan, a form evidently derived from the genitive case Uí Mhocháin. Compare with the old anglicised form Voghane.

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