Muldoon
An Irish surname meaning “servant of St. Dubhan,” though some writers also linked it to a similar Gaelic form meaning “chief of the fort.”
The #8,121 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 75,599 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Muldoon is usually taken from Irish Maol Dubháin, a saint-name based form. The first element maol meant “tonsured one,” and by extension “monk,” “devotee,” or “servant”; Dubhán is the name of St. Dubhán. Some 19th-century writers also suggested a link with Maol Dúin, interpreted as “chief of the fort,” but the saintly derivation is the better-known explanation.
History
The name is found in Ireland and later appears in anglicized form as Muldoon, with variants such as Maldoon, Meldon, and Muldon. Historical surname lists place it especially in Irish counties such as Fermanagh and Galway. In the 19th century, scholars often grouped it with other Irish names beginning Mul-, reflecting the anglicization of Gaelic maol- forms.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same Gaelic root maol also appears in many other Irish surnames beginning with Mul-, often with a religious or devotional sense.
From the historical record
“Meol, near the mouth of the R. Esk. MULDOON (Celt.) i Servant or Disciple of (St.) Dubhan [Ir. Maol Dubhain (bh mUte) : Ir. and Gael, maol, mael, bald, a tonsured person, monk, disciple, servant; and V. Down 2] 2 for the Ir. Maol-duin = Chief of the”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)