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On a whim I thought I'd see what the World Wide Web could tell me about my surname. In a strangely interesting afternoon I collected the following bits & bobs ...

.origin and meaning

This Gaelic surname means descendent of Maol Mhuadh which means 'noble, proud'. The Molloys were descendents of the son of Niall of the Nine Hostages who was called Fiachra. They were lords of Feara Ceall and their territory was primarily Offaly.

.molloy heraldry

Coat of Arms: "Argent a lion rampant sable between three trefoils slipt gules".

Crest: "In front of an oak tree growing out of a mount all proper a greyhound springing sable collared".

Heraldic Glossary:
Argent (white or silver) :- Peace and sincerity.
Lion :- Deathless courage.
Sable (black) :- Constancy, sometimes grief.
Gules (red) :- Military fortitude and magnanimity. A warrior, brave and strong but generous and just. A martyr's colour.
Oak Tree :- Symbolizes great strength and age.
Greyhound :- Courage, vigilance and loyal fidelity.

In addition I found several 'family mottos' which when translated into English become "I would rather die than be disgraced" or "Cut and burn to victory" ("Gearaigh agus Dogh Buadh") - the latter strikes me as being deliciously butch.

.molloy links

.my wee branch of the molloy family tree

In case this is of any interest or use to avid Molloy genealogists out there ...

The patriarch and matriarch of the following tree were:
Full Name: John Patrick MOLLOY; Born: 3rd January, 1892 @ Queensland, Australia; Died: 11th November, 1957 @ Auckland, New Zealand.
Full Name: Ethel DEMPSEY; Born: 28th May, 1888 @ Ngahere, New Zealand; Died: 4th March, 1976 @ Auckland, New Zealand.

Full Name: Charles Boyd MOLLOY Born: 30th September, 1916 @ Auckland, New Zealand Died: ?? @ Auckland, New Zealand
Full Name: Jeanne Olwyn SAMPSON Born: 30th July, 1922 @ Westcliffe, England

Full Name: John Joseph MOLLOY Born: 15th November, 1917 @ Auckland, New Zealand Died: 8th November, 2000 @ Orewa, New Zealand	Full Name: Michael John MOLLOY Born: 1943 @ Auckland, New Zealand	Full Name: Christopher Michael MOLLOY Born: 1971 @ Tauranga, New Zealand	Full Name: Holly McDonough MOLLOY Born: 2005 @ Wellington, New Zealand
Full Name: Mary Josephine WARD Born: 14th December, 1919 @ Auckland, New Zealand Died: 27th July, 1991 @ Harare, Zimbabwe	Full Name: Tessa Margaret WRIGHT Born: 1944 @ Timaru, New Zealand	Full Name: Andrea Catherine Fiona McDONOUGH Born: 1968 @ Dublin, Ireland

		Full Name: Peter GRIFFIN Born: 1975 @ Timaru, New Zealand	Full Name: Samuel Peter GRIFFIN Born: 2007 @ Auckland, New Zealand
		Full Name: Rebecca Sarah MOLLOY Born: 1973 @ Tokoroa, New Zealand	Full Name: Zoe Tessa GRIFFIN Born: 2007 @ Auckland, New Zealand

		Full Name: Timothy John MOLLOY Born: 1979 @ Auckland, New Zealand

		Full Name: Amelia Elizabeth Josephine MOLLOY Born: 1982 @ Haywards Heath, West Sussex, United Kingdom

Full Name: Patrick MOLLOY Born: 10th August, 1919 @ Auckland, New Zealand. Died: 8th December, 1988 @ Auckland, New Zealand
Full Name: Joan Catherine SNEDDEN Born: 27th May, 1922 @ Auckland, New Zealand

Full Name: Terence George MOLLOY Born: 12th February, 1921 @ Auckland, New Zealand Died: ?? @ ??
Full Name: Patricia Clare SAMPSON Born: 27th February, 1927 @ Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex, United Kingdom

Full Name: Thomas Alexander MOLLOY Born: 25th April, 1923 @ Auckland, New Zealand Died: ??, 1934? @ Auckland, New Zealand