Editing Mooney (section)

==Origins==
The origin of the Moony or Mooney families is lost in antiquity. The name is derived from ''maoin'', a [[Irish language|Gaelic]] word meaning ''wealth'' or ''treasure of treasure'', hence when O'Maonaigh was anglicised to Mooney it meant ''the descendant of the wealthy one.''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cox|first=Liam|title=The Mooney Family of the Doon, County Offaly|url=http://www.irishmidlandsancestry.com/content/family_history/families/mooney_doon.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210205230/http://www.irishmidlandsancestry.com/content/family_history/families/mooney_doon.htm|archive-date=10 December 2008|website=Irish Midlands Ancestry}}</ref>

According to Irish lore, the Mooney family comes from one of the largest and most noble Irish lines. They are said to be descendants of the ancient Irish King [[Érimón|Heremon]], who, along with his brother Herber, conquered Ireland.  Heremon slew his brother shortly after their invasion, took the throne for himself, and fathered a line of kings of Ireland that include [[Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill|Malachi II]], and [[Niall of the Nine Hostages|King Niall]] of the Nine Hostages.

Baptismal records, parish records, ancient land grants, the [[Annals of the Four Masters]], and books by [[John O'Hart|O'Hart]], [[Edward MacLysaght|McLysaght]], and [[O'Brien dynasty|O'Brien]] were all used in researching the history of the Mooney family name. These varied and often ancient records indicate that distant [[sept]]s of the name arose in several places throughout Ireland. The most known and most numerous sept came from the county of [[County Offaly|Offaly]]. The members of this sept were from Chieftain Monach, son of Ailill Mor, Lord of [[Ulster]], who was descended from the Kings of [[Connacht]]. These family members gave their name to town lands called Ballymooney both in that county and in the neighbouring county of [[Leix]].<ref>{{cite web|author=HJK49 &nbsp;(Visualizza annunci) |url=http://boards.ancestry.it/surnames.mooney/2092/mb.ashx |title=The Ancient and Distinguished History of the – Mooney – Bacheca di storia familiare e genealogia – Ancestry.it |publisher=Boards.ancestry.it |date=23 February 2009 |access-date=22 April 2011}}</ref>