Ó Mathghamhna

Ó Mathghamhna is the original Irish Gaelic form of the Mahoney surname, historically borne by a prominent clan from Munster. Derived from the Old Irish Mathgamain, meaning "bear" (a compound of math andgamuín), the name signifies a descendant of one named Mathgamain. The O'Mahonys were a branch of the Eóganacht Raithlind, a dynasty of early-medieval Ireland, and they once held the kingship of Munster and Desmond. Their progenitor, Mathghamhain, was son of Cian, who was in turn the son of Máel Muad mac Brain, a King of Munster in the late 10th century. Cian allied with the famous high king Brian Boru (Brian) and married Brian's daughter Sadb, solidifying the clan's noble standing. The clan's territory lay primarily in present-day County Cork, around the area of Rosscarbery. Notable bearers from the Wikipedia extract are not deeply detailed, but the article mentions crime author Bernard O'Mahoney and comedian Dave Allen (born David Tynan O'Mahony). The surname has given rise to several Anglicized variants, including Mahoney, McMahon, and MacMathan. Today, O'Mahony and its variants are common in Ireland and throughout the Irish diaspora.

• Meaning: Descendant of the bear-like one (Mathgamain)
• Origin: Irish Gaelic
• Type: Surname
• Usage Regions: Ireland