Muldoon — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Maoldúin
Meaning: 'chief of the fort'
Traditional stronghold: Fermanagh
Pronunciation: mul-DOON; Irish Ó Maoldúin: oh mwale-DOON
History of the Muldoon name
Muldoon is Ó Maoldúin, usually interpreted as 'chief' or 'warrior of the fort', from maol and dún. The principal sept held the territory of Lurg in north Fermanagh, where they were lords before the rise of the Maguires, and Fermanagh with adjacent Tyrone and Monaghan remains the name's homeland. Lesser septs of the same name existed in Clare and Sligo. The surname has travelled well: it belongs to a Pulitzer-winning poet from Armagh, a Prime Minister of New Zealand, and a long line of Ulster musicians and sportspeople.
Variants: Meldon · Muldon · O'Muldoon
Famous bearers of the name
- Paul Muldoon — Armagh-born poet, Pulitzer Prize winner and Princeton professor.
- Robert Muldoon — Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, of Irish descent.
- John Muldoon — Long-serving Connacht rugby captain who lifted the 2016 Pro12 title.
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Maguire · Flanagan · Cassidy · Lennon · Corrigan · McManus · Devine · Heaney