Mulholland Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

This unusual surname is an anglicised form of the Old Gaelic “O Maolchalann”.  The Gaelic prefix “O” shows “grandson”, or “male descendant of”, and the personal byname “Maolchalann”, a devotee of St. Calann. More common variations are: Mullholland, Mullholland, Mulhollande, Mulolland, Maulholland, Muolholland, Mulhholland, Meulholland, Moulholland, Mul Holland.

The very first recording spelling of the family was shown to be that of Martha Mulhollan,  dated 1711, in the marriage of Patrick Smith. It was during the reign of Queen Anne of England, who was known as “The Last Stuart Monarch”,  dated 1702-1714.  Surname all over the country became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation.  It came to be known as Poll Tax in England.  Surnames all over the country began to develop with unique and shocking spelling varieties of the original one.

Some of the people with the name Mulholland who arrived in the United States in the 17th century included Owen Mulholland, who arrived in Virginia in 1750. Some of the people with the surname Mulholland who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included Daniel Mulholland, who landed in New York in 1811.  Eleanor Mulholland, who arrived in New York in 1811.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

(Springvale, co. Down; confirmed by Betham, Ulster, to Andrew Mulholland, Esq., of Springvale, co. Down). Motto—Semper proecinctus. (Ballywater Park, co. Down). (Eglantine, co. Down). Az. a stag’s head erased ar. betw. three escallops or. Crest—An escallop gu.