Mahoney, ó Mathghamhána, ó Mathúna
A Gaelic surname meaning descendant of Mathghamhain, which personal name means ‘bear-calf’. Mathgamhain, a brother of Brian Boru was king of Cashel. A sept who were chiefs of Cineál mBéice, now the barony of Kinelmeaky, along the river bandon in Cork. They later established themselves in the district of Fonn Iartharach in south-west Cork. In 1890, Mahoney was the forty-sixth most numerous surname, the estimated number of bearers was 13,500, the surname was principally to be found in Cork (182 births), and it was also to be found in Kerry and Limerick. In the United States Mahoney is the 1,071st most numerous surname with an estimated 30,250 bearers. It is numerous in the state of Massachusetts.