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Mac Maolain is an ancient gaelic surname of native Irish origin adopted by the sons of Maolan in the early 11th century. It would later be anglicised as MacMullen, MacMullan, MacMoylan, McMullen, McMullan and McMullin. The Irish Gaelic variants of Mac Maolain, Mic Maolain and Mhic Mhaolain evolved in several regions of Ireland and can be found recorded in Irish Annal entries spanning several centuries. The variant Mac Maolain connects primarily to the septs (families) of the Gaileanga (Gallen) and Luighne (Lune) plus monastic communities of Clonmacnoise, Clonfert, Clones, Ceanannus (Kells) and the Culdee order.

Maelan Maelan mac Cathmogha or Maolan (Mullan) as the forename of a significant noble was first recorded in ancient Maigh Seola (Athenry to Taum area of Galway). Identified as King of the southern Ui Briuin, Maelan was slain by the Vikings c.848 AD. Historians such as O'Rahilly suggest this pedigree of Ui Briuin is fictitious and descendants of this particular Maelan, part of the Muinter Murchada, were much more likely political allies (Laigin) versus actual blood relatives of the Ui Briuin. This theory finds additional support with sept O'Mullen identified in subsequent research projects as being ethnically Laigin (Ui Diarmada of Hy Many Ref 1-page 87) [1]. Historical entries in the Annals of Ireland for the forename of Maolan and later surname variants, surfaced primarily in the 10th century and are linked to families located in the ancient provinces of Leinster and Connacht. They are associated with ethnic-political alliances descending from very early tribal clusters such as Fir Domnann, Ui Bairrch (Dal Naid Cuirp), Ui Maine (Ui Diarmada), Ui Briuin (Gaileang Clankee) and Ui Failghe (Gaileanga-Bec). In contrast the more commonly advertised sept O'Mullan of Coleraine and Derry, identified historically as being descendants of the northern Ui Neill, are virtually obscure in terms of any actual Irish Annal entries, suggesting they are not directly related to these earlier Laigin groups. The history of Ireland (see Ref 2)[2] and several other listed references identify septs using variants of this forename as located in Laois, Cork, Galway, Roscommon, Monaghan, Cavan, Offaly, Meath and Westmeath. Maelan the son of Congalach, son of Flann, Lord of the Gaileanga was recorded in 978 AD as slain during a battle with Vikings. The variant form Mhic or Mac (son of) Maolain begins to surface in the Annals after the 1014 battle of Clontarf. The last Mac Maolain noble recorded in the Irish Annals (Mide Ref 14)[3] is identified as the son (Mac) of Mic Maolain, Lord of Gaileanga-Breagh (Brega, slain 1144 AD. Ref 2 and Ref 3 establish the 9th to 12th century locales for these Gaileanga Breagh septs as being Morgallion Meath, Clankee Cavan Barony of Morgallion_cite note-1 and Dunboyne South Dublin. Tributary families are found recorded later (Ref 4)[4] as either re-located (Luighne sept O'Breen, Gaileanga septs O'Lohan and O'Hennessey) or possible branch extensions, in the Barony of Gallen (Gaileanga), part of modern county Offaly. Post Norman historical writings indicate the Gaileanga and Luighne elements of Mide and Brega, were driven back towards and across the river Shannon to townlands in Offaly, Laois, Galway and Roscommon. Sept O'Mullen are recorded as part of the Northern Ui Dairmada and said (Ref 1 page 87) to be of the same stock as O'Concannon, Chieftain's of Corca Mogh. MacMullens are also found recorded in the Barony of Iveagh (formerly Bairche) as part of a grouping of families tributary to Magennis (Ref 24-Clanna-Rory Irish Genealogical Foundation page 16). Their presence here appears to be a result of 12th century conflicts involving the Airghaillia King O'Carrol, who allocated conquered land to some families migrating here from the Cremourne area of Co. Monaghan. These families may have included sons of Mac Maolain dispersed earlier into Cavan and Monaghan following the earlier post norman tribal conflicts in Morgallion. It was during the 12th century that Magennis rose to power in Iveagh. O'Mhorda (Moore) Clanna Rory and Maelain (Moylan) are both irish native families also found recorded historically as co-located in the Loagis area as mercenary allies to the Laigin of Leinster. Raurhi (Rory) founder of Clanna Rory is said to have died circa 308 BC in the Rathbeag area of Kilkenny on the Nore river. This creates an additional possibility that both of these agnatic families were part of some very early migrations into Co. Down, with O'Mhorda returning to Leinster circa 300 AD and settling adjacent some earlier Ui Bairche descendants along with Maelain.

The surname Mellan, Millan (Gaelic origin suggested as being Meallain derived from the word Meall meaning pleasant) and it's downstream variants of Mallon or Mellan are very common in Ulster, particularly in the Counties of Tyrone and Armagh (Ref 7). The O'Mellan septs trace their historical lineage to Eoghan son of Niall High King of Ireland. The Cineal Eoghan established a kingdom in the peninsula of Inishowen in Donegal. The O'Mellans were one of the leading septs of Clan Fergus (son of Eoghan), who from their homeland around Loch Swilly (Rathmullen) circa 600 AD, pushed southwest into County Tyrone. They were described as the vanguard of Ui Neill, holding extensive lands to the south of the Sperrin Mountains around Tullaghoge (Cookstown Tyrone) and in a territory referred to as Mellanaght (Slieve Gallion) or Mellan's Country Slieve Gallion As their influence in ecclesiastical affairs grew these O'Mellans came into considerable church lands in Armagh and were the hereditary keepers of the bell of St Patrick. Over 21 families using the variant Mallon are recorded as still there in the census of the early 18th century. This name has become much confused over time with O'Mullan, a sept affiliated with the O'Cathain of Clan Conchubar Magh Ith to the north and based in Coleraine and Derry. Additionally they are confused with O'Mellon (O'Maelan, Maellain, Mealcolain} a sept identified historically as located in the barony of Fore (Clonmellon..Meath). Over time many of these Ulster O'Mellans allowed their names to be transcribed as O'Mullen O'Mullan and eventually McMullen. Ethnically the O'Mellans and the variant McMellan are identified historically as ethnically Milesian Gaels (Ui Neill) as are the O'Mullans of Derry and Coleraine (Clan Drugain).

Irish Annals record the surname Mac Maolain as a downstream variant branching from Maelan (also recorded in Annals using the variant Maolan) 1018 AD, the son of Eichnech Ui Leochain (territory of Loughan/Lohan/Lorcan?), Lord of the Gaileanga Mor. Maolain then Mac Maolain nobles are subsequently recorded in the Irish annals as overlords of these septs of Gaileanga and Luighne located in Clankee Co. Cavan, Morgallion Co. Meath, Lune Co. Meath and Dunboyne South Dublin. Post Norman historical information indicates either movement or branching of these native Irish families to Gallen Co. Offaly plus Cullenagh Co. Laois. Tributary septs are listed in historical information posted for the regions of Breifne (Gaileanga Airthir) as well as the Kingdoms of Mide and Brega. Irish Annals list Maelan Gai Moir (translates as Maelan of the big spear) in 1009 AD as King of a territory called Ui Dorthainn, which spread from Navan in Co. Meath, to Ui Breasail (this could be the Ui Breasail of County Armagh, but is more likely the Ui Breasail of Ui Failghe Gaileanga Kilbeggan). Maolan (Mullen)circa 1018, his son Laidcenn (Lynan) 'Mac Maolain' circa 1051, his son Leocan (Lohan, Logan) 'Maic Maelan' circa 1065 and his son Amhlaoibh (Awley) 'Mic Maolain' circa 1076, all recorded as being Lords of the Mide and Brega Gaileanga Mor. The last recorded noble Mac Mhic Maolain was slain in 1144 AD.

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