Molyneux Old French
Meaning "Moulineaux ", derived from the French Moulin (meaning "mill of the waters")[1] Region of origin France Variant form(s) Mullenax, Mullinax, Molinex, Mullinix, Mullenneix, Mullennix, Mullenix, Mullineaux, Molinieux, Molinaux, Molineaux, Mollineaux, Molineux, Mulling, Molyneaux, Mullinax, Mollinux, Millineux
Shields showing differing crests of branches of the Molyneux family
Molyneux (; Old French : De Molines or De Moulins ) is a French surname . The surname has been linked primarily to a large French family that settled in Lancashire , England. By the 14th century the Molyneux family had split into three main branches: the Lancashire line, who became the Earls of Sefton ; the Nottingham line; and the Calais line, from those remaining in France. There was also a branch of the family who were Irish baronets .[2]
Etymology and history
The ancestors of the Molyneaux family arrived in England in medieval times. The name "de Molines" or "de Moulins", Old French in origin, meaning "Mill", and eventually changed into "Molyneux". The early historical background of the family is sparse, coming from scattered genealogical, historical, and archaeological sources, composed of a mixture of legend , romanticized literary invention, and fact. Some historians deduce the de Moulins came from Moulineaux-sur-Seine , near Rouen , in Normandy .
Mersey and the
Ribble ",
[3] and the manors of Septon (
Sefton ),
Thornton ,
Cuerden , ten
carucates and a half of land, at the service of half a knight's fee. William Molyneux made Septon his chief seat and was succeeded by Vivian de Molyneux.
[4] [5] [6]
They also held the manor of Little Crosby , later Ince Blundell Hall , which had been held by one Uctred until 1066. By 1212 it was owned by Richard de Molyneux of Sefton before being turned over to the Blundell family. The Molyneuxs later owned most of the districts of Speke and Rainhill .[7] The Royalist gentry family held a large moated manor, a corn mill on the River Alt , and the advowson of St. Helen's Church at Sefton without interruption from about 1100 to 1700. Their successors, by then Earls, moved to Croxteth Hall .[8] Of the Sefton Molyneux family, crusaders Richard (d. 1290) and William Molyneux (d. 1320) are entombed within the church, and are its oldest inhabitants. Their effigies now lie beneath an arch moulding set into the wall in the Molyneux chapel, which is outside the 14th-century church walls.
In 1436 the office of Hereditary Steward of the
.
Croxteth Hall, Home of the Earls of Sefton branch of the Molyneux family.
The senior branch of the Sefton family had been staunch Catholics and Royalists (notably in the 17th and 18th centuries) through the worst times until Charles Molyneux, 8th Viscount Molyneux, was rewarded for converting to the Protestant faith. The relatively youthful second and third Viscounts fought on the Royalist side both politically and militarily. Although Liverpool Castle had been partly dismantled in 1660–1678, Caryll Molyneux, the 3rd Viscount, had used it for storing arms. During the reign of King
Society of Jesus
alone.
Variations
Variations of the surname include "Mullinax", "Mullenax", "Molinex", "Mullinix", "Mullenneix", "Mullennix", "Mullineaux", "Molinieux", "Molinaux", "Molineaux", "Mollineaux", "Molineux", "Mulleneux" among others.[9]
Notable people with the name
Molyneux
David Molyneux (born 1943), British parasitologist, professor and former director of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Echlin Molyneux (c. 1800–1886), Irish barrister and professor of English Law, Dublin
Edward Molyneux (1891–1974), British fashion designer working in Paris
Emery Molyneux (died 1598), English Elizabethan maker of globes, mathematical instruments and ordnance
Irene Molyneux (1923–2019), English lawn bowls competitor
Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton (c. 1748–1819), wife of the 1st Earl of Sefton
John Molyneux (VC) (1890–1972), British soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross
John Molyneux (disambiguation) , several people
Joyce Molyneux (1931–2022), British chef
Maxine Molyneux (born 1948), British sociologist and feminist
Paul Molyneux (1906–1980), English cricketer
Peter Molyneux (born 1959), British computer game designer
Robert Molyneux (1738–1808), English-American priest, president of Georgetown University
Samuel Molyneux (1689–1728), British astronomer and Member of Parliament (son of William)
Stefan Molyneux (born 1966), Canadian right-wing activist
Stephen Molyneux (born 1955), British educational technologist and Microsoft Professor Emeritus in Advanced Learning Technology
Thomas Molyneux (statesman) (1531–1597), French-born statesman in Ireland
Sir Thomas Molyneux, 1st Baronet (1661–1733), Irish physician, great-grandson of the earlier Sir Thomas, and brother of William
Tim Molyneux (born 1969), American actor, singer, writer, director and producer
Tom Molyneux (1890–1955), Canadian ice hockey player
William Molyneux (1656–1698), Irish natural philosopher, and father of Samuel
(maternal ) Lorraine Bracco 's mother was an Englishwoman named Eileen Molyneux.
Viscount Molyneux
For Viscount Molyneux see Earl of Sefton , and in particular:
Richard Molyneux, 1st Viscount Molyneux (1594–1636)
Richard Molyneux, 2nd Viscount Molyneux (1620–1654)
Caryll Molyneux, 3rd Viscount Molyneux (1624–1699)
William Molyneux, 7th Viscount Molyneux (1685–1759)
Charles William Molyneux, 1st Earl of Sefton
(1748–1794), previously 8th Viscount Molyneux
William Philip Molyneux, 2nd Earl of Sefton
(1772–1838)
Charles William Molyneux, 3rd Earl of Sefton (1796–1855)
William Philip Molyneux, 4th Earl of Sefton (1835–1897)
Charles Molyneux, 5th Earl of Sefton (1867–1901)
Osbert Molyneux, 6th Earl of Sefton (1871–1930)
Hugh William Osbert Molyneux, 7th Earl of Sefton (1898–1972)
Molyneaux
Molyneaux is a rare Irish spelling variant.[10] People with this spelling variant include:
Molineaux
Molineux
Mollineux
Mullinix
Mullinax
Others
Other persons bearing the name Molyneux :
Lord Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard , brother of 12th Duke of Norfolk
Molyneux Shuldham
, 1st Baron Shuldham (c. 1717 – 1798), British naval officer and colonial governor of Newfoundland
See also
References
^ "International Molyneux Family Association" . Mx-world.org. Retrieved 2016-04-09 .
^ "International Molyneux Family Association" . Mx-world.org. Retrieved 2016-04-09 .
^ Morris, John, ed. (1978). Domesday Book:Cheshire . Phillimore & Co. pp. R1:1–45.
^ Edward Kimber and Richard Johnson, The Baronetage of England: Containing A Genealogical and Historical Account of all the English Baronetts Now Existing , Vol. I, Published 1771, Printed for G. Woodfall, and others pp. 59–60
^ Edward Kimber , The Peerage of Ireland , Vol. II, Published by Printed for J. Almon, London, 1768, pp. 26–31
^ Molyneux, Nellie Zada Rice (1904) History, Genealogical and Biographical, of the Molyneux Families . Syracuse, N.Y., C. W. Bardeen. p. 9
^ Moss, John. "Old Historic Families of Manchester, Cheshire and Lancashire 7" . Manchester2002-uk.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2016-04-09 .
^ Sefton Historic Settlement Study Archived 2014-03-27 at the Wayback Machine . Merseyside Historic Characterisation Project, Museum of Liverpool (December 2011)
^ International Molyneux Family Association .
^ "Surnames Database:Molyneaux" . Surnamedb.com. Retrieved 2016-04-09 .