About the Maley Surname and This Site

I am going to start a search for Phil's Father--Mr. Walter Lee O'malley. Of him he knows almost nothing except the name.


The Maley Surname
Irish Slovenian

Irish Maleys

Most Maleys are derived from the Irish (or Scotts/Irish) O Malley (O Maille - Melia) The O'Malleys are a very old Mayo family whose name is said to derive from the Celtic word for chief (maglios). For many centuries they were chieftains of the baronies of Burrishoole and Murrisk, where the sea was their chief occupation. One of the most remarkable women in Irish history, Grace O'Malley, known as Granuaile, was the daughter of the O'Malley chieftain Owen. As a mere 15 year old she was married to an O'Flaherty. When he was killed in battle she married a Burke. She frequently contended with the marauding English, both by land and by the sea from which she got her living. She was captured several times and was rescued from the gallows. In her old age, as a princess and equal, she visited Queen Elizabeth in London. With the breakdown of the ancient chieftaincies the O'Malleys disappeared abroad, Charles O'Malley and his five brothers gave their lives to a diversity of armies. It was said, none of his family were ever known to follow any trade or profession but arms, earning no fortune to replace what had been taken from them. The O'Malleys produced many high churchmen and one unorthodox priest, Thaddeus O'Malley, who was returned from America because of his progressive religious and political views. Ernest O'Malley, a veteran of the Civil War, wrote a vivid autobiography entitled On Another Man's Wound. Melia is sometimes found as a variant of O'Malley. Other derivatives include: O'Maley, Maley, Maly, Maily, and O'Maly.

Slovenian Maleys

At least one family of Maleys are Slovenian in origin, their name altered courtesy of the U.S. Immigration Service. These Maleys settled first in the Chicago, Illinois, USA area.


About the Maley Surname and This Site