Mulligan (Irish surname)

The surname Mulligan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Maolagáin," meaning "descendant of Maolagán." The personal name Maolagán combines "maol," meaning "bald" or "tonsured" (often associated with monasterial or religious figures), with a diminutive suffix. Historically, the Mulligan family belonged to regions in Ireland such as Donegal and Cavan. The name reflects ancestral lineage and was historically used to identify members of specific Gaelic clans. Today, Mulligan remains a common Irish surname, carrying cultural and genealogical significance linked to Ireland’s Gaelic heritage.