Mulligan Surname

Question

I've always consider Mulligan to be an Irish surname, and most of the time a quick Google search will confirm it is a Gaelic name from O'Maolagain (descendant of the bald man) and usually originates in Tyrconnel (Donegal).

However the Scottish clan MacMillian lists the surname as one of its Septs and they are openly acknowledging a link between Southern Scotland and Northern Ireland.

http://www.clanmacmillan.org/pages/genealogy/septs.html

Has anyone any ideas about this?

Answer 1

Peter,

Other derivations of the Mulligan name include Milligan and Milliken.  I am part of a DNA group that includes a number of Millikens/Milligans.  Many of these come from Ireland, but there is DNA evidence of a move from S/W Scotland to Ireland and then back again as well.

These migrations actually occurred for many Gaelic lines and were relatively common due to the family ties in both areas.

Answer 2

If you have not read the 1907 History of the Millikin name (and all of its variations), see this link.  https://archive.org/details/historyoffamilie00ridl/mode/2up

It is a ponderous tome to which I'm in the process of adding FamilySearch IDs that may make it easier to visualize all of the author's data.  However, to your point, the author, in great detail, explains the (mostly) Lowland Scots connection to Ireland around the time of William of Orange's invasion--the root of most Irish "troubles."