This rare and interesting name is a variant form of the more popular Irish name MacNulty. The name is derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Ultaigh", son of the Ulsterman. The surname originated in Ulster, especially County Donegal, and the name is still very common there. Mcanulty is an Anglicized form of the name and it is now a very rare name. This surname is also found in County Meath, but usually it is found without the prefix (Mac). The MacNulty mentioned in the first recording (see below) was among "distinguished slain" at the battle of Desertcreagh in 1281 between the O' Donnells and the MacNulty's. (Mac) Connulty is a form of MacAnulty which is found in County Clare. One Frank Joseph MacNulty (1872 - 1926) was an American labour leader and his father, Owen MacNulty, was a veteran of the Civil War. Thomas McAnulty married Mary Roach on October 23rd 1814 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of MacNulty, which was dated 1281, Irish Manuscripts Commission, during the reign of King Edward 1, "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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