2022 05 12 Week 15 How do you spell that?

This was an easy one to pick. Mohney Pronounced “Mow Knee.”

A little history of the surname:

It is traced back -

To Benedict Mani, who was born in 1609 in Ruppoltstrieden, Switzerland.   

At the top- the marriage license of Benedicht Mane and Anna Franckolett

                          Underneath- the birth of Hans, son of Benedict and Anna Mane

To his son, Hans Mani who was born in 1630 in Grossaffoltern, Kanton Aargau, Switzerland

To Hans Jacob Mani who was born in 1663 in Dotzigen, Bern, Switzerland

It crossed the ocean with Hans Jacob Mani, Junior, who was born in 1691 in Dotzigen, Bern, Switzerland and arrived from Rotterdam to Philadelphia on board the ship "Lydia" on Sept. 29, 1741.

The family moved on to Northampton Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania where Johan Adam first became documented as Johan Adam Mohney. He was born in Alsace-Lorraine, France (Formerly Switzerland) in 1724 and traveled with his parents, wife and other family members to Philadelphia.

One of his brothers, Valentine, split up from the family and moved south to the Carolinas where he and his descendants became “the Mauney family.”

 1793 List of Inhabitants of Williams Township- Mani 

Birth of Isaac Mahny and his twin 

Back in Berks County, the Mohney line continues with Johan Adam Mohney, Junior who married Anna Catherine Hilliard/Hilgert. Adam served in the Continental Army during the Revolution and is listed as Adam Manny. Tax lists show him as Adam Mawney. They moved to Armstrong/Clarion Counties in Pennsylvania where Adam bought 1100 acres of land, signing his name in Germany as Adam Mani. There is still an area known as Mahney's Crossroads where he once resided, along with a Mohney Road!   

 Isaac Mooney lived in that same area and was the father of my great-great grandfather, Valentine, who occasionally was identified as Valentine Mooney, gunsmith.

Part of Isaac Mohney's Will

Valentine Mohny's Name on the Civil War Draft

1850 Census Valentine and Sarah (Mulkins) Moohney

From that point, Mohney was the spelling used in most official documents. Silas Mohney, my great grandfather, and Valentine Mohney my grandfather, and my own father, Donald have all fought the battle of spelling and pronouncing our surname.

However, the misspellings and mispronunciations still continue.

I taught school for a time and was also a substitute. If you know the Billy Idol song “Mony, Mony”, you can imagine that it was quite a hit with the young folks at Mohney weddings!

I worked in the Human Resources department and my name was spelled Mooney, Mohney, Monet, Mahoney, Mahney, etc.   

My water bill actually came addressed to Donna Monkey for several years.

I imagine I will continue to struggle with this as will my grandsons!

Donna E Mohney

May 22, 2022