in County Armagh. However, though the forms O'Lawell, O'Lowell and O'Lavell are recorded in the 17th-century Hearth Money Rolls for Armagh, they are believed to be unrelated to the Connacht family (Mac Lysaght p.144, 1996). Mulfall of Donegal This is a rare form of the surname Mulfall, the original form of which is also Ó Maol Fábhail, but "is of different and distinct origin, being that of a family who descended from Fergus, grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages and were chiefs of Carrickbraghy, in the barony of Inishowen. There, however, it has been widely corrupted to MacFael, MacFall and even MacPaul and Paul." He goes on to note that this makes it indistinguishable from the family of Mac Fall of Antrim (p. 144, 1996). The family would thus descend from Fergus Cendfota, son of Conall Gulban. Fergus's grandson, Ainmuire mac Sétnai, was King of Tara at his death in 569 (see Cenél Conaill family tree). The eponym, Maol Fábhail, lived in the mid-9th century, and the surname not come into use till the time of his grandsons or great-grandsons, some one hundred years later (i.e., mid-to-late 10th/early 11th century. He is identified as Maol Fábhail mac Loingseach in the following note from the Annals of Ulster: 878/81: Maelfabhaill, son of Loingseach, lord of Carraig Brachaighe (or Chairrge Brachaighe), died. The Annals of Inisfallen, sub anno 1102, record that The son of Mac Lochlainn with the Cenél Eógain went into Ulaid, and their camp was attacked when unguarded, and the king of Carraig Brachide, namely, Ua Maíl Fhábaill, and the son of Conrach, son of Eógan, and many others were slain. Mac Fall of Antrim Writing of this family, Mac Lysaght states: "Mac Fall (MacPhail and MacPhoil) which I think is of Scottish and Clan MacPhail origin. O'Mulfoyle is listed in the 1659 'census' as a principal Irish surname in the barony of Tirkeerran, which is contiguous to Inishown." Thus it is confused with Mulfall of Donegal (see above). "The most distinguished of the name was Dr. James Augustine MacFaul (1850–1917), Bishop of Trenton, protagonist of Irish Catholic causes in USA" Ua Maíl Fhábaill of Muscraige Still another family of the name was located in Munster: AI1208.3 Ua Maíl Fhábaill of Muscraige was slain by Mac na Sethar Ua B[...] through enmity. Meaning of the name The Irish meaning of the name Lavelle or O'Maolfhábhail 'descendant of Maolfhábhail', a