This very interesting and unusual name is recorded heraldically in Riestapps Amourial General for the Continent as "English", suggesting that a family of the name were also found in France circa 1680! The origin is further confused by the dialectal association with the Irish O'Mahony (O'Mathghamhana - The son of the descendant of the bear), which is pronounced in Ireland (Phonetically) as O'Maaney, the Clan being prominent in Munster. In Ireland the spelling is also found as O'Manny, Mainey and Manay and therefore despite the French connection, the origin is almost certainly Irish. Further credence is added by the fact that a Francis Molyneux Ommaney is recorded in 1805, the Molyneux's were prominent Irish huguenots. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edward Ommaney, which was dated September 26th 1768, a witness at the Church of St. Olave, London, during the reign of King George III, "Farmer George", 1760 - 1820. 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.