Anglicized form of Irish Ó Nuanáin (from Irish Gaelic Ó hIonmhaineáin) meaning "descendant of Ionmhaineán", a diminutive of the given name Ionmhain "beloved, dear". In some cases it may be a variant of Noone, an anglicized form of Irish Ó Nuadháin "descendant of Nuadhán" (see Nuadha).