Surname O'Nielle - Meaning and Origin

O'Nielle: What does the surname O'Nielle mean?

The origin of the surname O'Nielle is Irish. It is derived from the Gaelic patronymic name "Ó Niall". The "Ó" prefixmeans "descendant of", and Niall is the Irish version of the personal name Neil meaning “champion”.

The O'Neil family of Ireland were a powerful and influential clan present in many regions of the island, with branches in both Ulster and Munster. The family is descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages, who was a fifth-century High King of Ireland. He is thought to have established the kingdom of Ailech, located in what is now Tyrone.

With time, the O'Neal name has adopted various forms including McNeil, Neill, Neil and Niall. Famous variants of the O'Neil surname include former president of Ireland, Mary McAleese; Irish politician John McNeil; Canadian journalist and author Cathy O'Neil; American-Colombian singer songwriter, Kali Uchis; and legendary American baseball player Phil Niekro.

The Gaelic words “Niall” and “Ó”, and the anglicised version Newman and Niel, all refer to this one great Irish surname. The O'Neil clan had a long and turbulent history due to old rivalries and constant clan warfare, but the name still survives today as a testament to their strength and resilience. O'Neil remains to be a symbol of clan unity in certain regions around Irish, and it is just as popular on the other side of the world.

O'Nielle: Where does the name O'Nielle come from?

The last name O'Nielle is an Irish-American surname found mainly in the United States, although its current frequency appears to be declining. The 1990 U.S. census found about 8,710 people with the last name O'Nielle. The 2000 census found 5,427 people with the last name.

When the O'Nielle family first arrived in the United States in the late 1800s, they settled mostly in large metropolitan areas such as Boston, New York, and Chicago. Later generations spread out into other parts of the country. Today, the greatest number of O'Nielles reside in the northeastern US, with significant numbers in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Several smaller populations of O'Nielles appear in other areas, such as Oregon, Florida, Texas, and Michigan. During the 20th century, many members of the O'Nielle family left the US for other countries such as Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. As a result, the last name O'Nielle is also found in these countries today.

Overall, the last name O'Nielle is not as common today as it was in the early 20th century. It has become increasingly rare in the United States over the past few decades, although its historic ties to the northeastern US remain strong and members of this family can still be found in numerous parts of the country.

Variations of the surname O'Nielle

O’Nielle is a surname of Irish origin which is derived from the ancient Irish Gaelic O’Niall. It is an anglicized version of the original Gaelic name. Variants and spellings of the surname include O’Neill, O’Neil, Neill, Neil, MacNeil, McNeill and McNiel.

O’Nielle is the anglicized variation of the surname from County Fermanagh in the Ulster province, where the ancient O’Nielle clan were lords. This surname is not only found in Ireland, but also in Scotland, Canada, the United States and a few other countries with large Irish populations.

The variations of the name over time allowed different regions around the world to adapt and create established forms of the name that provided an identity for the families living in those countries. This name has numerous spelling variations, including O’Neil, McNeil, and Neill.

The O’Nielle surname is closely related to the O’Neil and O’Neill surnames, which are also derived from the ancient Irish Gaelic clan name, O’Niall. The most prominent of these is O’Neill who is a common surname in Irish culture today, as they are one of the most populous clans in Ireland.

The O’Nielle surname has its roots in some of the earliest accounts of Irish history, when the O’Niall dynasty was founded in the fifth century. Since then, the name has spread around the world and is still used in some form or another in many locations.

Famous people with the name O'Nielle

• Jesse O'Neill: Famous American Actor.
• Paul O'Neill: Former US Secretary of the Treasury.
• Wil O'Neill: American Professional Golfer.
• Rory O'Neill: Irish Drag Queen, Political Campaigner, and Activist also known as Panti Bliss.
• Joanie O'Neill: American Professional Golfer.
• Noel O'Neill: Irish Rugby Union Player.
• Martin O'Neill: Irish Football Manager and Former Professional Player.
• Clare O'Neil: Australian Politician.
• Bridget O'Neil: American Freestyle Swimmer.
• Mike O'Neill: Canadian Musician and Artist.
• Brendan O'Neill: Irish News Editor and Columnist.
• Garrett O'Neill: American Actor and Host.
• Vince O'Neill: American Basketball Player.
• Jimmy O'Neill: American Radio Host.
• Jody O'Neill: American Marathon Runner and Triathlete.
• Tom O'Neill: American Football Player.
• Ray O'Neill: Irish Gaelic Football Manager.
• Eileen O'Neill: American Television Executive.
• Art O'Neill: former Member of Irish Parliament.
• Cait O'Neill: American Actress.

Other surnames

O'NielO'Niell