Surname Oneil - Meaning and Origin

Oneil: What does the surname Oneil mean?

The surname Oneil is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Ó Néill which means "descendant of Niall". The forename Niall, on its own, can be translated to mean "champion", "passionate" or "vehement". As such, someone bearing the last name Oneil can be seen as being the descendant of a champion or passionate individual. The O’Neills were a powerful, royal family in Ireland, ruling over the province of Ulster for centuries and the surname itself is still commonly seen throughout Ireland today. They trace their lineage back to Niall of the Nine Hostages, a legendary 4th century king of Tara who is said to have been responsible for the kidnapping of the young St. Patrick and bringing him to Ireland.

Oneil: Where does the name Oneil come from?

The last name O'Neil is a popular Irish surname which is now common in numerous countries throughout the world, especially in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia, and England. It originated in County Tipperary, Ireland in the early 1800s, when several members of the same family adopted it. Because of its Irish origin, many people with the last name O'Neil are of Irish ancestry.

In the United States, O'Neil is one of the top 1,000 most common surnames, according to the 2020 US census. According to the Ancestry.com website, the largest numbers of people with the surname O'Neil live in the states of New York, Massachusetts, and California, followed by Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In Canada, O'Neil is also one of the top 1,000 most common surnames, according to the 2016 census which reported more than 28,000 Canadian citizens with the last name O'Neil. The greatest number of people with the last name O'Neil are located in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta.

In the United Kingdom, O'Neil is the 576th most common surname, according to the England and Wales Office for National Statistics in 2016. The greatest number of people with the last name O'Neil reside in England, with the greatest concentration in Greater London.

Australia has the fourth-highest number of people with the last name O'Neil, with over 12,000 reported in the 2016 census. The majority of the people with the last name O'Neil are located in the states of New South Wales, Western Australia, and Victoria.

Overall, the last name O'Neil is now common in numerous countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Oneil

The surname Oneil, which originates from the Irish Ó Neill, has a wide array of variants, spellings, and surnames. Common variations of O'Neill include O'Neail, O'Neal, O'Neil, and O'Neal. Other common spellings include Neale, Neall, Neal, Neill, Neale, Neil, Niall, Niel, Nihill, and Neill. In Ireland and Scotland, O’Neill is sometimes spelled O'Neills, Niall, or Nihill.

In the United States, the surname Oneil can be found in various forms, including O’Neill, Neil, Niall, Nihill, Neill, Neal, Neale, O’Neil, O’Neail, and O’Neal.

The surname Oneil is sometimes found with British surnames such as O’Neill–Ford, MacNeill, McNeill, and O’Neill–Smith. These variations are derived from marriages between O’Neill family members and people from other families and clans.

Other surnames that have derived from the Oneil surname are O’Niel, O’Nielle, Neillson, Neillson-McNeill, McNeely, McNealy, and McNeely-McNeil.

Some other related surnames which may be formed from O'Neill include Neally, O'Nealy, O'Neali, O’Neill de Beca, O’Neill de Kinsale, and O'Neill de Ulic.

The surname Oneil is very spread out due to migration, and can also be found in other countries, such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It is also found in many other languages and dialects, such as Irish, German, and Dutch variants, as well as variants of other European and South American languages.

Famous people with the name Oneil

• Patrick O'Neill: film producer and writer
• Bridget O'Neill: musician and singer
• Ryan O'Neill: actor and producer
• Colin O'Neill: actor
• Maureen O'Neill: former Ireland Attorney General
• Paul O'Neill: former US Treasury Secretary
• Doug O'Neill: racehorse trainer
• Jenny O'Neill: actress
• Ted O'Neill: former Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at the University of Chicago
• Alice O'Neill: singer-songwriter
• J. Stephen O'Neill: politician
• Jamie O'Neill: novelist
• Chris O'Neill: philanthropist
• Tim O'Neill: theater director
• Terry O'Neill: photographer
• Billy O'Neill: professional inline skater
• Kelly O'Neill: singer and songwriter
• Dee O'Neill: singer and dancer
• Martin O'Neill: professional football manager
• Kate O'Neill: computer scientist and professor

Other surnames

Oneill