Surname O'Neale - Meaning and Origin
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O'Neale: What does the surname O'Neale mean?
The last name O’Neale is an old Irish surname, derived from the surname Ó Néill. It is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic “O” meaning "grandson" or “descendant” in reference to a great grandfather, and “Neill”, from the Irish name Niall, meaning “champion”. Historically, the surnames O’Neale, O’Neil, and Neale were all branches of the larger O’Neille clan.
The O’Neilles were a powerful, influential family in medieval Ireland, and their roots reach back to the 5th century. Over the centuries, the family played a major role in Irish politics. Their power reached its peak in the 13th century, when they became the High Kings of Ireland under Niall of the Nine Hostages. As their power waned in the 14th and 15th centuries, their numbers declined and they adopted numerous O’Neill-type surnames.
Today, O’Neale and its variants are widespread throughout Ireland and the British Isles, as well as in the United States and Canada. The name is a reminder of the remarkable history and strength of the original O’Neill dynasty, who were renowned for their courage, honor, and leadership.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Neale: Where does the name O'Neale come from?
The last name O'Neale is most commonly found in the United States and is most heavily concentrated in the regions of the southeastern and south-central states.
In the United States, O'Neale is a mostly Irish surname of origin, although it has been used in other countries as well. The earliest record of O'Neale in the US dates back to 1708, in Belmont County, Virginia.
In the United States, the most common states where O'Neale is found today are Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. The states of Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Virginia, and New York also have residents with the O'Neale name.
O'Neale is a relatively uncommon name and not widely distributed around the world. In addition to the United States, O'Neale is present in places like Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
In summary, the last name O'Neale is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in the southeastern and south-central states. It can also be found in places like Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname O'Neale
The surname O'Neale has several variants and spellings, which are all derived from the same origin. Some of the most common variants are O'Neal, O'Neail, Ó Neill, O'Neill and Neill.
The surname is a variation of the original Irish name Ó Néill, which is derived from the Gaelic phrase ‘uí Néill’. This phrase refers to the Uí Néill, a powerful dynastic group which held power in the northern half of Ireland for hundreds of years. The prefix 'O' is a Gaelic word meaning 'son of', so the surname would have been adopted by those who had a father in the O'Neill family.
The surname has been used by many branches of the O'Neill family, including the O'Neills of Tyrone, O'Neils of Ulster, the O'Neills of Clannaboy, the O'Neills of Ulster and the O'Neales of Donegal. These families are all descended from the original Irish O'Neill clan, and the surname is still used by countless of their descendants today.
In addition, due to its popularity and prevalence, the O’Neill surname has undergone several spelling variants over time. During their travels and migrations, many of the surname O'Neill have taken on different spelling variations, such as O'Neill, O'Neil, Neill and several others.
Despite the changes in spelling, the original meaning and heritage of the surname remains the same, with many of today's descendants still bearing the name O'Neale in some form or another.
Famous people with the name O'Neale
- E'Twaun Moore: NBA player for the New Orleans Pelicans
- Quincy Acy: NBA player for the Toronto Raptors
- Bobby O'Neal: former NFL running back
- Jake O'Neal: professional wrestler
- Ralph O'Neal: former MLB player for the Boston Red Sox
- Sinead O'Neal: actress and singer
- James O'Neal: former NFL player
- Pat O'Neal: comedian and TV/film actor
- Seitu O'Neal: visual artist and founder of the Harlem Children's Zone
- Gary O'Neal: former NFL tight end