O’Neal History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of O’Neal

What does the name O’Neal mean?

Irish names tend to vary widely in their spelling and overall form. The original Gaelic form of the name O’Neal is Ó Néill, which means descendant of Niall, a personal name of Irish origin, thought to mean “champion.” 1

“Of the very great antiquity of this distinguished name and family there can be no doubt.” 2

O’Neal Coat of Arms Creation

Two brothers of the race of Colla Uais saw the Isle of Islay from their native Ireland, and both, at the same time, resolved to possess it. Each got his birlinn ready with its full comple-ment of men, and the race began. When within a short distance of landing, one galley was a length ahead ; whereupon the brother in the galley behind, seeing that the race was about to be won by the other, placed his left hand on the gunwale and, with his own sword, cut it off and threw it ashore, saying as he did so, ” Tha m’ fhuil agus m’ fheoil air tir romhad” (“My flesh and my blood are ashore ahead of you “). 3

Early Origins of the O’Neal family

The surname O’Neal was first found in County Tyrone (Irish: Tír Eoghain), the ancient territory of the O’Neills, now in the Province of Ulster, central Northern Ireland, and County Clare where O’Neill was chief of Clan Dalvy and of Tradree, a district in the barony of Inchiquinn. In the 10th century, a branch of this family went to Limerick to assist in the expulsion of the Danes.

After one victorious occasion they wore green boughs in their helmets and on their horses’ heads signifying their victory.

Early History of the O’Neal family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O’Neal research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1480, 1530, 1550, 1559, 1567, 1612, 1616, 1664, 1689 and 1694 are included under the topic Early O’Neal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O’Neal Spelling Variations

A name was often recorded during the Middle Ages under several different spelling variations during the life of its bearer because literacy was rare there was no real push to clearly define any of the languages found in the British Isles at that time. Variations found of the name O’Neal include O’Neill, Neal, Neale, Neales, Neil, Nihill, Niell, O’Nail, O’Neil, O’Niel and many more.

Early Notables of the O’Neal family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Sir Niall O’Neill who distinguished himself at the Battle of the Boyne; Conn O’Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone (c.1480-1559) King of Tir Eogain; Shane O’Neill (c.1530-1567), Irish king of the O’Neill dynasty of Ulster; Hugh O’Neill (c. 1550-1616), Earl of Tyrone, also known as the Great Earl…
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O’Neal Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O’Neal Ranking

In the United States, the name O’Neal is the 540^th most popular surname with an estimated 54,714 people with that name. 4

 O’Neal migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

O’Neal Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. James O’neal, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Duke of Portland” in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
• Mr. John O’neal, (O’Neil), English tailor who was convicted in Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Baring” in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
• Mr. Charles O’neal, Irish convict from Monaghan who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Canada” on 23rd April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
• Mr. John O’Neal, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Emperor Alexander”on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) 8
• Mr. George O’Neal, (O’Neale), (b. 1811), aged 23, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the “Bengal Merchant” on 27th September 1834, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
• … (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

 O’Neal migration to New Zealand+

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

O’Neal Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Miss Charlotte O’Neal, (b. 1839), aged 17, British general servant travelling from London aboard the ship “Isabella Hercus” arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th January 1856 10
• John O’Neal, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Reiherstieg” in 1864
• Catherine O’Neal, aged 27, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Reiherstieg” in 1864
• Stephen O’Neal, aged 4, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Reiherstieg” in 1864
• Mary O’Neal, aged 6, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Reiherstieg” in 1864

 O’Neal migration to Canada+

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

O’Neal Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

• Ebenezer W. O’Neal, aged 36, who settled in Montreal, Canada, in 1924

 O’Neal migration to the United States+

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

O’Neal Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Owen O’Neal, who settled in Virginia in 1751

O’Neal Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Arthur O’Neal, aged 55, who settled in America, in 1894
• Claude O’Neal, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States, in 1896

O’Neal Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Dudley S. O’Neal, aged 18, who landed in America from Barbados, in 1903
• Edward O’Neal, aged 47, who settled in America, in 1910
• Charles H. O’Neal, aged 42, who settled in America, in 1910
• Bernard O’Neal, who landed in America, in 1911
• Ella O’Neal, aged 1, who landed in America, in 1912
• … (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name O’Neal (post 1700)+

• Shaquille O’Neal (b. 1972), Former Professional Basketball player for the NBA
• Ryan O’Neal (1941-2023), American actor and amateur boxer, born in Los Angeles, known for his roles in the ABC nighttime soap opera Peyton Place and the romantic drama Love Story (1970), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, father of Tatum O’Neal
• Ralph Telford O’Neal OBE (1933-2019), British Virgin Islands politician, the longest ever serving elected representative in the British Virgin Islands, and served as Chief Minister or Premier of the British Virgin Islands for three terms
• Ivan Bertie O’Neal (d. 2024), Vincentian politician and former leader of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Green Party (SVG Green Party)
• Lilliana Belardo de O’Neal, American Republican politician, Member of Virgin Islands legislature from St. Croix, 1981-86, 1989-96; Defeated, 2000; Candidate for Delegate to U.S. Congress from the Virgin Islands, 2002 11
• Edward Asbury O’Neal (1818-1890), Confederate officer during the American Civil War, 26th Governor of Alabama
• Emmet O’Neal (1853-1922), American Democratic politician and lawyer, 34th Governor of Alabama
• Deltha Lee O’Neal III (b. 1977), former American college and professional football player
• John William “Bill” O’Neal (b. 1942), American author
• Griffin Patrick O’Neal (b. 1964), American actor