Find out how popular the last name O'Neal is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named O'Neal.

O'Neal, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the O'Neal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of O'Neal in America

O'Neal is the 729th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The O'Neal surname appeared 47,979 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 16 people would have the surname O'Neal.

We can also compare 2010 data for O'Neal to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name O'Neal

The surname O'Neal has its origins in Ireland, specifically in the western province of Connacht. It is derived from the Gaelic words "Ó Néill," which translates to "descendant of Niall." The name can be traced back to the 4th century, when Niall of the Nine Hostages, a famous High King of Ireland, ruled over the country.

The O'Neals were a powerful Irish clan that held significant influence and territory in what is now County Armagh. They were one of the most prominent families in Ulster and played a crucial role in Irish history, particularly during the 16th and 17th centuries.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname O'Neal can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals document the exploits and lineage of several O'Neal chieftains and kings.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname O'Neal was Niall Mór O'Neal, who lived in the 14th century and was a renowned warrior and leader of the O'Neal clan. Another notable figure was Hugh O'Neal, who was the Earl of Tyrone and played a pivotal role in the Nine Years' War against England in the late 16th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the O'Neal clan was involved in numerous conflicts with the English crown, as they sought to maintain their independence and control over their lands in Ulster. This period saw the rise of several prominent O'Neal leaders, such as Shane O'Neal and Hugh O'Neal, Earl of Tyrone, who led the Irish resistance against English rule.

In the 17th century, many O'Neals were forced to leave Ireland due to the Plantation of Ulster, a policy implemented by the English government to confiscate land from Irish Catholic landowners and settle Protestant colonists from England and Scotland. This diaspora led to the spread of the O'Neal surname across other parts of the British Isles and eventually to other parts of the world.

Other notable individuals with the surname O'Neal include:

1. Tarlough O'Neal (c. 1020-1064), King of Ailech and one of the most powerful Irish kings of his time.
2. Niall Óg O'Neal (c. 1360-1420), a powerful Irish chieftain and Lord of Clanaboy.
3. Shane O'Neal (c. 1530-1567), an Irish chieftain and one of the most famous leaders of the O'Neal clan.
4. Hugh O'Neal, Earl of Tyrone (c. 1550-1616), a renowned Irish military leader who led the Nine Years' War against England.
5. Art O'Neal (1785-1818), an Irish-American explorer and trader who played a significant role in the early exploration of the American West.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name O'Neal

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname O'Neal.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for O'Neal was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of O'Neal has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name O'Neal was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of O'Neal, please contact us.

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