Oneale
A surname originally derived from the Irish Gaelic term "Ó Néill" meaning descendant of the ancient royal house of Niall.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Oneale. That puts it at #94,311 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Oneale surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#94,311
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
194
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 194 bearers of the surname Oneale in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 94311th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Oneale, the largest self-reported group is White at 51.0%. The next largest groups are Black (43.8%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Oneale
The surname ONEALE originated in Ireland during the medieval period. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic name Ó Néill, meaning "descendant of Niall." The Ó Néill dynasty was a powerful family that ruled a large part of Ulster in the northern part of Ireland for several centuries.
The earliest recorded example of this surname can be traced back to the 10th century, when the Annals of Ulster mention Muircheartach Ó Néill, who was a powerful Irish king and High King of Ireland from 941 to 943 AD. Another notable figure from this era was Niall Glúndub Ó Néill, who reigned as King of Ailech from 919 to 919 AD.
The surname ONEALE is also found in various medieval Irish manuscripts and records, such as the Annals of the Four Masters and the Book of Leinster. These sources document the exploits and battles of the Ó Néill clan, which played a significant role in Irish history during the Middle Ages.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the anglicized spelling ONEALE became more common as the English exerted greater control over Ireland. One notable figure from this period was Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone (c. 1550-1616), who led a major rebellion against English rule in Ireland known as the Nine Years' War.
Other notable individuals with the surname ONEALE include Niall Ó Néill (1605-1680), an Irish soldier and landowner who fought for the Catholic Confederacy during the Irish Confederate Wars, and John O'Neill (1701-1768), an Irish-American soldier and founder of the O'Neill dynasty in America.
Throughout history, the ONEALE surname has been closely tied to the rich cultural heritage and struggles of the Irish people, with many bearers playing significant roles in shaping the nation's history and identity.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Oneale
Among Census respondents with the surname Oneale, the largest self-reported group is White at 51.0%. The next largest groups are Black (43.8%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Oneale bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Oneale surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White51.0%
- Black or African American43.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Oneale surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #94,311 | #94,311 | 0.0% |
| Count | 194 | 194 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Oneale bearers went from 194 to 194 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #94,311 to #94,311.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Oneale
FAQ
Oneale surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Oneale?
The surname Oneale holds position #94,311 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Oneale surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Oneale, the largest self-reported group is White at 51.0%. The next largest groups are Black (43.8%) and Hispanic (2.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.