Find out how popular the last name O'Neel 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'Neel.

O'Neel, 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'Neel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of O'Neel in America

O'Neel is the 59470th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The O'Neel surname appeared 340 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname O'Neel.

We can also compare 2010 data for O'Neel 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'Neel

The surname ONEEL has its origins in Ireland, with the earliest known records dating back to the early 12th century. It is derived from the Old Irish Gaelic word "O'Néill," which means "descendant of Niall." Niall was a powerful fifth-century king of the Northern Uí Néill dynasty, who ruled over a significant portion of Ireland.

The ONEEL name was initially concentrated in the northern regions of Ireland, particularly in Counties Tyrone, Armagh, and Antrim. This surname was borne by several prominent Irish clans and families who claimed descent from the legendary King Niall. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions various members of the O'Neill clan.

During the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century, the O'Neills played a crucial role in resisting the Norman incursions. Several members of the clan, including Niall O'Neill and Muirchertach O'Neill, led uprisings against the Norman forces and were instrumental in preserving Irish independence in parts of Ulster.

In the 14th century, the O'Neill dynasty experienced a period of great power and influence under the leadership of Niall Óg O'Neill (c. 1320-1398). He was recognized as the King of Tír Eógain (modern-day County Tyrone) and played a pivotal role in the Irish Bruce Wars against the English.

Throughout the centuries, the ONEEL surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the most famous was Hugh O'Neill (c. 1550-1616), who led the Irish resistance against English rule during the Nine Years' War (1594-1603). He was eventually defeated and forced into exile, but his legacy as a skilled military leader and defender of Irish sovereignty remains significant.

Another prominent figure was Owen Roe O'Neill (c. 1590-1649), a renowned Irish military leader who fought for the Catholic Confederacy during the Irish Confederate Wars (1641-1653). He achieved several victories against English forces and is remembered for his strategic brilliance and commitment to the Irish cause.

In the realm of literature, John O'Neill (1740-1798) was a notable Irish poet and playwright who wrote extensively in the Irish language. His works, including the play "The Lash" and numerous poems, captured the spirit of Irish culture and resistance against English oppression.

The ONEEL surname has also been present in other parts of the world due to Irish emigration. For instance, Hugh O'Neill (1782-1848) was an Irish-born soldier and engineer who served in the British Army and was instrumental in the construction of several important infrastructure projects in Canada.

While the ONEEL name has evolved and spread globally, its roots remain firmly embedded in the rich history and cultural heritage of Ireland, where it continues to be associated with resilience, pride, and a deep connection to the land and traditions of the Emerald Isle.

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

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

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'Neel 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'Neel 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'Neel 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'Neel, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!