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ONeill

ONeill is a variant spelling of the Irish surname O'Neill. It derives from the Gaelic Ó Néill, meaning "descendant of Néill," with Néill a given name linked to Niall, a common figure in early Irish history and legend.

Historically, the Ó Néill were one of the leading Gaelic dynasties in Ireland, controlling Ulster for centuries.

Geographically, ONeill and its variants are widespread in Ireland and among Irish-descended communities in the United

In modern times, the surname is common across professions and cultures, appearing in politics, sports, academia,

See also: O'Neill disambiguation.

Distinct
branches
include
the
O'Neill
of
Tyrone
and
the
O'Neill
of
Clandeboye,
who
played
prominent
roles
in
medieval
and
early
modern
Irish
politics
and
resistance
to
English
rule.
The
dynasty
declined
after
the
Flight
of
the
Earls
in
1607
and
the
subsequent
Ulster
Plantations,
yet
the
name
remains
strong
in
Ulster
and
among
the
Irish
diaspora.
States,
Canada,
the
United
Kingdom,
and
Australia.
Spelling
variants
include
O'Neill,
O'Neil,
O'Neal,
Neill,
and,
in
some
cases,
ONeill
without
an
apostrophe.
Orthography
often
reflects
regional
or
family
history
and
migration
patterns.
and
the
arts.
In
literature
and
film,
ONeill
and
its
variants
are
used
as
family
names
for
fictional
characters
as
well.
The
name
continues
to
be
a
marker
of
Irish
heritage
for
many
people
around
the
world.