HOME | CATEGORIES | TOC | SURNAME LIST | ONEAL PEOPLE | ONEAL PAGES

The Origin of the O'Neal Family in America

I know little about the O'Neal/O'Neill line first appearance in America.  When my husband was in Ireland years ago he brought me back a little book titled, History of the Name O'Neill, by J.D. Williams.  There is a section in the book titled O'Neills in America.  Here is an excerpt from that chapter.

"As early as 1633 the Annals of America relate that the family O'Neill, with several others from Ireland accompanied Leonard Calvert to America, and commenced the settlement of that State that is now known as Maryland.  Six years earlier Charles I King of England had granted this territory ot Lord Baltimore, Leonard's father.  Lord Baltimore was a Catholic and care was taken that the settlers of that territory (now Maryland) were mainly English or Irish Catholics.  Each colonist who paid their own expenses for the passage to America were granted one hundred acres as a yearly rent of two shillings.  The expedition with Leonard Calvert as leader and O'Neill as the most prominent family group settled on the present site of St. Mary's and founded the state of Maryland.

As you probably already know O'Neill is one of the greatest of all Irish surnames and is derived from the root Niall - Irish meaning "Champion".  The O'Neills are descendants of the Celtic Prince Niall, who was ancestor of the Hy Niall Tribe.  Legend has it that when the Celts were landing in the north-eastern tip of Ireland it was decided that whoever was first to touch land should rule that portion of the Island.  Niall quick in thought and action chopped off his left hand and cast it ashore claiming his reward.  From that day to this the Red Hand is borne on the arms of the O'Neill family as well as by the Province of Ulster.  The O'Neills are descended from King Niall of the Nine Hostages, King of Ireland (379 A.D. - 405 A.D.)  From the time of King Niall of the Nine Hostages up to King Brian Boru's reign 1002 A.D. the Ui Neill, i.e. descendants of the Niall were one of the most powerful clans in Ireland, and held the High Kingship for a greater part of that period.