NameCensus.

UK surname

Oneal

A surname of Irish origin, derived from Ó Néill, meaning "descendant of Niall," a personal name meaning "champion."

In the 1881 census there were 651 people recorded with the Oneal surname, ranking it #5,488 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 213, ranked #18,785, down from #5,488 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Croydon, Kingston upon Hull and St. Helens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oneal is 651 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 67.3%.

1881 census count

651

Ranked #5,488

Modern count

213

2016, ranked #18,785

Peak year

1881

651 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oneal had 651 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,488 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 213 in 2016, ranked #18,785.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 651 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Oneal surname distribution map

The map shows where the Oneal surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Oneal surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oneal over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 582 #4,383
1861 historical 531 #4,945
1881 historical 651 #5,488
1891 historical 398 #8,910
1901 historical 266 #12,617
1911 historical 196 #15,150
1997 modern 163 #20,038
1998 modern 181 #19,229
1999 modern 191 #18,744
2000 modern 190 #18,806
2001 modern 184 #18,907
2002 modern 199 #18,350
2003 modern 202 #18,032
2004 modern 209 #17,706
2005 modern 204 #17,893
2006 modern 192 #18,753
2007 modern 202 #18,359
2008 modern 206 #18,300
2009 modern 220 #17,911
2010 modern 226 #17,942
2011 modern 210 #18,677
2012 modern 200 #19,207
2013 modern 211 #18,872
2014 modern 214 #18,825
2015 modern 219 #18,406
2016 modern 213 #18,785

Geography

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Where Oneals are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Auckland St Andrew, Manchester and Merthyr Tydfil. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Croydon, Kingston upon Hull, St. Helens, Elmbridge and Havering. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Croydon 026 Croydon
2 Kingston upon Hull 015 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 St. Helens 007 St. Helens
4 Elmbridge 015 Elmbridge
5 Havering 005 Havering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oneal

These lists show first names that appear often with the Oneal surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oneal

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Oneal, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Oneal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Oneal household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Oneal is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Oneal is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Oneal falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Oneal is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Oneal, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Oneal

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.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oneal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oneal surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 52 Oneals recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.52x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 52 1.52x
Yorkshire 50 1.75x
Durham 34 3.96x
Glamorgan 24 4.77x
Cumberland 21 8.45x
Middlesex 21 0.73x
Lanarkshire 11 1.18x
Flintshire 8 10.31x
Surrey 8 0.57x
Essex 7 1.23x
Monmouthshire 7 3.35x
Herefordshire 5 4.22x
Kent 4 0.41x
Leicestershire 4 1.25x
Midlothian 4 1.03x
Cheshire 3 0.47x
Derbyshire 3 0.66x
Isle of Man 3 5.59x
Renfrewshire 3 1.34x
Westmorland 3 4.73x
Carmarthenshire 2 1.64x
Gloucestershire 2 0.35x
Hampshire 2 0.34x
Northumberland 2 0.47x
Rutland 2 9.43x
Somerset 2 0.43x
Ayrshire 1 0.46x
Devon 1 0.17x
Fife 1 0.59x
Hertfordshire 1 0.50x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.26x
Oxfordshire 1 0.56x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.09x
Wigtownshire 1 2.61x
Worcestershire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shipley in Yorkshire leads with 13 Oneals recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.54x.

Place Total Index
Shipley 13 87.54x
Leeds 12 7.43x
Linthorpe 11 64.44x
Lancaster 9 44.16x
Liverpool 9 4.33x
Margam 9 160.43x
Merthyr Tydfil 9 18.63x
Preston Quarter 9 129.12x
Iveston 8 202.02x
Mold 8 113.64x
Atherton 7 56.13x
West Ham 6 4.77x
Abergavenny 5 63.94x
Cowpen Bewley 5 515.46x
Govan 5 2.17x
Hereford St Martin 5 349.65x
Manchester 5 3.25x
Pendleton In Salford 5 12.25x
St Giles In Fields 5 50.20x
Tudhoe 5 66.49x
West Linton 5 1136.36x
Camberwell 4 2.17x
Cleator 4 38.65x
Fulham London 4 9.55x
Gateshead 4 6.22x
Glasgow 4 2.41x
Llantwit Vairdre 4 70.80x
Padiham 4 48.31x
Poplar London 4 7.34x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 4.01x
Bradford 3 4.33x
Derby St Michael 3 315.79x
Hinckley 3 39.53x
Holbeck 3 15.83x
Horton In Bradford 3 6.71x
Kendal 3 25.82x
Port Glasgow 3 27.73x
Runcorn 3 20.42x
Stranton 3 10.37x
Barrow In Furness 2 4.29x
Braddan 2 68.26x
Chatham 2 7.38x
Cockpen 2 44.25x
Crook Billy Row 2 18.18x
Edinburgh St Johns 2 81.97x
Escomb 2 50.63x
Keighley 2 6.56x
Llanelly 2 7.30x
St Luke London 2 4.32x
St Marylebone London 2 1.30x
St Woollos 2 8.59x
Upholland 2 45.56x
Uppingham 2 79.05x
Walcot 2 8.08x
Ayr 1 9.80x
Barony 1 0.42x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 10.21x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.36x
Blackburn 1 1.10x
Chiswick 1 6.34x
Conside Knitsley 1 14.97x
Devonport 1 14.47x
Douglas 1 128.21x
Dunfermline 1 3.81x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 2.69x
Henley On Thames 1 27.40x
Inch 1 26.74x
Lanark 1 13.32x
Layton With Warbreck 1 7.96x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.28x
Llanwonno 1 5.54x
Parr 1 8.16x
Pembroke St Mary 1 8.46x
South Bedburn Hamsterley 1 294.12x
St Cuthbert Within 1 34.72x
St George In East 1 5.09x
Stapleford 1 31.65x
Thornton In Bradford 1 10.50x
Watford 1 6.48x
Ystradyfodwg 1 2.27x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Oneal surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 31
Elizabeth 9
Margaret 9
Ellen 8
Ann 7
Catherine 6
Sarah 6
Jane 5
Annie 4
Agnes 3
Anne 3
Alice 2
Isabela 2
Julia 2
Winifred 2
Allice 1
Amelia 1
Bessy 1
Bridget 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Emma 1
Francis 1
Hannah 1
Hellen 1
Joan 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lizabeth 1
Lucy 1
Margeret 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Nancy 1
Priscilla 1
Rachael 1
Rosey 1
Sophia 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Oneal surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 28
James 16
Patrick 14
Michael 12
Thomas 11
Edward 7
William 7
George 5
Robert 4
Daniel 3
Arthur 2
Hugh 2
Owen 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Timothy 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Arther 1
Barnard 1
Bernard 1
Charlie 1
Cornelius 1
Cyril 1
Dennis 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Mathew 1
Maurice 1
Mick 1
Own 1
Phillip 1
Terence 1
Terrence 1
Terry 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Oneal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oneal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 651 people were recorded with the Oneal surname. That placed it at #5,488 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oneal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 213 in 2016. That gives Oneal a modern rank of #18,785.

What does the Oneal surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from Ó Néill, meaning "descendant of Niall," a personal name meaning "champion."

What does the Oneal map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Oneal bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.