The O’Neills who ruled the territory afterward were inaugurated as “Ua Neill Mór”, or “the Great O’Neill.” King Aedh “the Stout” O’Neill (d. 1364) was the first to take the open, red (bloody) right hand and employ it on the family crest. In his and his successors’ capacity as the kings of Ulster, the hand came to represent the entire province.
Full Answer
What happened to the Uí Néill dynasty?
With the emergence of Brian Boru and the powerful Dál gCais Clan in tenth century, the decline of the Uí Néill dynasty was inevitable. Today the Uí Néill Dynasty prospers in Ireland and all over the world.
Who are the Uí Néill clan?
The Uí Néill Clan were the foremost political dynasty in Ireland between the 7th and 10th centuries. The O’Neill clan has one of the most historical and ancient lineages in Ireland if not the world.
What does Ui Neill mean in Irish?
Ui Neill - Irish Names and Surnames. UI NEILL, descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages, King of Ireland, A.D. 379-406. They were divided into two great branches called the northern and southern Ui Neill. The chief clans of the northern Ui Neill, whose territory lay in the present counties of Tyrone, Derry, Donegal and the north of Co.
How many Uí Néill are there?
The Uí Neills divided into two main branches, the Northern Uí Néill and Southern Uí Néill. Niall of the Nine Hostages had seven sons; three of these sons were Owen (Eoghan), Conall Gulban (Conaill) and Enda (Énda). These 3 sons became the progenitors of the three Cenél’s (races) that make up the Nothern Uí Néill.
Are all Oneills related?
The O'Neill lineage claims descent from Niall Glúndub, a 10th-century king of Ailech as well as High King of Ireland. Niall descended from the Cenél nEógain branch of the Northern Uí Néill. The first to adopt the patronymic surname was Niall Glúndub's great-grandson, Flaithbertach Ua Néill.
What is the O'Neill crest?
The O'Neill red hand The red hand in the O'Neill family crest is explained by several slightly differing legends. They share a common theme that begins with a promise of land to the first man that is able to sail or swim across the sea and touch the shores of Ireland.
What is the O'Neill family motto?
Irish derivation: Ó Néill. Name meaning: "Descendant of Niall." Counties associated with the name: Tyrone, Derry, Donegal, Meath, Dublin, Carlow, Tipperary, and Wicklow. Coat of arms motto: "The red hand of Ireland."
Who was O Neill?
Eugene O'Neill, in full Eugene Gladstone O'Neill, (born October 16, 1888, New York, New York, U.S.—died November 27, 1953, Boston, Massachusetts), foremost American dramatist and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1936.
How do I find my Irish family crest?
IrishSurnames.com is here to help you find your family crest. You should be aware that there may be more than one family crest for the same name. For example, the Irish name O'Connor has dozens. Many non-Gaelic names were brought into the country especially during the seventeenth century.
How do you get a family crest?
How to Find Your Family CrestDetermine What You Already Know. You'll need to decide on a branch of your family you want to research and trace that family name back as far as you can. ... Look for Heraldry Symbols. ... Verify the Information You Find. ... Understand the Symbolism. ... Get a Useable Family Crest for Genealogy.
Is O'Neill a Viking name?
The first to take O'Neill as a surname was Domhnall, who took the name of his grandfather, killed in a battle with the Vikings. 'O'Neill' thus translates as 'grandson of Niall'.
What does the name Oneil mean?
Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI The original Gaelic form of the name O'neil is Ó Néill, which means descendant of Niall, a personal name of Irish origin, thought to mean "champion." "Of the very great antiquity of this distinguished name and family there can be no doubt."
What nationality is Neill?
IrishIrish and Scottish: reduced form of Irish Gaelic Ó Néill or Scottish Gaelic Mac Néill 'descendant (or son) of Niall', a personal name of Irish origin, thought to mean 'champion'.
Is O'Neill an Irish or Scottish name?
IrishThe surname O'Neill is of Irish origin, spelling variations include O'Neal, O'Neil, Ó Neill, Ó Néill, Ua Néill, Uí Néill and Neill.
Who owns O Neill?
In the United States, the O'Neill clothing license is held by the La Jolla Group. The O'Neill wetsuit business continues to be owned by the O'Neill family and is based in Santa Cruz, CA....O'Neill (brand)TypePrivateOwnerprivately heldWebsitehttp://www.oneill.com6 more rows
Is there an O'Neill tartan?
This tartan was designed for the wedding of Timothy Powers O'Neill on 27th May 2000. It incorporates the traditional Irish colours of saffron and green along with the red that is prominently featured in the O'Neill crest. For use by anyone with the name O'Neill.
What are the clans of Ui Neill?
Sligo, were Cineal Eoghain, Cineal Conaill and Cineal Cairbre; while those of the southern Ui Neill, whose territory was coextensive with the Diocese of Meath, were Clann Cholmain, Cineal Fiachach and Fir Teathbha.
Who is Ui Neill?
Rev Patrick Woulfe. UI NEILL, descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages, King of Ireland, A.D. 379-406. They were divided into two great branches called the northern and southern Ui Neill.
How long did Niall live before the Battle of Clontarf?
Niall was supposed to have lived 500 years before the Battle of Clontarf. Using genetics it is possible to trace Niall’s DNA and measure his legacy in terms of how many descendants he left. We can’t go back to AD 500 for a DNA sample, but we can look at modern O’Neills.
What is the genetic evidence for Ireland?
The genetic evidence matches the historical story. Ireland has experienced major upheavals, political dynasties, and migrations right up to today. These are recorded in patterns of genetic diversity that provide a window into the past and show the lasting legacy of leading characters such as Niall and Brian Boru.
Do Irish people have Y chromosomes?
Bradley and colleagues looked at the Y-chromosomes of Irish men with surnames of Norse origin. If these Norse surnames are direct descendants of the Norse invaders of 1,000 years ago, then these Y-chromosomes should group with Norwegian Y-chromosomes. However, the analysis showed the contrary.
Is there a single dominant clan in Munster?
However, in Munster there isn’t the same pattern of a single dominant Y-chromosome, and thus no evidence of a single dominant clan, despite Boru’s prominence. However, that is not surprising when you consider the Uí Néills had a 500-year head start.
Was Niall of the Nine Hostages a historical personage?
Although Niall of the Nine Hostages may not be a historical personage, the Uí Néill clan was clearly dominant. So, much like the hegemony of Genghis Khan, which has left a legacy of 10 per cent of men in the region of Mongolia sharing a single Y-chromosome, and almost 1 per cent of all men worldwide, Niall of the Nine Hostages has left ...
Who is the O'Neill clan?
The Proud History of the O’Neill Clan. The O’Neill family traces its history back to 360 A.D. to the legendary warrior king of Ireland, Niall Noigiallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), who is said to have been responsible for bringing St. Patrick to Ireland. The Ui Neill dynasty split into two septs, the Northern Ui Neill and the Southern Ui Neill, ...
What branch of the O'Neills were the Yellow Haired Hughs?
The remaining O’Neills split into two septs; the senior branch were called the Tyrone O’Neills and the younger branch were known as the “Clan Aedh Buidhe,” the Yellow-haired Hughs or Clanaboy. The O’Neills continued to distinguish themselves in the fight for Ireland’s independence. Owen Roe O’Neill organized the return of 300 Irish officers in ...
What does "Niall" mean in Gaelic?
The name is derived from two separate Gaelic words, “Ua Niall,” which means grandson of Niall, and “Neill” meaning “champion.”. When Nial Gluin Dubh (Niall of the Back Knee), the King of Ireland from 890 until 919 A.D., was killed fighting the raiding Norsemen, his grandson Domhnall adopted the surname Neill.
Why did the O'Neill brothers get the red hand on their coat of arms?
Another story tells of three O’Neill brothers who were given laurel branches as a result of their victory over the Vikings and added the nickname “Creagh” to their names. The significance of the red hand on the O’Neill family coat of arms is often debated, and there are many interpretations as to what it signifies.
Why are the O'Neill brothers called Creagh?
The O’Neills were known by the nickname “Creagh” which comes from the Gaelic word “craobh” meaning branch, because they were known to camouflage themselves to resemble the forest when fighting the Norsemen. Another story tells of three O’Neill brothers who were given laurel branches as a result of their victory over the Vikings and added ...
When did Kevin O'Neill die?
He died in Boston on November 27, 1953. Kevin O’Neill is a renowned illustrator who has contributed to children’s comics as well as several science-fiction series such as ABC Warriors, Nemesis the Warlock and Metalzpic.
Where was Hugh O'Neill buried?
Hugh O’Neill spent his last days in Rome, where he died in 1616 being buried next to his son in San Pietro. His death is the last entry in the Annals of the Four Masters, the best-known account of medieval Irish history. After the defeat at Kinsale, many O’Neills fled to Spain and Portugal. The remaining O’Neills split into two septs;
Where are the O'Neills?
Thanks in part to the fleeing of Irish lords, many O'Neills can be found in places in Europe like Holland, Spain, and France, as well as the Caribbean. The O'Neills can trace their family history back to A.D. 360, a rare feat among the families of Europe.
Who is the last name of O'Neill?
Famous people with the last name O'Neill: Sir Niall O'Neill (1658-1690, who distinguished himself at the battle of the Boyne) Arthur O'Neil (1737-1816, a blind harpist of great renown) John O'Neill (1834-1878, a Fenian leader) Eugene O'Neill (1888-1953, the dramatist, was the son of an American actor, himself an Irish immigrant)
Who is Eugene O'Neill?
Eugene O'Neill (1888-1953, the dramatist, was the son of an American actor, himself an Irish immigrant) Ed O'Neill (1946-, an Irish American actor) Congress Thomas 'Tipp' O'Neill (1912-1994, a US Speaker of the House of Representatives and an advocate of the Irish cause) Read More: How to pinpoint where your ancestors lived in Ireland. ...
What does the name Niall mean?
Name meaning: "Descendant of Niall.". Counties associated with the name: Tyrone, Derry, Donegal, Meath, Dublin, Carlow, Tipperary, and Wicklow. Coat of arms motto: "The red hand of Ireland.".
What is the O'Neill Dynasty?
The O'Neill dynasty (Ui Néill means 'descended from Niall') is an historical certainty, even if its founder is not. According to legend, Niall was a warrior king at a time when Ireland was divided into many kingdoms and a heirarchy of kingship existed.
How many New Yorkers have the Niall of the Nine Hostages gene?
So, too, do about 1-in-50 New Yorkers of European heritage, reflecting three centuries of Irish emigration to North America.
What is the Y-DNA pattern?
A significant proportion of men who can trace their ancestry to Ireland, and especially the north of Ireland, carry a specific Y-DNA pattern called the M222 sub-clade. The signature is especially prevalent in the genes of men with surnames that have long been linked to Niall and his dynasty. Geneticists have dated this M222 signature to ...
What provinces did Niall take hostage from?
A second, and probably less reliable, story is that Niall took a hostage from each of Ireland's five ancient provinces (Connaught, Munster, Leinster, Ulster and Meath) and also captured a Briton, a Gaul, a Saxon and a Scot. The Family Tree Irish Genealogy Guide.
How many people carry the Y-DNA signature?
Niall of the Nine Hostages leapt from the legends of Ireland straight into the modern world when scientists at Trinity College Dublin revealed that as many as three million men living today may carry his y-DNA signature. In the absence of a DNA sample direct from the man himself, Trinity's team of geneticists collected a number ...
What is the Irish genealogy guide?
Written by the creator of Irish Genealogy Toolkit and Irish Genealogy News, 'The Family Tree Irish Genealogy Guide' is full of advice, tips and strategies to ease what can be a challenging journey.
Where is the M222 pattern found?
Across the island as a whole, a different sub-clade the M269 pattern is predominant, while the M222 pattern is found in 8.2% or one man in twelve. The Trinity College study also found that about one in ten men in the west or central areas of Scotland have the so-called Niall ...
When did Niall reign?
The Irish annals and chronicles date Niall Noígíallach’s reign to between the late 4th and early 5th centuries. Modern scholars, on the other hand, have suggested that Niall actually reigned about half a century later than the sources report.
What is the Irish name for Niall?
Niall’s Descendants. A very common Irish surname is O’Neill (Ui Neill in Gaelic), meaning ‘descendant son of Niall’. A team of geneticists at Trinity College, Dublin surveyed the DNA, in particular the Y-chromosome of 60 Irishmen. The researchers found that a small number of Y-chromosome types predominate in Ireland.
What happened to Cairenn and Niall?
When Cairenn was pregnant with Niall , she was forced by Mongfind to carry water from the well, hoping that the heavy work would cause her to miscarry. Mongfind’s plan, however, did not work and Cairenn gave birth one day while on her way to the well. She left the baby on the grass and continued her chore, drawing the water and bringing the filled buckets back home. Cairenn did not return for her child, nor did anyone dare to pick it up, for fear of the queen. Eventually, a poet by the name of Torna came along, recognized that the baby would become a great king and took the child. Torna named the baby Niall and raised him in secret.
Why did Torna bring Niall back to Tara?
When Niall was old enough, Torna brought him back to Tara, the seat of the High Kingship, so as to reclaim his heritage. After all these years Cairenn was still forced to carry water.
How many hostages did Niall take?
As the number of hostages was nine, Niall earned the epithet ‘of the Nine Hostages’. Another version of the story states ...
How did Niall die?
In the next instance, however, Niall was in Scotland before an assembly of Pictish bards, where he was killed by an arrow fired from across the valley by Eochaid. Kingdoms of Ireland.
Who was the first wife of the Irish king?
The Irish king’s first wife was Mongfind and together they had four sons. Niall’s mother was the king’s second wife, Cairenn Chasdub, the daughter of Sachell Balb a Saxon king. Hill of Tara - monument honoring the High Kings of Ireland. (JohnJDuncan / CC BY-SA 4.0 )
Where did the Ui Neill live?
Still, the new genetic evidence may convince historians that there was a common ancestor for at least one of the major branches of the Ui Neill, such as the Cenel nEogain, which lived in an area of northwest Ireland where the I.M.H. is most common.
Why was Niall of the Nine Hostages named after him?
Niall of the Nine Hostages was so named because in his early reign he consolidated his power by taking hostages from opposing royal families. He estimated that two million to three million men worldwide carry the distinctive Y chromosome signature, which he named the I.M.H., for Irish modal haplotype.
What percentage of men in Ireland have Y chromosomes?
The survey shows that 20 percent of men in northwestern Ireland carry a distinctive genetic signature on their Y chromosomes, possibly inherited from Niall, who was said to have had numerous sons, or some other leader in a position to have had many descendants. About one in 50 New Yorkers of European origin -- including men with names like ...
Who said every Irish person is related to a king?
The writer and actor Malachy McCourt said he was not surprised, since every Irish person is related to a king. "They didn't mind who they slept with, and they had first dibs," he said. "It's so boring. It's not like the house of Windsor; every tribe had its own king.". He said Niall was "a highwayman.
Was Niall a slave trader?
He was a slave trader, nothing noble about him. He was a pirate.". The link between the Niall Y chromosome and social power, which would have enabled the king to leave many descendants, "stretches back to the fifth century, which is a long time in Western European terms," Dr. Bradley said.