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O'neill Family History

O'neill Surname Meaning

Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Néill ‘descendant of Niall’ (see Neill).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


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Where is the O'neill family from?

You can see how O'neill families moved over time by selecting different census years. The O'neill family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most O'neill families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 307 O'neill families living in Lancashire. This was about 38% of all the recorded O'neill's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of O'neill families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the O'neill surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What O'neill family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 354,000 census records available for the last name O'neill. Like a window into their day-to-day life, O'neill census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 96,000 immigration records available for the last name O'neill. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 72,000 military records available for the last name O'neill. For the veterans among your O'neill ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average O'neill lifespan?

Between 1981 and 2004, in the United States, O'neill life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1992, and highest in 1981. The average life expectancy for O'neill in 1981 was 74, and 52 in 2004.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your O'neill ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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