O’Neill Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

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Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Prince of Tyrone, Kings of Ulster, and several times Monarchs of Ireland, descended from Niall Glandubh, Monarch of Ireland, slain by the Danes of Dublin, A.D. 946, from whom the surname is derived; Donel O’Neill, surnamed Ardmacha, 46th Monarch of Ireland, of the race of Hy Neale, d. at Armagh, A.D. 987. His descendant, Hugh Maccaoneh O’Neill, Prince of Tyrone, had two sons: 1) Nial Roe O’Neill, ancestor to the subsequent Princes of Tyrone; 2) Hugh Dubh O’Neill, d. 1230, ancestor of O’Neill, of Claneboy, O’Neill, Earl O’Neill, &c., Con O’Neill, Prince of Tyrone, direct descendant and representative of Niall Roe O’Neill, founded the Franciscan Monastery of Ballynasagart, co. Tyrone, 1489, and was murdered by his brother Henry O’Neill, 1493). Ar. a sinister hand couped at the wrist affrontée gu.
2) (Earl of Tyrone, created 1542, attainted. Connbaccogh O’Neill, eldest son of Con O’Neill, Prince of Tyrone, renounced the title of O’Neill; had a re-grant of his lands by patent, dated 1 October, 34 Henry VIII., and was created same day Earl of Tyrone for life, with remainder to his illegitimate son, Mathew O’Neill, called “Feardoragh,” although he had two legitimate sons, Shane Adiamos O’Neill and Phelim Caoch O’Neill, both of whom left descendants. He d. 1559, when the earldom passed according to the limitation). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, ar. a sinister hand couped at the wrist gu.; 2nd and 3rd, the arms of Ulster, viz., Or, a cross gu. Supporters—Two lions gu. langued az. Motto—Lamb dearg Eirin.
3) (The O’Neill, of Tyrone, descended from Shane A Diamus O’Neill, or John, the proud O’Neill, the eldest legitimate son of Con Baccagh O’Neill, first Earl of Tyrone, who waged war against Queen Elizabeth, and visited the queen at her Court to arrange terms of peace, when he astonished the citizens of London by marching through the streets of the city as chieftain at the head of his gallowglasses, or armed guards, with unshaven beards, flowing hair, and saffron-dyed mantles; he was slain 1567, by Mac Donrll, leaving four sons, 1) John; 2) Henry; 3) Con; 4) Аrt Con O’Neill, the third son, was hanged 1590, by order of Hugh, Earl of Tyrone, the son of his father’s illegitimate brother, Lord Dungannon, leaving a son, Art Oge O’Neill, father of Con Roe O’Neill, who had two sons: 1) Art who had a son, Con; and 2) Colonel John O’Neill, who were the last known members of this senior line of O’Neill). Ar. two lions ramp. combatant gu. armed and langued az. supporting a sinister hand couped at the wrist of the second.
4) (Baron Dungannon, afterwards Earl of Tyrone, Mathew, or Fearderagh O’Neill, illegitimate eon of Con Baccogh O’Neill, first Earl of Tyrone, was created Baron Dungannon by patent dated 1 October, 1542. He was slain by his father’s legitimate son and heir, Shane A Diamus O’Neill, The O’Neill, 1558, when he was s. by his son Hugh O’Neill, as Baron Dungannon, who became Earl of Tyrone 1559). Ar. two lions ramp. combatant gu. armed and langued az. supporting a sinister hand couped at the wrist of the second, over all a sinister bendlet sa.
5) (The Fews, co. Armagh, descended from Нugh O’Neill of the Fews, second son of Owen O’Neill, Prince of Tyrone, who d. 1436, Sir George O’Neill, Knt., of the Fews, was knighted by Sir George Gary, Lord Deputy of Ireland, 17 April, 1604, and d. 24 February, 1639, Fun. Ent. Ulster’s Office; his great grandson Con O’Neill, of the Fews, was transplanted to Connaught by Oliver Cromwell). (Fassagh and Killebane, co. Armagh; descended from Art O’Neill, second son of Sir Tirlogh O’Neill, Knt., of the Fews, d. 1639). Per fess wavy the chief ar. and the base representing waves of the sea, in chief a dexter hand couped at the wrist gu. in base a salmon naiant ppr. Crest—An arm embowed in armour, the hand grasping a sword all ppr.
6) (Newcastle, Foxford, and Carrowry, co. Mayo, Cloon, co. Leitrim, and Spain; allowed by Fortescue, Ulster, 1803, to Arthur O’Neill, Governor of Yeucatan, in South America, Lieut.-Gen. and Counsellor of the Supreme Council of War in Spain, fourth in descent from Con O’Neill, of the Fews, who was transplanted into Connaught by Oliver Cromwell). Same Arms. Crest—A naked arm embowed, brandishing a sword all ppr. Motto—Hoec manus pro patriae pugando vulnera passa.
7) (Claneboy or Clan Acdh Buidhe; descended from Hugh Dubh O’Neill, d. 1230, second son of Hugh Macconeh O’Neill, Prince of Tyrone, and brother of Nial Roe O’Neill, Prince of Tyrone, ancestor of O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone, from Hugh Buidhe O’Neill, grandson of Hugh Dubh O’Neill. This line were designated the Claneboy O’Neills. They had their chief seat at Edenduffcarrick, now Shanes Castle, co. Antrim. John O’Neill, Esq., of Shane’s Castle, ninth in descent from Hugh Buidhe O’Neill, d. 1617, leaving four sons, viz., 1) Sir Henry O’Neill, Knt., of Shane’s Castle, whose only dau. and heiress Rose O’Neill, m. Randall, Marquess of Antrim, and d. 1707; 2) Arthur O’Neill, whose male line failed with his grandsons; 3) Phelim Dubh O’Neill, ancestor of the Earl O’Neill, 4) Shane Oge O’Neill, ancestor of O’Neill, of Ballybollen). Per fess wavy the chief ar. the base representing waves of the sea, in chief a dexter hand couped at the wrist gu. in base a salmon naiant ppr. Crest—An arm in armour embowed the hand grasping a sword all ppr. Motto—Lamb dearg Eirin.
8) (Earl O’Neill, extinct 1841, and Viscount O’Neill, extinct 1865; descended from Phelim Dubh O’Neill, third son of John O’Neill, Esq., of Shane’s Castle, whose grandson John O’Neill, known as French John, s. to Shane’s Castle on the extinction of the male issue of the elder brothers of his father, and d. 1739, leaving three sons, 1) Henry O’Neill, whose only dau. and heiress, Mary O’Neill, to. Rev. Arthur Chichester, great grandfather of the present Lord O’Neill, 2) Charles O’Neill, whose son, John O’Neill, was raised to the peerage 1793; 3) Clotworthy O’Neill, d. unm.). (Flowerfield, co. Loudonderry; descended from Arthur O’Neill, Esq., of Neillsbrooke, second son of Phelim Dubh O’Neill, the ancestor of the Earl O’Neill). Same Arms, Crest and Motto. Supporters—Two lions gu. armed and langued az. each gorged with an eastern crown and chained or.
9) (Baron O’Neill, descended maternally from Henry O’Neill, Esq., of Shane’s Castle, eldest son of John O’Neill, French John, of Shane’s Castle, through his only dau. Mary O’Neill, wife of Rev. Arthur Chichester; her great grandson, Rev. William Chichester, having s. to Shane’s Castle and the O’Neill estates by the will of his kinsman, John Bruce Richard, third Viscount O’Neill, 1855, assumed by royal licence the surname and arms of O’Neill, and was raised to the Peerage 1868). (Ballybollen, co. Antrim; descended from Shane Oge O’Neill, fourth son of John O’Neill, Esq., of Shane’s Castle, who d. 1617, Ambrose O’Neill, the great grandson of Shane Oge, d. 1753, leaving an only dau. and heiress Sarah O’Neill, m. Daniel O’Rourke, Esq.). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, same as the last, for O’Neill; 2nd and 3rd, chequy or and gu. a chief vair, for Chichester. Crests—1st, O’Neill : An arm embowed in armour, the hand grasping a sword all ppr.; 2nd, Chichester: A stork rising with a snake in its beak all ppr., motto over, Invitum sequitur honos. Supporters —Two lions gu. each gorged with an eastern crown ar. pendent therefrom by a gold chain, an escutcheon, that on the dexter charged with the arms of O’Neill, and that on the sinister with those of Chichester. Motto—Lamb dearg Eirin.
10) (Upper Claneboys, bart., dormant since 1799; descended from Henry Calch O’Neill, second son of Brian Ballagh O’Neill, Chief of Claneboy, who was fourth in descent from Hugh Buidhe O’Neill, from whom the desig¬nation of Claneboy was derived, Colonel Brian O’Neill, seventh in descent from Henry Calch O’Neill, was created a Baronet of England, 13 November, 1643, by Charles I., in recompense for his services in the royal cause, especially for his bravery at the battle of Edge Hill, 22 August, 1642. Sir Francis O’Neill, sixth bart., who lived at Slane, co. Meath, d. 1799, leaving four sons, 1) Henry, went to Spain and has not been heard of since 1798; 2) Francis, of Drogheda; 3) James, of Dublin; and 4) Brian, Sergeant-Major, 88th Connaught Rangers, whose male descendants are still living. Since the decease of the sixth bart., the title has been unclaimed. See Burke’s “Vicissitudes of Families”). Ar. two lions ramp. combatant gu. supporting a sinister hand couped at the wrist of the last, in chief three mullets of the second, and in base a salmon naiant ppr. Crest—An arm embowed in antique chain armour holding in the gauntlet a sword all ppr.
11) (Killeleagh, bart. extinct; descended from Hugh McPhlim Baccogh O’Neill, younger brother of Brian O’Neill, of Shane’s Castle, temp. Queen Elizabeth; Henry O’Neill, of Eillyleagh, the great grandson of Hugh McPhelim, was created a bart. 1666, and had two sons, who both d. s. p. m.). Ar. two lions ramp, combatant gu. supporting a dexter hand couped at the wrist of the last, in chief three estoiles az. in base waves of the sea therein naiant a salmon all ppr. Crest—An arm couped below the elbow erect gu. entiled with a ducal coronet or, and holding in the hand a sword ppr. pommel and hilt gold.
12) (Mullaghgane in the Feevagh, co. Antrim, and Athboy, co. Meath; descended from Brian O’Neill, of that place, of the Clandeboy line of O’Neill; Patrick Francis O’Neill, Esq., of Athboy, d. 1741, leaving a son, John O’Neill, b. 1740, who was Catholic Delegate for Athboy 1792, m. 1768, Mary, only dau. and heiress of Walter Plunkett, Esq., of Rathmore, and d. 1803; his dau. and eventual heiress, Mary Theresa O’Neill, m. Benjamin Lentaigne, Esq., M.D., and d. 1820, leaving an elder son and heir, John Francis Lentaigne, Esq., of Tallaght). Ar. two lions ramp. combatant gu. supporting a dexter hand couped at the wrist of the last, in chief three estoiles of the second, in base waves of the sea, therein naiant a salmon all ppr. Crest—An arm in armour embowed grasping a sword all ppr. Motto—Pro fide rege et patria pugno.
13) (Bunowen Castle, co. Galway; exemplified to John Geoghegan, Esq., of that place, on his assuming, by royal licence, 1807, the surname of O’Neill in lieu of Geoghegan). Erm. a dexter hand gu. supported by two lions ramp. az. and in base a salmon naiant in the sea ppr. Crest—A sinister arm embowed in armour, grasping a sword all ppr.