Before 1100 AD or so, the genealogy of this family depends entirely on oral tradition, but I will give it here anyway, with the caution that it is not to be taken too seriously. On the other hand, the O'Neills were the great Irish royal family, their pedigree remembered and recited by hundreds of bards and oral historians over hundreds of years, so it should not be considered entirely imaginary, either. Historians agree that this is the oldest verifiable family name in Europe. The arms on the left are the original, from the early Middle Ages; the Red Hand was an O'Neill badge even before heraldry came to Ireland. On the right, the more recent arms of the O'Neill earls of Tyrone. In the middle, one of our more famous recent direct ancestors, Hugh O'Neill (1550-1616), Earl of Tyrone and last King of Ulster.
We start with Adam and Eve (well, you have to start somewhere) - this first line was fabricated by the early medieval Irish chroniclers who wanted to give the House of O'Neill a more respectable pedigree. Whether they succeeded is a matter of opinion. If you only (yawn) want the real stuff, scroll down to number 83.
1. Adam and Eve
2. Seth, married Azura (presumably his sister, as there was no other family on Earth at the time)
3. Enoch (later, promoted, the archangel Metatron), married Noam (also his sister or at most, first cousin)
4. Kenan, married Mualeleth
5. Mahalaleel, married Dina
6. Jared, married Baraka
7. Enoch, married Edna
8. Methuselah, lived to be 969, no doubt very crabby by then
9. Lamech
10. Noah, saved the dinosaurs during the Great Flood
11. Japheth (ancestor of all white people)
12. Magog
13. Baath (at this point the Irish genealogists depart from the Bible; Magog is there, in Genesis 10, but his son is not)
14. Feniusa Forsa
15. Niul, married Scota (dau of Cingeros, Pharaoh of Egypt, who by a curious omission does not appear on any lists of Egyptian kings)
16. Gadelas
17. Easru
18. Heber, migrated from Egypt to Scythia by way of Crete
[Descent from Scythians is a common theme in Irish mythology, and is not altogether unfounded. The 'Scythians' can be identified with the Aryan tribes who overran Europe some five thousand years ago, spreading their language (and to a much lesser extent, their genes) all over the continent. Irish is an Aryan language, and indeed the "Ire" part of the name is related to "Aryan" (same for Iran, strangely enough). However, DNA evidence shows pretty conclusively that the Irish, like most other western Europeans, are descended almost entirely from the prehistoric Cro-Magnon inhabitants of Europe (the Atlantic Modal Haplotype), with only a small admixture of Aryan 'blood.' The O'Neill Y-chromosome is R1B, common all along the Atlantic coasts of Europe.]
19. Beagamon
20. Agnamon
21. Tait (a proto-Irish name if I ever saw one)
22. Adnoin
23. Lanfhion
24. Heber Gluanfionn, lord of Gothland (the family nows seems to be somewhere around the Baltic)
25. Faobhar Glass (or Eibach), lord of Gothland
26. Nungatt, lord of Gothland
27. Ealloid, lord of Gothland
28. Earchada, lord of Gothland
29. Deaghatha, lord of Gothland
30. Breatha or Bracheus, who must have thought the Baltic too chilly and emigrated to Spain
31. Briggon or Breagan
32. Mil, or Gallamh, or most commonly Milesius, who led the first migration out of Spain into Ireland, destroying the previous inhabitants or driving them underground, where they turned into fairies and leprechauns.
Again, there is some truth here. The R1B haplotype did probably develop in Iberia, during the last Ice Age, when most of Europe was too cold for habitation. Later, as things warmed up, they migrated northward along the coasts into Brittany and the British Isles. It would be surprising, but not impossible, for Irish oral tradition to have some very distant memory of that migration. Milesius is a very key figure in Irish mythology, being considered the founder of the Irish 'race.' He is traditionally assigned to the tenth century BC, but the Iberian migration would have had to be long before that. His wife is supposed to be another Scota (eponymous ancestor of the Irish, "Scotti" in Latin), daughter of another Pharaoh, this time a real one, Nectanebo (4th century BC, which means his daughter must have been some six hundred years older than he was). How Scota got from Egypt to Spain is not explained. Another version makes her a relative of King Solomon, which fits the chronology better.
33. Heremon, second High King of Ireland - I suspect he was a real person, though impossible to date; all Irish clan chiefs trace themselves back to him in the male line.
34. Irial - he could predict the future, according to tradition
35. Eithrial
36. Follain
37. Tighermas
38. Eanbhethath
39. Smiorgill
40. Fiachadh Labhraine - killed at the Battle of Belgadain
41. Aongus Ollbhuagach, King of Ireland - fought thirty battles in Scotland; maybe some memory of the earliest Irish migrations into Scotland
42. Maoin
43. Rothectaid Rigderg, 22nd High King
44. Den or Dein
45. Siorna Saoghalach, 'the Long-Lived'
46. Ailill Oalchlaen
47. Giallchadh, 37th High King
48. Nuadha Fionn Fail, 39th High King
49. Simon Breac 'the Freckled', 44th High King
50. Muireadhoch Balgreach
51. Fiachadh Tolghrach
52. Duach Laighrach
53. Eochaidh Buaidhaig
54. Ugaine More 'the Great' , who is supposed to have married a Frankish princess, but there were no identifiable Franks yet - he is supposed to have lived around the third century BC; he also is said to have raided around the Mediterranean. His brother Badbchadh murdered him, and then was High King for three hours until he was murdered too. Very Irish.
55. Cobhthaig Caolbreag - very likely a real person. He is a main character in the oldest surviving Irish saga, the Orgain Denna Ríg (Destruction of Dinn Righ), preserved in the Book of Leinster. His murder by a great-nephew sets off a war, culminating in a great battle at Dinn Righ, identified with a ruin at Leighlinbridge in County Carlow.
56. Meilge, prince of Ireland
57. Iaran Gleofathach, 74th High King
58. Conla Cruaidh Cealgach, 76th High King - the annals consider it worth noting that he died of natural causes
59. Oilioll Cais-fhiaclach, 'crooked-tooth'
60. Eochaidh Ailtleathair, 79th High King
61. Aongus Tuirimheach, 81st High King, killed in a battle at Tara
62. Eanda Aighnach 'the Hospitable,' 84th High King
63. Labhra Luirc 'the Fierce,' probably an unwelcome change after his father
64. Blathachta
65. Easanmhuin Eamhma
66. Raighnein Ruadh
67. Finhagmna or Finnloga
68. Finhagmna, married Benia
69. Eochaid Feidhliach 'the Steadfast,' 93rd High King, married Cloth Fionn (daughter of Eochaidh Achticathan); one of his children is supposed to be Maedb or Maeve, heroine of the great epic the Táin Bó Cuailnge, the 'Cattle Raid of Cooley'
70. Fineamhna
71. Lughaidh Riebdearg, 'of the Red Circles'
72. Criomhthan Niadhmar, 100th High King of Ireland; supposed to have married a Pictish princess, Mar Eath Chahah
73. Fioraidhach Fionfachtnach or Fearadach Fionn Feachtnach, 'the True,' 102nd High King
74. Fiachaidh Fionnolaidh, 104th High King, married Eithne
75. Tuathal Teachtmar, 106th High King, is considered to be the first historically verifiable Irish king, he lived in the first century AD, conquered a large part of the island, and probably established the capital at Tara. His wife Baine was said to be a daughter of an English king, remarkable as there was no England as yet.
76. Feidhlimidh Reachtmhar 'the Lawgiver,' who 'died on his pillow,' according to the annals. Three sons by his supposedly Danish wife, including:
77. Conn Ceadchathach, "of the Hundred Battles,' definitely an historical figure. He lived in the second century AD, and was killed by fifty "ruffians" dressed as women, sent to assassinate him by a rival king. Married Eithne, daughter of Lughaidh son of Daire. He is credited with bringing the Lia Fáil, the Stone of Destiny, to Tara
78. Art Aoinfhear 'the Solitary,' 112th High King, killed in battle at Galway c195 AD. Married Maedhbh, daughter of Conan Cualan, but supposedly his successor was his son by a misstress, Eachtach:
79. Cormac Ulfhada 'Long-Beard,' 115th High King, said to have converted to Christianity, but this would have been a century or more before St Patrick's time. Married Eithne Ollamhdha. He choked to death on a fishbone, at the instigation of Druid wizards who did not like his choice of religion. Ailbhe or Aoibhe, Cormac's granddaughter, married Cormac Cais, ancestor of the Munster kings.
80. Cairbre Lifiochair, 117th High King, died c284 at the Battle of Gabhra.
81. Fiachaidh Sraibhthine, king of Connaught and then 120th High King, died c322. He married Aoife, supposed to have been a Welsh princess with Anglo-Saxon and Frankish ancestors on her mother's side; but these peoples did not yet exist as such.
82. Eochaid (Eochu) Mugmedon (died c365), 124th High King, married Cairenn, supposed to have been a daughter of a Celtic British ruler; possible but unverifiable. Mugmedon means 'slave lord' - he was notorious for his slave raids on the British coast.
The O'Neills
83. Niall Noigiallach, "Niall of the Nine Hostages," is the supposed ancestor of the O'Neills, though not the eponymous ancestor (see farther below). DNA studies of the Irish population show that as many as one-fifth of all Irish people (even one-third of those in Ulster) are direct male-line descendants of a man who lived about this time, including most of those whose surnames are supposed to derive from Niall or his sons or brothers - such as McLaughlin, O'Doherty, Gallagher, Devlin, Donnelly, O'Connor, O'Reilly, O'Rourke, and many, many others. But most men named O'Neill do NOT have the so-called "Niall of the Nine Hostages" Y chromosome. This can only mean a case of nonpaternity (or more than one) somewhere along the "main" line of descent (which I show below) from Niall to the medieval O'Neills of Tyrone.
Niall is supposed to have had at least eight sons (and these are probably responsible for a large percentage of Ireland's Y chromosomes today): Conal Gulban (ancestor of the Cenel Conaill), Endae, Eoghan (ancestor of the Cenel Eoghain), Coirbre, Laoghaire, Maine, Conal Crimthann, and Fiacha. St Patrick is supposed to have begun his missionary work while Laoghaire was High King. Conall Gulban was the ancestor of a number of High Kings; and his son Feargus Ceannfada had a son Feidhlimidh who was the father of St Columba.
84. Eoghan (died c465), king at Ailech, the seat of the early O'Neill chiefs
85. Muireadhach, supposed to have married a Dalriadan princess from Lorne
86. Muirchertach, 131st High King, 512-534; at the battle of Ocha in 482, he defeated the previous High King and established the Uí Neill as the foremost Irish dynasty; he also defeated and killed the kings of Munster and Connaught; he took the king of Leinster's daughter as a concubine, and she got her revenge by burning down his house with him inside, at Hallowe'en. His wife was Duaibhseach, daughter of Duach O'Connor of Connaught.
87. Domhnall Ilchealgach 'the Deceitful' (died 561), 134th High King, married Duinseach; he died of the plague after defeating various other kings in Ireland and Scotland
88. Aodh Uaridhrach, 143rd High King, killed 607 at the Battle of Atha-da-facla
89. Mael Frithrich, king at Ailech 628-630
90. Mael Duin (died c681), married Cacht, daughter of Cellach macMael Coba; killed in battle at Leathairbhe
91. Niall Frassach (c717-c778), 162nd High King, married Donnfhlaith, daughter of Flaithbertach macLoingsech; he may be Mael's grandson rather than son (some souces make Fergal, High King 710-722, his father)
92. Aedh Oirdnidhe, 164th High King, killed c817 at the Battle of Fearta; married Maedhbh, daughter of Indreachtach of Durlas
93. Niall Caille (c791-c846, deposed in 838), 166th High King, married Gormfhlaith, daughter of Donnchadh macDomhnaill (also a male-line descendant of Niall of the Nine Hostages); a daughter Joan married Mael-Morda macMuirechain, ancestors of the kings of Leinster; see Macmurrough. In his time, the Vikings first came to northern Ireland; he defeated them at Lough Foyle and elsewhere; drowned in the River Callain trying to rescue one of his guards who had fallen off his horse.
94. Aedh Finnliath (died 879), 168th High King, married Dubha of Ossory and also Maelmuire, supposedly a daughter of King Kenneth MacAlpin; he drove the Vikings out of Ulster (though not for good).
At this point I will start using bold type to indicate direct ancestors, as we can be fairly sure of the pedigree from this point on.
95. Niall Glundubh (c870-919) is the eponymous O'Neill ancestor (though given the DNA findings, it must be suspected that there is a case of nonpaternity somewhere between numbers 83 and 95). He revived the ancient Fair of Tailtu and fought against the Vkings, but was killed near Dublin in a battle against King Sigtrygg (see Vikings). A daughter, name unknown, married Gudrod Ivarsson; their son Jarl Halfdan Gudrodsson had descendants among the kings of Sweden and Norway. He married Gormfhlaith, daughter of his predecessor as High King, Fionn Sionna O'Neill. She died in 947 after accidentally falling on her bedpost. Niall's son was:
96. Muircheartach naGochaill Criceann. He not only ran the Vikings out of Ulster again but pursued them into the Hebrides and plundered their towns there. But in the end they killed him (in 943) in a battle outside Dublin. A daughter, Donnfhlaith, married Domhnall macDonnell; their son was Maelsechnaill macDonnell or Malachy II `the Great', 174th High King, father of King Domhnall of Meath (died c1019), father of King Conchobar of Meath (died c1073), father of Bean-Midi, who married Domnall macLochlainn; parents of Niall macDomhnaill, king at Ailech (c1091-1119), father of Muirchertach, 182nd High King (c1110-1166), father of Maelsechnaill O'Neill (died 1185), father of Fionnuala, who married Godred III 'the Black,' King of Man; parents of Olaf 'the Black,' King of Man and the Isles, whose daughter Ragnhild married Somerled, Lord of the Isles.
Muircheartach's son was:
97. Domhnall Ardmacha (died 978), 173rd High King, first to use the surname "O'Neill." He married Mór, daughter of Donnchadh macCellaigh of Ossory.
98. Muirchertach (died 977), King of Meath, died before his father, in a battle against King Olaf of Dublin
99. Flaithbertach macMuirchertaich of Tyrone, King at Ailech 1004-1030 and 1033-36, married Magach, daughter of Domhnall, king of Mumhan. He moved the capital to Tullahogue, near which Dungannon Castle was later built. During his entire adult life he was at war with Brian Boru, the High King who was ancestor of the rival O'Briens. Between 1030 and 1036 he was on a pilgrimage to Rome, but returned to power when his son Aedh died. A younger son, Niall, was ancestor of the MacNeills of Barra in the Hebrides; the eldest son was:
100. Aedh Athlamhan (died 1033); a number of Scottish clans claim descent from his younger son Anrothan. His elder son was:
101. Domnall an tOgdhamh, King of Ulster, the "Young Ox," killed in battle
102. Flaithbertach, King of Ulster, married an Ossory princess; killed in battle
103. Conchobar na Fiodhbhuidhi, King of Ulster, killed in battle
104. Tadhg Glinne O'Neill, King of Ulster, you guessed it, killed in battle
105. Muircheartach Muighe
106. Aedh Macaemh "Tainleasg," or "Lazy-Assed" (died c1177), King of Ulster, finally defeated the MacLochlainns who had slain his ancestors and established himself as ruler over all of northern Ireland, sent troops against Strongbow's invasion; killed in battle; had two sons: (a) Aodh, number 107 below, and (2) Niall Ruadh O'Neill (died c1223), King of Ulster, see farther below. I suspect there is more than one descent from the senior line shown just below as numbers 107-115, but cannot prove it yet, so will not boldface the names.
107. Aodh Meith O'Neill of Tyrone (died p1230), resisted John de Courcy's invasion and later Hugh de Lacy, sent by King John to be Earl of Ulster; married Beanmidhe, daughter of the O'Hegny of Fermanagh; father of:
108. Domhnall Óg O'Neill of Tyrone (died 1243) deposed his enemy Domhnall MacLochlainn but was later killed by him; his wife Cicely was probably Domhnall's sister;
109. Aodh Buidhe O'Neill of Tyrone (died 1283) is the last to be called "king at Ailech" in the annals. During his time the last High King, Brian O'Neill, was defeated by the English, and he himself lost territory and wealth as a result. In 1275 he defeated a force led by the seneschal William FitzWarin and beheaded 200 of his men; killed by Brian MacMahon of Oriel. His wife is thought to be a daughter of Philip de Nangle, "MacCostello," 4th of Navan.
110. Brian O'Neill of Tyrone, killed by his cousin King Domhnall O'Neill of Ulster
111. Henry O'Neill (died 1347), took advantage of Edward Bruce's invasion to expand his territories, and called himself King of Ulster. Two sons: (1) Brian (died 1399), whose daughter Agnes married John St John - clearly not one of the Bletsoe St Johns, as some websites claim; I have not placed him yet; and (2):
112. Muircheartach Ceannfhada, Prince of Clannaboy (Toiseach Clainn Aodhe Buidhe), died c1395. Ruled most of eastern Ulster, and made an alliance with his cousin King Niall O'Neill to suppress an uprising led by Sir Robert Savage of the Ards. Married Aine or Agnes, daughter of Guy Cumach O'Cathan and widow of Angus Óg, Lord of the Isles (she is our ancestor by that marriage).
113. Brian Ballach O'Neill (died c1425) fought off and on with his Ulster O'Neill relatives, was for a time a prisoner of the English, and was murdered by a mob of townspeople at Carrickfergus; for the next century and a half, his family levied a large "blood money" tax on that town. We know of six sons, ancestors of various O'Neill clans; the second son was:
114. Aodh Buidhe O'Neill (died c1444. killed accidently by a javelin). The Annals of the Four Masters calls him "the most renowned, hospitable, and valorous of the princes of Ireland in his time." He married Fionnuala, daughter of Calvagh O'Connor of Offaly. Four sons, including:
115. Conn O'Neill of Tyrone (died c1482), who defeated the English and several rival clans, including the Savages; he captured and blinded young Patrick Savage of Lecale and the Ards. He built the structure now called Shane's Castle, still the home of his descendants, the Barons O'Neill. Married Mary (died 1488), daughter of Donald Balloch of the Isles (see Macdonnel).
This line continues in both Britain and Spain (after the Flight of the Earls); the present Chief of the O'Neills of Clannaboy is a Portuguese nobleman named Hugo O'Neill. By strict primogeniture he has the best claim to the high kingship of Ireland. A junior branch stayed in Ulster and are now represented by the 4th Baron O'Neill of Shane's Castle.
We return to (generation 107) Niall Ruadh O'Neill (died c1223), King of Ulster for one month, younger son of Aedh Macaemh "Tainleasg," above. He married a daughter of Cathal Crobhdearg O'Connor, King of Connaught. The Annals say that after he kidnapped a woman from a convent, "God and Saint Columba worked a miracle so that his thread of life was shortened." His son was:
108. Brian "Catha an Duin," 184th and last High King of Ireland, was defeated by the English at the Battle of Down (1260); he was executed and his head was sent to Edward III in London. He married Jill or Egidia of Argyll, daughter of Duncan Macdougall of Lorne (a granddaughter of Somerled). They were the parents of:
109. Domhnall, King of Ulster 1283-1286 and 1295-1325, who renounced his claim to the high kingship. He supported the Bruces against England. Father of:
110. Aedh Reamhar "the Fat," King of Ulster 1344-1364, overthrew his cousin Henry O' Neill (number 111 above). Married Gormfhlaith (died 1353), daughter of Aedh O'Donnel of Tyrconnel. Their son was:
111. Niall Mór, King of Ulster 1364-1394, married Beanmidhe, daughter of Brian MacMahon, King of Oriel; their elder son was Henry Aimhreidh (died 1392) married Auffrica, daughter of a cousin, Aedh O'Neill, and had descendants; the second son was:
112. Niall Óg, King of Ulster 1394-1403, was the first to use the title "The Great O'Neill" to distinguish his branch from the senior Clannaboy line. Knighted by Richard II when he visited Dublin in 1394. He married Una, daughter of Domhnall O'Neill (whom I cannot identify; could be of the Clannaboy line).
113. Eoghan or Owen O'Neill, King of Ulster 1432-1455, died 1456. He married Catherine, daughter of Ardgal MacMahon of Oriel.
114. Henry, King of Ulster 1455-1483, supported the Yorkists in the Wars of the Roses; Edward IV in turn supported him as he expanded his territories in Ulster. He married Gormfhlaith (died 1465), daughter of Domhnall MacMurrough Kavanagh, King of Leinster.
115. Conn Mór O'Neill, King of Ulster 1483-1493; killed by his brother Henry. he married Eleanor, daughter of Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Kildare, and Joan FitzGerald of Desmond. Six children: (1) Conn, see below; (2) Art, had descendants; (3) John O'Neill of Drommorrie, had descendants; (4) Tirlogh O'Neill, Governor of Kinnard, had descendants; (5) Brian, had descendants; and (6) Joan or Judith, married Manus O'Donnell (they were grandparents of Hugh O'Neill's second wife, see below).
116. Conn Baccach or Bacagh (the Lame) O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone (died 1559), after years of warfare submitted to Henry VIII in exchange for the earldom. He married first Alice, daughter of Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare (one son, Phelim, many descendants); second Mary, daughter of Hugh/Aedh O'Neill of Clannaboy (one son, Shane (John) O'Neill 'the Proud,' who tried to claim the earldom; many descendants; third, an O'Byrne; and fourth, Mary Macdonnel of Antrim. One of these was the mother of our ancestor Mary, who married Sorley Buie Macdonnel. By his mistress Alison Kelly, whom Burke's calls "wife of a blacksmith at Dundalk," Conn had a son Fedorcha or Matthew, Baron Dungannon (died 1558), evidently his favorite, because he made him heir to the earldom, a decision contested by his half-brother Shane.
117. Fedorcha O'Neill or Matthew, Baron Dungannon, died in 1558, just before his father. He married Joanna, daughter of Cuconnacht or Constantine Maguire "the Coarb," Prince of Fermanagh. Four children: (1) Brian O'Neill, 2nd Lord Dungannon, de jure 2nd Earl of Tyrone (died childless in 1562); (2) the great Hugh, see below; (3) Sir Cormac O'Neill (died c1618), one son, no descendants; and (4) Barnaby, may have died young. Fedorcha also had an illegitimate son, (5) Art McBaron O'Neill (died 1618), whose descendants later tried to claim the earldom; several of them served in the English army but they left for Spain during the Commonwealth period.
118. Hugh O'Neill of Tyrone (1550-1616), pictured at the top of this page, last 'king of Ulster,' raised the last great Irish rebellion against England in the 1590s. His defeat led to the dispossession of many Catholic families and the beginning of the 'plantation of Ulster.' He died in exile in Spain, leader of the "Flight of the Earls." His first wife was an O'Neill of Clannaboy; they had children who were declared illegitimate. His second wife was Joan or Siobhan (died c1590), daughter of Sir Hugh O'Donnell of Tyrconnell and Ineen Dhu Macdonnel (a descendant of James I of Scots, see Stewart). Children: (1) Hugh (1585-1609); (2) Henry O'Neill, recognized as 'Earl of Tyrone" by the Spanish king, no children; (3) Mary, married Sir Bryan McMahon of Monaghan; (4) a daughter who married Donnell Ballagh O'Cahan; (5) Sarah, married Sir Arthur Magennis, 1st Viscount of Iveagh - ancestors of Queen Elizabeth II; (6) Margaret, married Richard Butler, 3rd Viscount Mountgarret - also ancestors of Queen Elizabeth II; and (7) our ancestor Alice, married Sir Randal MacDonnel, 1st Earl of Antrim - also ancestors of Winston Churchill. Hugh's third wife was Mabel Bagenall, sister of our ancestor Frances; no children. By his fourth wife Catherine Magennis he had further children, but it appears that none of them have descendants today.
As Conn Baccach's legitimate male descendants died out, the next heirs to the "Great O'Neill" title were the descendants of Aedh O'Neill, Tanist of Cenel Eoghain, second son of Eoghan or Owen O'Neill, King of Ulster 1432-1455, number 113 above. His son was:
114. Niall Mór (died 1538)
115. Henry O'Neill, Lord of the Fews
116. Sir Turlough O'Neill (died 1639); his two sons went to Spain with the Flight of the Earls, and both have descendants in the Spanish and Portuguese nobility. The heir male is the 12th Marqués de la Granja.
