Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 291

Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 291

This report is available at http://www.s-gabriel.org/291

Some of the Academy's early reports contain errors that we haven't yet corrected. Please use it with caution.

Greetings,

Here's the information we found on the name "Oonagh O'Neill."

"Oonagh" is a modern form of the Irish name "Úna" (the slash represents an accent, so that "Ú" is an accented "U"). "Úna" was an extremely popular medieval name, and is completely appropriate for medieval Irish. (1)

We don't know the origin of the name, but it's possible that it was imported by Scandinavians. The first reference to the name is a legendary daughter of the "King of Lochlainn." Lochlainn refers to part of Scandinavia, and there's a Norse name "Una" which could have been imported. It's possible that this could be a coincidence, but it's the best idea we have.

"O'Neill" is an Anglicized form of the Irish "ua Néill," meaning "male descendant of Niall." As such, it normally wouldn't be used by an Irish woman. Some Irish women in English-speaking areas were recorded with names which used "O'," but only someone unfamiliar with Irish naming practices would call a woman "O' <name>." The usual form for women is "ní"

So the appropriate form for this name is "Úna ní Néill."

Talan Gwynek, Tangwsytl verch Morgant Glasvryn, Lindorm Eriksson, and Effric neyn Kenyeoch vc Ralte contributed to this letter.

We hope this has been helpful. If we can continue to assist you, please let us know.

In service,
Alan Fairfax
Academy of S. Gabriel

(1) O'Corrain & Maguire, "Irish Names."