O'Nee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of O'Nee

The spelling and overall form of Irish names tend to vary widely. The original Gaelic form of the name O'Nee is Mac Neidhe, which is derived from the word niadh, which means champion.

Early Origins of the O'Nee family

Early History of the O'Nee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Nee research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1037 is included under the topic Early O'Nee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Nee Spelling Variations

Numerous spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name O'Nee family name. Before widespread literacy, a person entrusted the proper documentation of his name to the individual scribe. As a result, a name was often recorded under several different variations during the life of its bearer. Variations found include MacNee, MacNea, MacNay, MacKnee, MacNeigh, MacNia, Nee, Knee and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Nee family

More information is included under the topic Early O'Nee Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the O'Nee family

Ireland, as an English-controlled colony in the 19th century, suffered the loss of hundreds of thousands of its native people. The system of land ownership often did not sufficiently provide for the tenants who farmed the land. This was most clearly evidenced in the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. Previous years of great demand for grain products and livestock had run the land down. Many landowners foreseeing an upcoming crisis often removed families from the land or forced them to rely on pitifully small plots where only a subsistence living could be made. When the famines of 1845, 46, and 48 hit, many had nothing. Disease and starvation became widespread and families boarded ships for elsewhere any way they could. Those who went to America were instrumental in developing the industrial power known today: many Irish were employed in hard labor positions in factories and in building the bridges, canals, roads, and railways necessary for a strong industrial nation. Research of early immigration and passenger lists has shown that many bearers of the name O'Nee: Alexander McNay settled in San Francisco in 1852; Martin, Lawrence, John and James McNee settled in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870. Members of the family settled in Newfoundland, where William Knee was born in 1821..