O’Neill’s truly Geoghegan’s By M.O’Neill

Those O’Neill’s who do not know their genealogy prior to the 1800’s and are of origins in Galway should take into account that in 1807, John Geoghegan of Bunowen Castle, County Galway, assumed the surname of O'Neill. He also adopted a coat of arms based on, but differentiated from, the arms of O'Neill.

1.  "Ermine a Dexter hand Gules supported by two lions rampant Azure and in base a salmon in the sea proper.
2.  The Crest: a sinister arm embowed in armor, graphing a sword all-proper".

For whatever reasons envy, jealousy, or God knows why this John Geoghegan assumed the O’Neill surname and all associated with it. The question is how many O’Neill’s are just true Geoghegan’s and not O'Neill?

Who were these Geoghegan’s? The sept of the MacGeoghegans is recorded to be of the southern Ui Neill, and believed to be the descendants of mythical King Niall of the Nine Hostages; they were located in the present barony of Moycashel, Co. Westmeath, with the chiefs' seat near Kilbeggan.

Many of the Geoghegan belong to the SNP R-M222 R1b1a2a1a1b4b this SNP ( Y-chromosome Haplogroup)is found and associated with those surnames of the Uí Néill dynasty, but it is not restricted to the Uí Néill, as it is also associated with the closely related Connacht dynasties, the Uí Briúin, and the Uí Fiachrach.

This group of O’Neill’s maybe out there likely in Australia, the United States, and Ireland. They are the descendants of John Geoghegan and not of any O’Neill, and what makes it more confusing is that many will be tested positive for the SNP R-M222, and believe to be true O’Neill’s. When those that are of the Royal House of O’Neill’s are the descendants, of one Niall Glundubh Mac Áedo, and not Niall of the Nine Hostages.

This is just another added puzzle, of the O’Neill’s that needs to be solved. I highly doubt many of the O’Neill’s will try to find out unless they really care to know the truth.

NOTE: Among those O’Neill’s tested within the R1b SNP’s we find.

1.  O’Neill’s of the SNP L21/S145/M529 R1b1a2a1a1b4 4,000 ybp.

2.  O’Neill’s of the SNP S28/U152 R1b1a2a1a1b3 3,500 ybp.

3.  O’Neill’s of the SNP M222 R1b1a2a1a1b4b 3,000 ybp.

4.  O’Neill’s of the SNP P312/S116 R1b1b2a1b 5,300 ybp.

5.  O’Neill’s of the SNP L2/S139 R1b1a2a1a1b3c 2,500 ybp.

6.  Neely/O’Neill’s of the SNP M405/S21/U106 R1b1a2a1a1a 3,500 ybp.

7.  O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico SNP L48/S162 R1b1a2a1a1a5c.