Surname Cineal - Meaning and Origin

Cineal: What does the surname Cineal mean?

The last name Cineal is a Gaelic patronymic surname derived from the Irish word "Cinéal," which means "family, line, or tribe." The term was originally used to refer to a large extended family that was linked by a common ancestor. This would include siblings, cousins, in-laws, and other extended family members.

The Cineal family traces its roots back to Conn Cineal, King of Tara in the 11th century, who was descended from ancient chieftains of the Uí Neill dynasty. The Uí Neill were descendents of Niall of the Nine Hostages, an Irish king who was allegedly kidnapped by six Irish chieftains in the 4th century.

The Cineal are believed to have begun as a powerful group of families that held land and titles in the west, central and northern parts of Ireland. Their importance was such that in some instances, they were viewed as having the same status as the old Kings of Ireland. The Cineal continued to have a strong presence in their ancestral homeland until the 19th century.

Today, the Cineal surname is most commonly found in the western provinces of Ireland, as well as in Great Britain and scattered parts of the United States. It is an ancient surname commemorating one of the great Irish dynasties, and remains a treasured part of many Irish family lines today.

Cineal: Where does the name Cineal come from?

The last name Cineal is primarily common in Scotland, though it is also found in some areas of Ireland. In Scotland it primarily appears in Perth and Kinross, Fife, and Aberdeenshire.

The most likely origin of the name is the Irish Ó hAonghusa or Ó hAingbhusa. These names consist of two elements, the first of which indicate that the family is descended from the Irish prince Aonghus, and the second probably originates from the Irish word 'busach', meaning 'victorious', or from the word 'balc', meaning 'tax'.

The original Gaelic form of the name Cineal or Cineil was most likely Ua hAonghusa or Ua hAingbhusa, and likely denoted descendants of the O'Huanshusa tribe from the Irish province of Connaught.

The surname is especially common among Catholic families of this area, who would have kept the Irish Gaelic spelling of the last name until it was changed by English-speaking officials, or the family themselves, depending on the century.

While the name is rarer today, it has retained some presence in Scotland and Ireland, particularly in the traditional Gaelic-speaking regions. The name may also be found in the Scotland's historic census records and other genealogical records taken from this region.

Variations of the surname Cineal

The surname Cineal is an Anglicized form of the old Gaelic name Mac an Mhaoil, ‘son of the valiant one’, which is also spelled MacAuliffe, MacAvally, McAuliff, MacAulay, MacAnally, MacInally, and MacNeill. It is an Irish surname that originated from the territories that later formed the kingdom of Uí Fiachrach Aidhin, now known as County Mayo.

The Cineal spelling is found in both Ireland and Scotland, although the name was more strongly associated with Scotland in the 18th and 19th centuries. Variants of the same name can be found throughout the Gaelic speaking territories of Scotland and Ireland, including Argyll and Ulster counties in Northern Ireland.

In Scotland, variations of the name include MacAnaul, MacCavall, MacCauliff, MacInnual, MacInes, MacKanally, and MacNeill.

In addition to Cineal, there are also similar sounding names, such as Kinnell, which originated in Scotland, and the Irish surname Congnail.

Cineal is most commonly found in descendants of Galloglass mercenaries, who traveled from Scotland and the Highlands to Ireland in the medieval period. As with many Irish and Scottish Gaelic surnames, the exact origins are difficult to probe as the name was derived from spoken, rather than written, language.

Famous people with the name Cineal

• Chris Cineal: Chris Cineal is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in the films Look Who's Talking, Look Who's Talking Too, and Welcome Back, Kotter.
• Paul Cineal: Paul Cineal is an American actor who is known for his roles on the television show Ally McBeal, the films I Love You, Man, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
• Tim Cineal: Tim Cineal is an American film producer and director who specialized in producing science fiction and action films. His credits include the film Predator, as well as the television shows Robot Jox, Prey and Babylon 5.
• Erik Cineal: Erik Cineal is an American television producer who was the first to create a comedy series in digital 3-D, in which he won an Emmy for in 2005. Some of his other work includes Prison Break and the horror anthology series, Masters of Horror.
• Aaron Cineal: Aaron Cineal is an American cinematographer who is known for his work on films including Revenge of the Nerds and The Fast and the Furious. His work has been attributed to the visual style of both of those films.
• Phil Cineal: Phil Cineal is an American lyricist and the co-founder of Celebrate Records, which made him one of the most successful independent labels of the 1980s. He wrote lyrics for many popular hits such as, “Missing You,” magic, “Don't Look Any Further,” and “I’m Going Down.”
• Tracey Cineal: Tracey Cineal is an American fashion designer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. She has worked with celebrities such as Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Amy Winehouse. She is also the founder of the Tracey Cineal Foundation, which is an organization dedicated to empower young girls to become leaders.

Other surnames

Cineal Eoghan