What does O mean in O'neil?

[nq:1]Doesn't Mc in McDonald mean "son of Donald." How about O in O'neil? What does O mean?[/nq]
It means the same thing. I suspect it's a contraction of "of".

While it was 6/11/03 2:44 pm throughout the UK, toty sprinkled little black dots on a white screen, and they fell thus:
[nq:1]Doesn't Mc in McDonald mean "son of Donald." How about O in O'neil? What does O mean?[/nq]
In theory, that means "son of" too. In practice, boys and girls tend to inherit such surnames alike. And I don't know how many of them really have a parent called Donald, neil

[nq:2]Doesn't Mc in McDonald mean "son of Donald." How about O in O'neil? What does O mean?[/nq]
[nq:1]It means the same thing. I suspect it's a contraction of "of".[/nq]
It doesn't and it isn't.
It's derived from Gaelic "ua", which can mean either "grandson of" or a more general "descendant of".
In modern usage, you can take it to mean "descended from", just as you would probably

[nq:2]It means the same thing. I suspect it's a contraction of "of".[/nq]
[nq:1]It doesn't and it isn't. It's derived from Gaelic "ua", which can mean either "grandson of" or a more general ... be a descendant of Donald rather than necessarily the son. This last injunction applies particularly to females bearing the name.[/nq]
Injunction? Name? I trust you're not trying to use your non-Bri

[nq:2]In modern usage, you can take it to mean "descended ... This last injunction applies particularly to females bearing the name.[/nq]
[nq:1]Injunction? Name? I trust you're not trying to use your non-British status to downhold the decisions of Her Majesty's courts?[/nq]
Why "trying to use" rather than "using"?
The answer, in any case, is no. I don't spend much time thinking about t

[nq:1]Why "trying to use" rather than "using"? The answer, in any case, is no. I don't spend much time thinking about the fact that I am non-British.[/nq]
You'd be wise to bear it in mind and enjoy the carte blanche that unlike Brits this week you have to come up with rhymes for "Dorset". Allegedly.

Ross Howard
(I 'ad that Farrah Majors in the back of the cab once.)

[nq:1]While it was 6/11/03 2:44 pm throughout the UK, toty sprinkled little black dots on a white screen, and they fell thus:[/nq]
[nq:2]Doesn't Mc in McDonald mean "son of Donald." How about O in O'neil? What does O mean?[/nq]
[nq:1]In theory, that means "son of" too.[/nq]
I thought "O'" means "grandson of". Where's Padraig?

[nq:2]Why "trying to use" rather than "using"? The answer, in ... much time thinking about the fact that I am non-British.[/nq]
[nq:1]You'd be wise to bear it in mind and enjoy the carte blanche that unlike Brits this week you have to come up with rhymes for "Dorset". Allegedly.[/nq]
Ha! There's is some justice after all:

[nq:2]The answer, in any case, is no. I don't spend much time thinking about the fact that I am non-British.[/nq]
[nq:1]You'd be wise to bear it in mind and enjoy the carte blanche that unlike Brits this week you have to come up with rhymes for "Dorset". Allegedly.[/nq]
Problem: in Ireland, "Dorset" is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable. One of the principal thoroughf

[nq:1]Problem: in Ireland, "Dorset" is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable. One of the principal thoroughfares in Dublin is dor-SET street.[/nq]
No that wouldn't do. No point trying to force it.
(Bah, this is no fun now we can actually say it.)