This is a locational surname, probably of Spanish origins. The meaning derives from the ancient Roman (Latin) 'orne' meaning eagle, the surname describing a place of the eagles. This is also reflected in the coat of arms whose blazon is shown below. The name is recorded in several forms including de Orniz, Ornillos, Ornelas, and the form found only in the USA of Ornells and Orneles. There are a number of villages whose name includes 'orne', however it also possible that this surname derives from a place now 'lost', there being many such examples in etymology. Early examples of the surname recordings taken from authentic registers both civil and religious include Gutierres Orneles, christened at Asuncion, Mexico, on Fbruary 13th 1747, and Juana Ornillos, who married Valerio Gonzalez at Santa Maria Magdalena, Valladolid, Spain, on June 1st 1829. Other examples include Mamie Anna Ornellas, christened at Oakland, California, on June 24th 1920, Carmer Ornelas, who married Ramon Leyva, at Los Angeles, on March 3rd 1947, and Gregory Ornells, the son of Joe and Della Mae, born at Los Angeles on April 15th 1956. The coat of arms is,per pale silver and black, an eagle displayed counterchanged. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ana de Orniz, which was dated February 1st 1584, christened at San Martin, Viscaya, Spain, during the reign of King |Phillip 11 of Spain, Emperor of Mexico, 1556 - 1598. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.