Neil
Encyclopedia
Neil is a masculine given name
of Gaelic
origin. The name is an Anglicisation
of the Gaelic Niall
which is of disputed derivation. The Gaelic name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", or "champion". As a surname, Neil is traced back to Niall of the Nine Hostages
who was an Irish king and eponym
ous ancestor of the Uí Néill
kindred. Most authorities cite the meaning of Neil in the context of a surname as meaning champion.
). From Iceland it went via Norway, Denmark, and Normandy to England. It was first mistakenly being translated into Latin as Nigellus from Niger, meaning black. The name also entered Northern England and Yorkshire directly from Ireland with Norwegian settlers. Neal or Neal is the Middle English form of Nigel.
During the Middle Ages
, the Gaelic name was popular in Ireland and Scotland. During the 20th century Neil began to be used in England and North America, and grew in popularity throughout the English-speaking world; however, in England, it has recently been eclipsed by the Gaelic form.
The surname Neil is a reduced form of the surname McNeil
(from the Gaelic Mac Néill, "son of Niall"), or variant form the surname of Neill
(from the Irish Gaelic Ó Néill or the Scottish Gaelic Mac Néill, meaning "descendant of Niall" and "son of Niall".
The name passed from Ireland to Scotland where it had the Mc/Mac prefix. Scottish Catholic McNeill's returned to Ireland in the 1300's and are associated with MacNeill, MacGreal, MacReill, and Mag Reil surnames.
The Manx version of the name is Kneal (1598), Kneale (1655), or Kneel (1636). It evolved from McNelle (1408) and MacNeyll (1430) becoming Kneal by 1598.. The name is believed to have been bought to the island by Norwegian Vikings.
In some cases, the English-language surnames Neilson and Nelson, are ultimately derived from the Gaelic Niall, as patronymic
forms of the Anglo-Scandinavian personal names Nel or Neal. However, these two surnames are sometimes Americanized forms of unrelated Scandinavian-language surnames. For example, the English Nelson is sometimes derived from the Norwegian
Nilsen, the Danish
and German
Nielsen, and the Swedish
Nilsson. Also, the English Neilson is sometimes derived from the Swedish Nilsson. All these Scandinavian-language surnames are ultimately derived from a cognate
of the English given name Nicholas
. The English Nelson may also be derived from the feminine name Eleanor, as a matronymic
.
The table below sets out the various surnames derived from Niall
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
of Gaelic
Goidelic languages
The Goidelic languages or Gaelic languages are one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic languages, the other consisting of the Brythonic languages. Goidelic languages historically formed a dialect continuum stretching from the south of Ireland through the Isle of Man to the north of Scotland...
origin. The name is an Anglicisation
Anglicisation
Anglicisation, or anglicization , is the process of converting verbal or written elements of any other language into a form that is more comprehensible to an English speaker, or, more generally, of altering something such that it becomes English in form or character.The term most often refers to...
of the Gaelic Niall
Niall
Niall is a male given name of Gaelic origin, thought to mean "champion". It could also mean 'cloud' or 'passionate'.Niall may also refer to:*Niall of the Nine Hostages, High King of Ireland who lived in the early-to-mid 5th century AD...
which is of disputed derivation. The Gaelic name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", or "champion". As a surname, Neil is traced back to Niall of the Nine Hostages
Niall of the Nine Hostages
Niall Noígíallach , or in English, Niall of the Nine Hostages, son of Eochaid Mugmedón, was an Irish king, the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Néill kindred who dominated Ireland from the 6th century to the 10th century...
who was an Irish king and eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous ancestor of the Uí Néill
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
kindred. Most authorities cite the meaning of Neil in the context of a surname as meaning champion.
Origins
The Gaelic name was adopted by the Vikings and taken to Iceland as Njáll (see NigelNigel
Nigel is an English masculine given name. The name is derived from the Latin Nigellus. This Latin word would seem to derive from the Latin niger, meaning "black"; however this is thought to be an example of an incorrect etymology created by French speaking clerics, who knew Latin as well, to...
). From Iceland it went via Norway, Denmark, and Normandy to England. It was first mistakenly being translated into Latin as Nigellus from Niger, meaning black. The name also entered Northern England and Yorkshire directly from Ireland with Norwegian settlers. Neal or Neal is the Middle English form of Nigel.
During the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, the Gaelic name was popular in Ireland and Scotland. During the 20th century Neil began to be used in England and North America, and grew in popularity throughout the English-speaking world; however, in England, it has recently been eclipsed by the Gaelic form.
The surname Neil is a reduced form of the surname McNeil
McNeil
See also Clan MacNeil for information on the Scottish ClanMcNeil may refer to:- Places :United States*McNeil, Arkansas*McNeil Island, Washington*McNeil River, AlaskaCanada*Mount McNeil, a mountain in Yukon Territory, Canada- Schools :...
(from the Gaelic Mac Néill, "son of Niall"), or variant form the surname of Neill
Neill
Neill is a surname, and may refer to* A. S. Neill, British educator and author* Alec Neill, New Zealand politician* Ben Neill, American composer* Bob Neill, British politician* Bud Neill* Casey Neill, American musician* James C. Neill* Jay Wesley Neill...
(from the Irish Gaelic Ó Néill or the Scottish Gaelic Mac Néill, meaning "descendant of Niall" and "son of Niall".
The name passed from Ireland to Scotland where it had the Mc/Mac prefix. Scottish Catholic McNeill's returned to Ireland in the 1300's and are associated with MacNeill, MacGreal, MacReill, and Mag Reil surnames.
The Manx version of the name is Kneal (1598), Kneale (1655), or Kneel (1636). It evolved from McNelle (1408) and MacNeyll (1430) becoming Kneal by 1598.. The name is believed to have been bought to the island by Norwegian Vikings.
In some cases, the English-language surnames Neilson and Nelson, are ultimately derived from the Gaelic Niall, as patronymic
Patronymic
A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...
forms of the Anglo-Scandinavian personal names Nel or Neal. However, these two surnames are sometimes Americanized forms of unrelated Scandinavian-language surnames. For example, the English Nelson is sometimes derived from the Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
Nilsen, the Danish
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
Nielsen, and the Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
Nilsson. Also, the English Neilson is sometimes derived from the Swedish Nilsson. All these Scandinavian-language surnames are ultimately derived from a cognate
Cognate
In linguistics, cognates are words that have a common etymological origin. This learned term derives from the Latin cognatus . Cognates within the same language are called doublets. Strictly speaking, loanwords from another language are usually not meant by the term, e.g...
of the English given name Nicholas
Nicholas
Nicholas or Nikolas is a male given name, derived from the Greek name Νικόλαος , a combination of the words for "victory" and "people" . The name can be understood to mean victory of the people or "power of the people"...
. The English Nelson may also be derived from the feminine name Eleanor, as a matronymic
Matronymic
A matronymic is a personal name based on the name of one's mother, grandmother, or any female ancestor. It is the female equivalent of a patronymic. In patriarchal societies, matronymic surnames are far less common than patronyms. In the past, matronymic last names were often given to children of...
.
Variants
Variants of the given name include: Neale and Neal.The table below sets out the various surnames derived from Niall
| Name | Type | Year | Country of origin | Mentioned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacNele | 1289 | Scotland | ||
| Neel | 1170-1182 | England | York Charters | |
| Neil | 1260 | England | Assize Rolls, Yorks | |
| Nele | 1304 | England | Subsidy Rolls, Yorks | |
| Nigelli | 1195 | England | Feet of Fines, Warwicks | |
| Nel, Neel | 1208-1210 | England | Curia Regis Rolls, Berkshire |
See also
- List of Irish-language given names
- List of Scottish Gaelic given names
- NiallNiallNiall is a male given name of Gaelic origin, thought to mean "champion". It could also mean 'cloud' or 'passionate'.Niall may also refer to:*Niall of the Nine Hostages, High King of Ireland who lived in the early-to-mid 5th century AD...
, Gaelic form - NigelNigelNigel is an English masculine given name. The name is derived from the Latin Nigellus. This Latin word would seem to derive from the Latin niger, meaning "black"; however this is thought to be an example of an incorrect etymology created by French speaking clerics, who knew Latin as well, to...
, given name - KnealeKnealeKneale is a surname of Manx origin. The name is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic Mac Néill, meaning "son of Niall".-People:*Bryan Kneale, , Manx, an artist and sculptor.*Matthew Kneale, , British, a writer,...
, MacNeilMacNeilMacNeil can have a number of different meanings and spellings:Clan MacNeil is a Scottish clan.- Notable people :*Al MacNeil, Canadian hockey player*Angus MacNeil, Scottish politician*Carole MacNeil, Canadian television journalist...
, McNeilMcNeilSee also Clan MacNeil for information on the Scottish ClanMcNeil may refer to:- Places :United States*McNeil, Arkansas*McNeil Island, Washington*McNeil River, AlaskaCanada*Mount McNeil, a mountain in Yukon Territory, Canada- Schools :...
, NealeNealeNeale, also known as The Neale , is a small village in the south of County Mayo in Ireland. It is located near the villages of Cong 4 km to the south-west, Cross 4 km to the south and the town of Ballinrobe about 5 km to the north.-Archaeology:The Neale is perhaps best known for its...
, NeillNeillNeill is a surname, and may refer to* A. S. Neill, British educator and author* Alec Neill, New Zealand politician* Ben Neill, American composer* Bob Neill, British politician* Bud Neill* Casey Neill, American musician* James C. Neill* Jay Wesley Neill...
, NelsonNelson (surname)Nelson is a family name. Within the United States, it is ranked as the 39th-most common surname of 88799 listed.It is in origin a patronymic meaning "son of Nels" or "son of Nell"...
, O'NeillO'Neill (surname)The O'Neill dynasty is a group of families that have held prominent positions and titles throughout European history. The O'Neills take their name from Niall Glúndub, an early 10th century High King of Ireland from the Cenél nEógain...
, surnames