Surname Kneale - Meaning and Origin

Kneale: What does the surname Kneale mean?

The surname Kneale is of Celtic origin, specifically from the Isle of Man, located in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland. The name is derived from the Manx Gaelic term "Mac Néill" which translates to "son of Néill". The "Néill" is a personal name originating from the Irish Gaelic "Neill", which means "champion" or "passionate". The prefix "Mac" was frequently dropped over time, leading to the broader usage of Kneale as a standalone surname. Therefore, Kneale can be interpreted as "descendant of the champion" or "son of the passionate one". Surnames became necessary in the Isle of Man when governments introduced personal taxation, and thus, the name Kneale began being used as a surname in early medieval times. It is also important to note that the spelling of last names frequently changed over centuries, and Kneale can be found in written records in several forms such as Neale, Neal, Neill, O'Neill, and others.

Kneale: Where does the name Kneale come from?

The last name Kneale is of English and Manx origin. It is most commonly found in areas with strong ties to the Isle of Man, such as Scotland and North West England. It is also found in other areas of the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as in parts of the United States and Canada. Currently, it is one of the most common surnames in the Isle of Man, with around 2.6% of the population being Liveried by this name.

Outside of the United Kingdom, Kneale can be found in places such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India. Interestingly, the name Kneale is also fairly popular in countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Italy, as it is believed to have been brought over during the seventeenth century by the English.

As of 2020, the Kneale surname is ranked at 5,311th in terms of popularity in the United States. Furthermore, the name is also found in the top 5,000 most common surnames in the United Kingdom. In Canada, it is ranked as the 6,481st most common name and in Australia, it is ranked in the top 13,000.

Overall, the surname Kneale is still quite popular in many parts of the world, mostly due to its English and Manx origin. It can be seen in many places around the world, particularly in areas with strong ties to the Isle of Man.

Variations of the surname Kneale

The surname Kneale is an ancient and noble name. It is derived from the Old Norse word 'knísl,' meaning knight. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Kneale include Knill, Kneall, Knehuls, Kneland, Knehl, Knael, Knaill, Knayle, McKneale, and Neill.

The English and Scottish surname, Kneale, is documented from an early date, indicating that it was either a locational name (from a place named with the same word) or derived from a Norse personal name of the same root. This name is found in the records of the 12th and 13th centuries in England and Scotland, pivotal centuries during which several branches of the family rose to prominence.

Locally, the Kneale family held estates at Birdehouse, in Westmorland, from the mid 13th century. The related forms of Knill,Knehl, Knayle, and Knehuls appeared in Scotland in the 15th century. On of the earliest, recorded, individuals having this surname is Fulk Kneal, who, in 1293, was granted a charter by King Edward I of England.

McKneale, a Scottish variant of Kneale, is a form that originated in the Galloway area. It is common on the Isle of Man and some families can trace their roots back there as far as the 16th century.

Given all the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, it's likely that several branches of the Kneale family living today can trace their heritage back to the early days of England and Scotland.

Famous people with the name Kneale

• Bryan Kneale: British sculptor and emeritus professor
• William Kneale: British philosopher of mathematics
• Jamie Kneale: British actor, author, and film composer
• James Kneale: British sociologist and academic
• Dorothy Kneale: English radio broadcaster
• John Kneale: English broadcaster and composer
• Sam Kneale: British actor and stunt performer
• Paul Kneale: Canadian artist
• Joe Kneale: British author and journalist
• Noreen Kneale: British editor and television presenter
• Catherine Kneale: British writer and journalist
• Siobhan Kneale: British television producer

Other surnames

Kneal