Surname McNeal - Meaning and Origin
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McNeal: What does the surname McNeal mean?
The surname McNeal is of Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name Niall, meaning "champion". It is an anglicised form of the original clan name MacNéill, which translates to "Son of Niall". This surname primarily originated from the regions of Galloway and Western Isles in Scotland, and also from Northern Ireland. When it pertains to the Scottish origins, the surname is associated with the Hebridean island of Barra, while in Ireland, it is associated with County Antrim. Variations of the name include McNeil, MacNeil, MacNeal, and others. Over the centuries, members of the McNeal clans have emigrated to various parts of the world, including North America and Australia, spreading the surname far and wide. Despite its different versions, the McNeal surname retains its connection to a tradition of Gaelic familial heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisMcNeal: Where does the name McNeal come from?
The last name McNeal is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the ancient Gaelic name "Mac an Fhailghigh", which can be translated as "the son of the wolf". Other variations of the name include MacNeill and McNeil. The name is more common in regions that were historically influenced by Scotland such as Northern Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Significant immigration from Scotland and Ireland in the 19th and 20th centuries to the United States and other English-speaking countries resulted in the dispersion of the surname. Thus, it is common in these regions, particularly in areas with substantial Scottish or Irish immigrant populations. The surname is most prevalent in the United States today.
Variations of the surname McNeal
The surname McNeal has several variants and different spellings due to regional dialects, phonetic similarities, and immigration records. Some of these variants include McNeil, MacNeil, MacNeal, MacNiel, and McNeill.
The surname originates from the Gaelic Mac Néill. The prefix 'Mac' means 'son of', while 'Néill' is derived from the Irish name 'Niall', meaning 'champion'.
This surname has also been anglicized in different forms such as O'Neill, Neill, Neil, or even Nelson. The surnames Neale, Nealon, and Neal have been considered to be possibly derived from Niall as well.
Often, prefixes like Mc, Mac, or even O' can be added to or dropped from these surnames, leading to variations like Neal or Neil. These changes often happened when families emigrated to English-speaking countries and their names were either translated or simplified.
There are also Scottish surnames such as McNeilage, McNeilly, and McNeish which are considered to be derived from the same root as McNeal.
It's also worth noting that due to the surname's commonality in Ireland and Scotland, its spelling tends to vary widely and might have different meanings or derivations in different regions.
Famous people with the name McNeal
- Mackenzie McNeal: American professional triathlete and cyclist
- Mike McNeal: American football analyst and former quarterback
- Chico McNeal: American YouTube content creator
- Marqise Lee McNeal: American professional football wide receiver in the National Football League
- Kelvin McNeal: American football cornerback and defensive back
- Steve McNeal: American country music singer
- Dewayne McNeal: American reggae singer
- Marcel McNeal: American former Major League Baseball outfielder
- Tyronn Lue McNeal: American basketball coach
- Mike McNeal: American film and television actor