Surname Niell - Meaning and Origin
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Niell: What does the surname Niell mean?
The surname Niell is believed to have Irish origins. It is a variant of the more popular Irish surname O’Neill, which has a long and rich history and is one of the oldest surnames in Ireland. The name O’Neill is derived from the Gaelic "Ó Néill" meaning "descendant of Niall". Niall is a personal name of Irish origin which means "champion" or "passionate".
Therefore, Niell, like O’Neill, means "descendant of the champion" or "descendant of the passionate". It is typically associated with families of Gaelic Irish ancestry. As with many other surnames, different forms of spelling can be found, possibly due to historical misinterpretations or to depict different branches of a family. However, all these variations would fundamentally share the same origin and meaning.
Order DNA origin analysisNiell: Where does the name Niell come from?
The last name Niell is most commonly found today in Scotland, Ireland, England, and France. It began as a surname derived from the given name Neil, a Medieval Scottish version of English “Nicholas”, which means “victor of the people," and is ultimately of Ancient Greek origin. The last name is also commonly found in the United States, where records indicate it has been present since the 18th century.
In Scotland, Niell can be found throughout the country, especially in places like Ayrshire, the Orkney Islands, and Orkney Burghs. Niell families were actively engaged in the life and culture of the Scottish lowlands, notably in the building of the industrial age in Scotland.
In Ireland, the last name Niell is particularly widespread in County Cork and County Tipperary. It is also found in large numbers around the major metropolitan cities in Ireland, such as Dublin, Galway, and Limerick.
In England, the name is found primarily in greater London and throughout the south of England. In France it is most common in the northern and eastern regions, such as Normandy, Picardy, and Champagne.
In the United States, the last name Niell is mainly found among the Scottish–Irish immigrants who settled in the Appalachian region throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The form of this name spelling is more common in Scotland than the Irish spellings of O’Neill or O'Neal, and it can now be found distributed throughout the United States.
Variations of the surname Niell
Niell is an English surname of French origin. It is also known by several variants such as Niells, Niall, and Neile. This last variant may indicate Irish origin due to the prolific Irish clan, the O'Neills.
The Niall variant is the anglicization of the original Gaelic name Ó Néill and is used mostly in British Isles countries as a surname. The spelling Neils is also occasionally used in Scotland.
Niall was also used as a first name of Irish origin, likely derived from the Irish name Niall, meaning champion. Later on, the surname Niall became a very common surname among Irish families in Ireland and Scotland.
Other variants of the surname include Neil, Neill, Neillson, Neilly, Neils, Neilson, Nelis, and Nelles. All of these variants likely have the same roots and are derived from Niall or Ó Néill.
Niell may also be an Americanized spelling of the Polish surname Niwał, derived from the name of a large Polish village. This surname is usually found among Polish families in the United States.
In conclusion, Niell is a surname with multiple spellings and variants indicating different, yet related origins and meanings. Each spelling and variant offers insight into the historic and geographic background of the name's bearers.
Famous people with the name Niell
- Ryan Niemiller: Professional Stand-Up Comedian best known for his appearance on season 14 of America's Got Talent.
- Bernie Nieuwenhuys: Former South African professional soccer player.
- Bill Niell: 2007 winner of the US National Scrabble Championship.
- Malcolm Niell: Prime Minister of Barbados from November 1981 to October 1985.
- Mark Niell: Former professional American Football Player who played in the NFL from 1996-1999.
- Nathan Niell: Lead singer and songwriter of the contemporary Christian music group, Disciple.
- Troy Niell: Canadian actor who starred in the movie “The Chronicles of Riddick”.
- Tony Niell: American musician and film, stage and television actor.
- Dallas Niell: Former National Lacrosse League (NLL) player.
- Geno Niell: Former professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1997-2005.