McNeill is a Scottish and

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

surname. The name McNeill is often associated with the islands of

Gigha Gigha (; gd, Giogha, italic=yes; sco, Gigha) or the Isle of Gigha (and formerly Gigha Island) is an island off the west coast of Kintyre in Scotland. The island forms part of Argyll and Bute and has a population of 163 people. The climate is ...

and

Colonsay Colonsay (; gd, Colbhasa; sco, Colonsay) is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, located north of Islay and south of Mull. The ancestral home of Clan Macfie and the Colonsay branch of Clan MacNeil, it is in the council area of Argy ...

. The name is considered a sub-sept of Clan MacNeill, which is historically associated with the island of

Barra Barra (; gd, Barraigh or ; sco, Barra) is an island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, and the second southernmost inhabited island there, after the adjacent island of Vatersay to which it is connected by a short causeway. The island is name ...

in the outer Hebrides. The Irish and Scottish Gaelic patronymic meaning of McNeill is 'Son of Neil'. The annals of ulster claim

Lóegaire mac Néill Lóegaire ('' floruit'' fifth century) (reigned 428–458 AD, according to the Annals of the Four Masters of the Kingdom of Ireland)(died c. 462), also Lóeguire, is said to have been a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. The Irish annals and king ...

as King of Tara or High King of Ireland. The name

Neil Neil is a masculine name of Gaelic and Irish origin. The name is an anglicisation of the Irish ''Niall'' which is of disputed derivation. The Irish name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", "victory", "honour" or "champion".. A ...

or Neill derives from the Irish Niall which is of disputed derivation. The Irish name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", "victory", "honour" or "champion"Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006), A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford Paperback Reference (2nd ed.), Oxford University Press, pp. 203–204, ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1. As a surname, Neil is traced back to Niall of the Nine Hostages who was an Irish king and eponymous ancestor of the Uí Néill and MacNeil kindred. Most authorities cite the meaning of Neil in the context of a surname as meaning "champion".

List

Notable people with the surname include: *

Alan McNeill Alan Alexander McNeill (born 16 August 1945) is a former professional footballer, who played for Crusaders, Middlesbrough, Huddersfield Town, Oldham Athletic, Stockport County, Witton Albion and Macclesfield Town. Club career McNeill attended B ...

(born 1945), Northern Irish footballer * Alex McNeill (c. 1875–?), Scottish footballer * Alexander McNeill (New Zealand politician) (1833–1915) *

Alexander McNeill Alexander McNeill (May 10, 1842 – April 18, 1932) was a Canadian politician. Born in The Corran, County Antrim, Ireland, the son of Malcolm McNeill, his mother was the sister of Duncan McNeill, 1st Baron Colonsay. McNeill was educated Wim ...

(1842–1932), Canadian politician * Alim McNeill (born 2000), American football player * Allen McNeill (born 1951), American politician * Allison McNeill (born 1959), Canadian basketball coach * Ann McNeill, British academic and tobacco policy expert * Anthony McNeill (1941–1996), Jamaican poet * Archibald McNeill (died 1849), American politician from North Carolina * Ben McNeill, Australian film producer * Beth McNeill (born 1982), New Zealand cricketer *

Billy McNeill William McNeill (2 March 1940 – 22 April 2019) was a Scottish football player and manager. He had a long association with Celtic, spanning more than sixty years as a player, manager and club ambassador. McNeill captained Celtic's 'Lisbon Lio ...

(1940–2019), Scottish footballer and manager *

Billy McNeill (ice hockey) William Ronald McNeill (January 26, 1936 – August 31, 2007) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings between 1956 and 1963. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1953 ...

(1936–2007), Canadian ice hockey player * Bob McNeill (born 1938), American basketball player * Charlie McNeill (bowls) (1888–1974), Australian lawn bowls player * Chris McNeill (1954–2011), American ski jumper * Dan K. McNeill (born 1946), United States Army four-star general *

Daniel McNeill Daniel T. McNeill (July 19, 1947 – September 8, 2017) was a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, first elected in 2012. He represented the 133rd district. From 1966 to 1972, McNeill was a member of the Pennsylvania N ...

(1947–2017), American politician from Pennsylvania * Daryl C. McNeill (c. 1960–2013), American football player and coach * David McNeill (disambiguation), multiple people * Don McNeill (disambiguation), multiple people, including: **

Don McNeill (radio presenter) Donald T. McNeill (December 23, 1907 – May 7, 1996) was an American radio personality, best known as the creator and host of ''The Breakfast Club'', which ran for more than 35 years. Early career McNeill was born in Galena, Illinois, son ...

(1907–1996), American radio personality **

Don McNeill (tennis) William Donald McNeill (April 30, 1918 – November 28, 1996) was an American tennis player. He was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma and died in Vero Beach, Florida. Biography Don McNeill graduated from Kenyon College in 1940, where he became a membe ...

(1918–1996), American tennis player * Donald Burgess McNeill (1911–2010), physics and transport author * Dorelia McNeill (1881–1969), English artists' model *

Duncan McNeill, 1st Baron Colonsay Duncan McNeill, 1st Baron Colonsay FRSE (20 August 1793 – 31 January 1874) was a Scottish advocate, judge and Tory politician. He was Lord Justice General and Lord President of the Court of Session between 1852 and 1867. His younger brother w ...

(1793–1874), Scottish judge and politician * Edwin R. McNeill (1880–1962), American attorney and judge *

Fergus McNeill Fergus McNeill is a Scottish author and award-winning interactive entertainment developer. He has designed and created games since the early 1980s, working with companies such as CRL, Silversoft, Macmillan Group, Activision, SCi Eidos and EA. H ...

, Scottish writer * F. Marian McNeill (1885–1973), Scottish folklorist *

Fred McNeill Frederick Arnold McNeill (May 6, 1952 – November 3, 2015) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons from 1974-1985. He played college footba ...

(1952–2015), American football linebacker * George McNeill (golfer) (born 1975), American golfer *

George McNeill (sprinter) George McNeill (born 19 February 1947) is a Scottish people, Scottish former world professional sprint champion and the only man to have won both of the most famous professional footraces in the world – the New Year Sprint (1970) in Sco ...

(born 1947), Scottish athlete and footballer * George E. McNeill (1836–1906), American labor leader * George Monroe McNeill (1845–1931), Union Army soldier and a founder of Carterville, Illinois * Gordon James McNeill (1922–1999), Canadian politician *

Graham McNeill Graham McNeill is a British novelist and video game writer. He is best known for his Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000 novels, and his previous role as games designer for Games Workshop. He is currently working as a Senior Writer and Junio ...

(born c. 1971), British novelist and game developer * Grant McNeill (born 1983), Canadian ice hockey player * Hamish McNeill (1934–2017), Scottish footballer * Hector McNeill (1728–1785), officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War * Hinematau McNeill, New Zealand academic and treaty negotiator * Ian McNeill (1932–2017), Scottish footballer and manager *

James McNeill James McNeill (27 March 1869 – 12 December 1938) was an Irish politician and diplomat, who served as first High Commissioner to London and second Governor-General of the Irish Free State. Early life One of five children born to Archibald Mc ...

(1869–1938), Irish politician and diplomat * Jane McNeill (born 1966), American actress *

Janet McNeill Janet McNeill (14 September 1907 – October 1994) was a prolific Irish novelist and playwright. Author of more than 20 children's books, as well as adult novels, plays, and two opera libretti, she was best known for her children's comic fantas ...

(1907–1994), Irish novelist and playwright * Jeanne McNeill, American politician *

Jim McNeill Jim McNeill is a former scientist and British polar explorer, presenter and keynote speaker, with over 36 years of experience travelling and working in the polar regions. In 2001 McNeill founded Ice Warrior Project, an organisation which gives " ...

(born 1960), British polar explorer, presenter and keynote speaker * John McNeill (disambiguation), multiple people * Josephine McNeill (1895–1969), Irish diplomat *

Kenneth McNeill Kenneth McNeill, Doctor of Medicine, MD, Member of parliament, MP (1918 – 2001), was a Jamaican political figure and a renowned surgeon. He died at the age of 83 in Jamaica. He is the father of five children including present politician Wykeham ...

(1918–2001), Jamaican politician and surgeon * Kia McNeill (born 1986), American soccer player * Kim McNeill, American basketball coach * Larry McNeill (1951–2004), American basketball player * Lawrence McNeill (1849–1915), American businessman * Lee Vernon McNeill (born 1964), American track and field athlete * Lloyd McNeill, American jazz flutist and visual artist *

Louise McNeill Louise McNeill (9 January 1911 – 18 June 1993), also known as , was an American poet, essayist, and historian of Appalachia. She began teaching in a one roomed schoolhouse in West Virginia and would eventually move on to teach at other univ ...

(1911–1993), American poet, essayist and historian of Appalachia * Malcolm McNeill (born 1945), New Zealand jazz singer * Marcus McNeill (born 1983), American football offensive tackle * Mark McNeill (born 1993), Canadian ice hockey forward * * Mica McNeill (born 1993), British bobsledder * Mike McNeill (born 1966), American ice hockey player * Mike McNeill (American football) (born 1988), American football tight end *

Neil McNeill Neil McNeill (19 June 1921 – 8 February 2009) was an Australian politician. Born in Yarloop, Western Australia, he was educated at Scotch College, Perth, and the University of Western Australia, after which he became a farmer. He served i ...

(1921–2009), Australian politician * Neil McNeill (footballer) (born 1932), Australian rules footballer * Niall McNeill (1899–1969), Irish army officer and entomologist * Pamela McNeill, American singer-songwriter * Patrick McNeill (born 1987), Canadian ice hockey player *

Pauline McNeill Pauline Mary McNeill (born 12 September 1962) is a Scottish Labour politician serving as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Glasgow region. She previously represented the Glasgow Kelvin constituency. Having represented her cons ...

(born 1962), Scottish Labour politician * Raymond J. McNeil (1932-2021), American politician, Army Veteran, World traveler and Head Harris * Reid McNeill (born 1992), Canadian ice hockey player * Robert McNeill (footballer) (1873–?), Scottish footballer for Sunderland and Greenock Morton * Robert B. McNeill (1915–1975), American Presbyterian minister *

Robert Duncan McNeill Robert Duncan McNeill (born November 9, 1964) is an American director, producer, and actor. As an actor, he is best known for his role as Lieutenant Tom Paris on the television series '' Star Trek: Voyager''. He has also served as an executive ...

(born 1964), American actor, producer and director *

Robert H. McNeill Robert H. McNeill (December 19, 1917 – May 27, 2005) was an American photographer who documented African-American life. "In the 1930s and 40s, any time there was a political, social, religious or community event in Washington's black community ...

(1917–2005), American photographer * Rod McNeill (born 1951), American football running back * Roger McNeill (1853–1924), Scottish physician *

Ronald McNeill, 1st Baron Cushendun Ronald John McNeill, 1st Baron Cushendun, PC (30 April 1861 – 12 October 1934), was a British Conservative politician. Background and education McNeill was born in Ulster. He was the son of Edmund McNeill, DL, JP, and Sheriff of County Ant ...

(1861–1934), British Conservative politician *

Ruffin McNeill Ruffin Horne McNeill Jr. (born October 8, 1958) is an American football coach and former player who currently serves as the special assistant to the head coach at NC State University. He previously served as the assistant head coach and outside ...

(born 1958), American football coach * Serayah Ranee McNeill (born 1995), American actress, model and singer *

Sheila McNeill Sheila Diane McNeill (born February 15, 1943) is an American politician from Georgia. McNeill was a Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorshi ...

, American politician * Sophie McNeill (born 1986), Australian journalist, television presenter and human rights activist * Stu McNeill (born 1938), Canadian ice hockey player * Sylvia McNeill (born 1947), British pop and rock singer-songwriter * Tara McNeill, Irish violinist, harpist and soprano singer * Ted McNeill (1929–1979), English footballer * Tom McNeill (born 1942), American football punter * William McNeill (disambiguation), multiple people * Wykeham McNeill (born 1957), Jamaican politician ;As first or middle name * Robert McNeill Alexander (1934–2016), British zoologist * Donald McNeill Fairfax (1818–1894), United States Navy admiral * Isabel McNeill Carley (1918–2011), American writer, editor and composer * Charles McNeill Gray (1807–1885), American politician * Lillian McNeill Palmer (1871–1961), American coppersmith and metalsmith *

Daniel McNeill Parker Daniel McNeill Parker (April 28, 1822 – November 4, 1907) was a physician and political figure in Nova Scotia. He served in the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia from 1867 to 1901. He was born in Windsor, Nova Scotia, the son of Francis P ...

(1822–1907), Canadian physician and politician *

James Abbott McNeill Whistler James Abbott McNeill Whistler (; July 10, 1834July 17, 1903) was an American painter active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom. He eschewed sentimentality and moral allusion in painting and was a leading pr ...

(1834–1903), American artist *

Anna McNeill Whistler Anna Matilda (née McNeill) Whistler (September 27, 1804 – January 31, 1881) was the mother of American-born, British-based painter James McNeill Whistler, who made her the subject of his famous painting ''Arrangement in Grey and Black No ...

(1804–1881), American art model, the mother of James Abbott McNeill Whistler *

McNeill Smith John McNeill (Mac) Smith Jr. (1918–2011) was a North Carolina politician and attorney involved in civil rights advocacy. Smith was a native of Robeson County, North Carolina and served in the United States Navy during World War II. A Democrat ...

(1918–2011), American politician and attorney

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcneill Scottish surnames Clan MacNeil Patronymic surnames Surnames from given names Surnames of Scottish origin Surnames of Irish origin

List

See also

References