NameCensus.

UK surname

Macneil

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Néill," meaning "son of Neil," a personal name of Irish origin.

In the 1881 census there were 234 people recorded with the Macneil surname, ranking it #11,607 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,228, ranked #4,855, up from #11,607 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duirnish, Govan Combination and Tiree and Coll. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barra and South Uist, Sutherland South and Lochaber West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macneil is 1,228 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 424.8%.

1881 census count

234

Ranked #11,607

Modern count

1,228

2016, ranked #4,855

Peak year

2016

1,228 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macneil had 234 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,607 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,228 in 2016, ranked #4,855.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 290 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Macneil surname distribution map

The map shows where the Macneil surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Macneil surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macneil over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 101 #17,036
1861 historical 140 #16,169
1881 historical 234 #11,607
1891 historical 290 #11,409
1901 historical 288 #11,973
1911 historical 13 #32,172
1997 modern 969 #5,633
1998 modern 978 #5,781
1999 modern 946 #5,971
2000 modern 959 #5,888
2001 modern 928 #5,932
2002 modern 967 #5,837
2003 modern 981 #5,678
2004 modern 929 #5,931
2005 modern 968 #5,679
2006 modern 981 #5,641
2007 modern 999 #5,614
2008 modern 1,022 #5,547
2009 modern 1,046 #5,570
2010 modern 1,053 #5,637
2011 modern 1,027 #5,698
2012 modern 1,140 #5,126
2013 modern 1,178 #5,075
2014 modern 1,214 #4,965
2015 modern 1,213 #4,927
2016 modern 1,228 #4,855

Geography

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Where Macneils are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duirnish, Govan Combination, Tiree and Coll, Barra and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barra and South Uist, Sutherland South, Lochaber West, Oban South and Fort William South. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Duirnish Inverness
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Tiree and Coll Argyll
4 Barra Inverness
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barra and South Uist Na h-Eileanan Siar
2 Sutherland South Highland
3 Lochaber West Highland
4 Oban South Argyll and Bute
5 Fort William South Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macneil

These lists show first names that appear often with the Macneil surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Macneil

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Macneil, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Macneil surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Macneil household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Macneil is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Macneil is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Macneil falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Macneil is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Under 10 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

1
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Macneil, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Macneil

The surname MACNEIL has its origins in Scotland, where it emerged in the early medieval period. It is a variant of the Gaelic name MacNaghten or McNaughton, derived from the personal name Neachdain or Nechtan, which means "pure" or "bright." The name was first found in the regions of Argyll and the Isles, where the clan MacNeil held lands and wielded considerable influence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MACNEIL name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1263, where a certain Gillecalum MacNachtan is mentioned. The name is also found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England.

In the 14th century, the MACNEIL clan played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence, supporting Robert the Bruce in his struggle against the English. The clan's chief, Gillebride MacNeil, is recorded as having fought alongside Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

Over the centuries, the MACNEIL name has been associated with various notable figures. In the 16th century, Niall Og MacNeil (c. 1510-1585) was a renowned poet and bard from the Isle of Barra. His collection of poems, known as the "Book of Clanranald," is considered a valuable historical and cultural resource.

Another prominent MACNEIL was Sir John MacNeil (1637-1722), a Scottish lawyer and politician who served as Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland from 1689 to 1704. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the Church of Scotland and the maintenance of Presbyterian governance in the country.

In the 18th century, John MacNeil (1725-1789) was a Scottish army officer who served in the British Army during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He became known for his leadership and bravery in battles such as the Siege of Fort St. Philip and the Battle of Germantown.

Moving into the 19th century, Robert MacNeil (1804-1881) was a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. He was instrumental in the establishment of several important institutions, including the University of Queen's College (now Queen's University) in Kingston, Ontario.

Finally, in more recent times, Robert MacNeil (born 1931) is a renowned Canadian-American journalist and author. He co-anchored the acclaimed PBS news program "The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour" from 1976 to 1995 and has authored several books on journalism and American history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Macneil families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macneil surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Inverness-shire leads with 59 Macneils recorded in 1881 and an index of 99.78x.

County Total Index
Inverness-shire 59 99.78x
Argyllshire 39 70.75x
Midlothian 20 7.54x
Ross-shire 12 22.07x
Lanarkshire 11 1.72x
Morayshire 11 35.75x
Renfrewshire 11 7.17x
Ayrshire 7 4.72x
Lancashire 5 0.21x
Sutherland 5 32.83x
Kent 4 0.59x
West Lothian 4 13.41x
Middlesex 3 0.15x
Nairnshire 2 33.11x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.75x
Yorkshire 2 0.10x
Angus 1 0.55x
Caithness 1 3.69x
Cumberland 1 0.59x
Dumfriesshire 1 2.29x
Dunbartonshire 1 1.88x
Perthshire 1 1.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barra in Inverness-shire leads with 47 Macneils recorded in 1881 and an index of 3175.68x.

Place Total Index
Barra 47 3175.68x
Ardnamurchan 10 357.14x
Govan 10 6.31x
West Calder 10 191.20x
Paisley High Church 8 65.47x
Southend 8 1230.77x
Tyree 8 425.53x
Uig 8 323.89x
Inverness 7 47.07x
Kilwinning 7 146.14x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 5.62x
Forres 6 185.76x
Kilchoman 6 346.82x
Kilmore Kilbride 6 171.43x
Blackburn 5 8.00x
Dornoch 5 290.70x
Edinburgh St Georges 4 72.60x
Lewisham 4 11.10x
Whitburn 4 92.81x
Lochs 3 69.28x
Alves 2 263.16x
Ardclach 2 263.16x
Dyke 2 238.10x
Islington London 2 1.04x
Nottingham St Mary 2 2.90x
Sheffield 2 3.20x
South Uist 2 48.43x
Abbey 1 4.27x
Bracadale 1 156.25x
Caldewgate 1 10.71x
Dumbarton 1 13.50x
Elgin 1 16.72x
Glasgow 1 0.88x
Hackney London 1 0.90x
Hoddam 1 95.24x
Kilbarchan 1 21.46x
Kilninian Kilmore 1 59.17x
Kiltearn 1 125.00x
Kingoldrum 1 384.62x
Logie 1 31.35x
Portree 1 45.66x
Reay 1 67.11x
Renfrew 1 19.72x
Trumisgarry 1 166.67x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Macneil surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Ada 1
Alice 1
Annie 1
Elizabeth 1
Janet 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Macneil surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 3
Alex 1
Daniel 1
Duncan 1
George 1
Joseph 1
Richard 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Macneil households.

FAQ

Macneil surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macneil surname in 1881?

In 1881, 234 people were recorded with the Macneil surname. That placed it at #11,607 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macneil surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,228 in 2016. That gives Macneil a modern rank of #4,855.

What does the Macneil surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Néill," meaning "son of Neil," a personal name of Irish origin.

What does the Macneil map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Macneil bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.