NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcneal

A Scottish or Irish occupational surname referring to a son of Neil, a Gaelic personal name meaning "champion."

In the 1881 census there were 173 people recorded with the Mcneal surname, ranking it #14,112 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, down from #14,112 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees and Cockerham (Ellel), Lancaster (Preesall with Hackersall) , Garstang (Pilling). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcneal is 230 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.7%.

1881 census count

173

Ranked #14,112

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

1851

230 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcneal had 173 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,112 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 230 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcneal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcneal surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcneal 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 230 #9,368
1861 historical 198 #12,114
1881 historical 173 #14,112
1891 historical 137 #19,501
1901 historical 168 #16,886
1911 historical 176 #16,185
1997 modern 146 #21,494
1998 modern 149 #21,755
1999 modern 157 #21,201
2000 modern 141 #22,648
2001 modern 139 #22,541
2002 modern 138 #23,094
2003 modern 125 #24,265
2004 modern 126 #24,335
2005 modern 127 #24,178
2006 modern 124 #24,750
2007 modern 120 #25,606
2008 modern 123 #25,505
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 129 #25,900
2011 modern 123 #26,512
2012 modern 125 #26,298
2013 modern 135 #25,395
2014 modern 132 #25,971
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

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Where Mcneals are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees, Cockerham (Ellel), Lancaster (Preesall with Hackersall) , Garstang (Pilling), Liverpool and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham and Camden. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 St Bees Cumberland
3 Cockerham (Ellel), Lancaster (Preesall with Hackersall) , Garstang (Pilling) Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 001 County Durham
2 County Durham 059 County Durham
3 Camden 004 Camden
4 County Durham 064 County Durham
5 County Durham 066 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcneal

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcneal

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcneal, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Mcneal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcneal household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Mcneal is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcneal 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

Mcneal falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcneal is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcneal

The surname McNeal has its origins in the Scottish Highlands, emerging in the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Niall," which means "son of Niall." Niall was a popular personal name in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands, and the prefix "Mac" signified "son of."

The earliest recorded instance of the surname McNeal can be traced back to the year 1546, when a John McNeal was mentioned in the Annals of Inverness, a historical chronicle of events in the Scottish Highlands. The name was also found in various clan records and charter documents from the same period.

One of the earliest notable figures with the surname McNeal was Sir John McNeal, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. Another prominent figure was Angus McNeal, a 16th-century chieftain of the McNeal clan, who played a role in the clan battles and power struggles of the time.

In the 17th century, the surname McNeal began to appear in various parts of Scotland, including the Lowlands, as families migrated and settled in new areas. The name also underwent some spelling variations, such as McNeil, McNeal, and MacNeal, reflecting the regional dialects and pronunciation differences.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname McNeal was Sir John McNeal (1670-1743), a Scottish soldier and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Province of New Jersey from 1739 to 1743. He played a significant role in the development of the American colonies during the early years of British rule.

Another notable figure was Reverend Hugh McNeal (1795-1879), a Scottish-born Presbyterian minister who emigrated to the United States and became a prominent figure in the Free Presbyterian Church movement. He was known for his staunch opposition to slavery and his efforts to promote religious education.

In the 19th century, the surname McNeal continued to spread across the English-speaking world as Scottish emigrants sought new opportunities in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. One notable individual from this period was Daniel McNeal (1820-1899), an American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the mining industry and founded the McNeal Institute for the Education of Women in Missouri.

Throughout its history, the surname McNeal has been associated with various Scottish clans and families, reflecting the rich heritage and traditions of the Scottish Highlands. While the name has evolved and spread across the globe, its origins remain firmly rooted in the historical landscapes of Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcneal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcneal 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. Lancashire leads with 10 Mcneals recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.76x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 10 3.76x
Cumberland 4 20.70x
Kent 3 3.92x
Middlesex 3 1.34x
Cambridgeshire 1 7.04x
Durham 1 1.50x
Northumberland 1 3.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 4 Mcneals recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.42x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 4 33.42x
Pilling 4 3333.33x
Caldewgate 3 283.02x
Eltham 3 666.67x
Hackney London 3 23.85x
Bishopwearmouth 1 17.45x
Layton With Warbreck 1 102.04x
Middleton 1 10000.00x
Walton On Hill 1 69.44x
Whitehaven 1 97.09x
Wisbech St Peter 1 140.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Sarah 3
Annie 1
Eily 1
Eleanor 1
Elizabeth 1
Isabella 1
Margaret 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 2
David 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Jas. 1
John 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Thomas 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 Mcneal households.

FAQ

Mcneal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcneal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 173 people were recorded with the Mcneal surname. That placed it at #14,112 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcneal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Mcneal a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Mcneal surname mean?

A Scottish or Irish occupational surname referring to a son of Neil, a Gaelic personal name meaning "champion."

What does the Mcneal map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcneal 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.