NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcneely

Derived from the Gaelic Mac an Fhílí, meaning "son of the poet," an occupational surname for a bard or poet.

In the 1881 census there were 30 people recorded with the Mcneely surname, ranking it #29,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 152, ranked #23,516, up from #29,363 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dunfermline Bellyeoman and Townhill, Parkhead West and Barrowfield and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcneely is 167 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 406.7%.

1881 census count

30

Ranked #29,363

Modern count

152

2016, ranked #23,516

Peak year

2010

167 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcneely had 30 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,363 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016, ranked #23,516.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 30 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Mcneely surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcneely surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mcneely 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 26 #30,677
1881 historical 30 #29,363
1891 historical 26 #32,189
1901 historical 22 #31,562
1911 historical 18 #31,542
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 115 #25,466
1999 modern 116 #25,487
2000 modern 121 #24,824
2001 modern 117 #24,974
2002 modern 117 #25,494
2003 modern 126 #24,146
2004 modern 123 #24,679
2005 modern 127 #24,178
2006 modern 134 #23,590
2007 modern 136 #23,708
2008 modern 140 #23,511
2009 modern 159 #22,072
2010 modern 167 #21,835
2011 modern 159 #22,382
2012 modern 145 #23,780
2013 modern 146 #24,107
2014 modern 153 #23,537
2015 modern 154 #23,306
2016 modern 152 #23,516

Geography

Back to top

Where Mcneelys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dunfermline Bellyeoman and Townhill, Parkhead West and Barrowfield, Liverpool, Northumberland and East Clober and Mains Estate. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dunfermline Bellyeoman and Townhill Fife
2 Parkhead West and Barrowfield Glasgow City
3 Liverpool 047 Liverpool
4 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
5 East Clober and Mains Estate East Dunbartonshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mcneely

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mcneely

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Mcneely surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mcneely household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcneely 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

Mcneely is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcneely falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcneely is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcneely

The surname McNeely has its origins in Scotland, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is a variant of the Gaelic name "Mac Naomhall," which translates to "son of the servant of the storm god." This suggests that the name may have originated from a clan or family with ties to ancient pagan beliefs or associations with the natural elements.

In its earliest recorded forms, the name appeared with various spellings, including MacNeillie, McNeillie, and McNele, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in those times. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded the names of Scottish noblemen who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.

The McNeely surname has strong connections to the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Western Isles. It is believed that the name may have originated in or around the Isle of Islay, where several notable McNeely families resided in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Historical records from the 16th century mention a John McNeely, who was a prominent landowner and chieftain in the Argyll region. Another notable figure was Lachlan McNeely, a Scottish soldier who fought alongside William Wallace in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th century.

The McNeelys played a significant role in the Jacobite risings of the 17th and 18th centuries, with several members of the clan supporting the cause of the exiled Stuart monarchy. One such figure was Duncan McNeely, a Jacobite commander who led a regiment at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

In the 19th century, the McNeely surname gained recognition with the birth of John McNeely (1815-1890), a prominent Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Another notable figure was Agnes McNeely (1860-1942), a Scottish suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and social reform.

As the McNeely family spread across Scotland and beyond, variations of the name emerged, such as McNeillie and McNelly, reflecting regional dialects and spellings. The surname has also been found in Ireland, particularly in Ulster, where it may have been adopted by Scottish settlers during the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcneely surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcneely surname in 1881?

In 1881, 30 people were recorded with the Mcneely surname. That placed it at #29,363 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcneely surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016. That gives Mcneely a modern rank of #23,516.

What does the Mcneely surname mean?

Derived from the Gaelic Mac an Fhílí, meaning "son of the poet," an occupational surname for a bard or poet.

What does the Mcneely map show?

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