NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcneil

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

In the 1881 census there were 4,447 people recorded with the Mcneil surname, ranking it #1,009 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,608, ranked #1,193, down from #1,009 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Barra. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rothesay Town, Greenock Upper Central and Rhins North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcneil is 5,650 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.1%.

1881 census count

4,447

Ranked #1,009

Modern count

5,608

2016, ranked #1,193

Peak year

2014

5,650 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcneil had 4,447 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,009 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,608 in 2016, ranked #1,193.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,991 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcneil surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcneil surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mcneil 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 2,401 #1,241
1861 historical 2,902 #994
1881 historical 4,447 #1,009
1891 historical 4,623 #1,012
1901 historical 4,991 #1,129
1911 historical 1,304 #3,654
1997 modern 5,158 #1,266
1998 modern 5,383 #1,266
1999 modern 5,424 #1,265
2000 modern 5,323 #1,280
2001 modern 5,237 #1,271
2002 modern 5,379 #1,259
2003 modern 5,259 #1,260
2004 modern 5,284 #1,254
2005 modern 5,307 #1,232
2006 modern 5,341 #1,224
2007 modern 5,345 #1,226
2008 modern 5,368 #1,227
2009 modern 5,491 #1,232
2010 modern 5,593 #1,237
2011 modern 5,462 #1,253
2012 modern 5,479 #1,220
2013 modern 5,562 #1,225
2014 modern 5,650 #1,210
2015 modern 5,580 #1,208
2016 modern 5,608 #1,193

Geography

Back to top

Where Mcneils are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Rothesay Town, Greenock Upper Central, Rhins North, Thornhill and Spittal. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Barra Inverness
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rothesay Town Argyll and Bute
2 Greenock Upper Central Inverclyde
3 Rhins North Dumfries and Galloway
4 Thornhill Dumfries and Galloway
5 Spittal South Lanarkshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mcneil

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mcneil

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mcneil surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcneil household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcneil 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

Mcneil 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

Mcneil falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcneil is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcneil

The surname McNeil has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Nèill," meaning "son of Neill." Neill was a popular given name in Scotland, derived from the Old Norse name Njáll.

The McNeil surname is believed to have originated in the Western Isles of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Bute. The first recorded use of the name dates back to the late 12th century, when a charter from King William the Lion of Scotland mentions a "Gillecalline Mac Nèill" in 1193.

In the 13th century, the Clan McNeil emerged as a prominent Scottish clan, with their ancestral lands located in the islands of Barra and Gigha. The clan played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence, supporting Robert the Bruce against the English.

One of the earliest notable figures with the McNeil surname was Sir Niall Óg McNeil, who lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. He was a renowned warrior and leader of the Clan McNeil during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Clan McNeil settled in the Kintyre peninsula, where they became known as the McNeills of Calquhoun. One prominent member of this branch was Sir John McNeil (1543-1623), who served as a diplomat and envoy for King James VI of Scotland.

Another significant figure in the history of the McNeil surname was Sir John McNeil (1770-1847), a British military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later served as Governor of the British West Indies.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the McNeil surname also became prevalent in Ulster, Northern Ireland, due to the settlement of Scottish families in the region. Notable figures from this period include Reverend Hugh McNeil (1680-1735), a Presbyterian minister and author from County Antrim.

In the 19th century, the McNeil surname gained prominence in the United States, with many Scottish and Irish immigrants bearing the name. One notable American with the McNeil surname was John McNeil (1887-1968), a Major General in the United States Army who served in World War I and World War II.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mcneil families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcneil 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 49 Mcneils recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.41x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 49 2.41x
Yorkshire 31 1.82x
Cumberland 17 11.50x
Middlesex 11 0.64x
Glamorgan 9 3.01x
Surrey 8 0.96x
Essex 7 2.07x
Durham 6 1.17x
Northamptonshire 6 3.72x
Kent 5 0.85x
Cambridgeshire 4 3.68x
Ayrshire 3 2.34x
Lanarkshire 3 0.54x
Northumberland 3 1.17x
Royal Navy 3 14.66x
Warwickshire 2 0.46x
Worcestershire 2 0.89x
Buteshire 1 9.62x
Devon 1 0.28x
Gloucestershire 1 0.30x
Inverness-shire 1 1.95x
Midlothian 1 0.43x
Staffordshire 1 0.17x
Sussex 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkdale in Lancashire leads with 13 Mcneils recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.93x.

Place Total Index
Kirkdale 13 37.93x
Toxteth Park 10 14.50x
Fulwood 8 363.64x
Hawsker Cum Stainsacre 8 1403.51x
Hesket In Forest 7 608.70x
Hulme 7 16.46x
Michaelstone Super Avon 7 216.05x
West Ham 7 9.36x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 37.85x
Egton 6 800.00x
Northampton St Sepulchre 6 73.08x
Harrington 5 280.90x
Harrow On The Hill 5 145.77x
St Giles 5 156.74x
Camberwell 4 3.65x
Wisbech St Peter 4 73.39x
Battersea 3 4.75x
Lewisham 3 9.61x
Liverpool 3 2.43x
Manchester 3 3.28x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 19.67x
Rosedale East Side 3 1304.35x
Ayr 2 33.00x
Birmingham 2 1.39x
Caldewgate 2 24.69x
Feckenham 2 77.82x
Kensington London 2 2.10x
Leeds 2 2.08x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 6.96x
Old Monkland 2 9.08x
St Mary Within 2 108.11x
Whitby 2 34.90x
Axminster 1 59.52x
Barony 1 0.71x
Barrow In Furness 1 3.61x
Bishop Auckland 1 14.60x
Blackburn 1 1.85x
Bristol Temple 1 45.05x
Broadwater 1 15.06x
Chelsea London 1 1.93x
Dalton In Furness 1 12.72x
Ealing 1 6.52x
Edinburgh New North 1 50.00x
Eltham 1 29.15x
Hackney London 1 1.04x
Holy Trinity 1 2.44x
Islington London 1 0.60x
Lambeth 1 0.67x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 1 23.31x
Loudoun 1 32.36x
Middlesbrough 1 4.51x
Milton In Gravesend 1 11.39x
Moss Side 1 9.33x
North Meols 1 5.02x
Rothesay 1 19.84x
South Uist 1 27.93x
Ugglebarnby 1 434.78x
West Bromwich 1 3.01x
Whitehaven 1 12.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Jane 9
Margaret 5
Catherine 4
Elizabeth 4
Hannah 4
Kate 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Daisy 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Helen 2
Louisa 2
Maggie 2
Rose 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Bridget 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Esther 1
Georgina 1
Hariet 1
Harriet 1
Hellen 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
May 1
Mildred 1
Rachel 1
Rachle 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Mcneil surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcneil surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,447 people were recorded with the Mcneil surname. That placed it at #1,009 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcneil surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,608 in 2016. That gives Mcneil a modern rank of #1,193.

What does the Mcneil surname mean?

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

What does the Mcneil map show?

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