NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcnelis

A surname derived from the Gaelic personal name Niall or Neil.

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Mcnelis surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 282, ranked #15,406, up from #32,926 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm, Mallard Bowl, Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central and Gourock Upper and West Central and Upper Larkfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcnelis is 300 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4600.0%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

282

2016, ranked #15,406

Peak year

2010

300 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcnelis had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016, ranked #15,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 34 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcnelis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcnelis surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcnelis 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
1861 historical 15 #31,942
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 11 #33,268
1901 historical 34 #30,281
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 251 #15,236
1998 modern 253 #15,547
1999 modern 247 #15,932
2000 modern 261 #15,314
2001 modern 258 #15,194
2002 modern 278 #14,726
2003 modern 273 #14,715
2004 modern 275 #14,717
2005 modern 276 #14,579
2006 modern 277 #14,667
2007 modern 284 #14,548
2008 modern 283 #14,724
2009 modern 287 #14,877
2010 modern 300 #14,730
2011 modern 287 #15,044
2012 modern 286 #15,012
2013 modern 296 #14,876
2014 modern 299 #14,880
2015 modern 291 #15,078
2016 modern 282 #15,406

Geography

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Where Mcnelis' 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 Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm, Mallard Bowl, Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central, Gourock Upper and West Central and Upper Larkfield, Gourock Central, Upper East and IRH and Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm, Mallard Bowl Inverclyde
2 Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central Inverclyde
3 Gourock Upper and West Central and Upper Larkfield Inverclyde
4 Gourock Central, Upper East and IRH Inverclyde
5 Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcnelis

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcnelis

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcnelis, 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 Mcnelis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcnelis 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mcnelis is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcnelis 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

Mcnelis 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 Mcnelis 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcnelis

The surname McNelis is of Irish origin, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It originated in County Donegal, located in the northern part of Ireland. The name is derived from the Gaelic word "Mac Naoimhín," which translates to "son of the little saint."

The earliest recorded instance of the McNelis name can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth I, a collection of Irish records from the 16th century. The name is mentioned in connection with land grants and legal disputes in County Donegal during that period.

One notable historical figure bearing the McNelis name was Niall McNelis, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a prominent member of the McNelis clan in Donegal and played a role in the local political and social affairs of the time.

In the 18th century, the McNelis name appeared in various historical records related to the town of Letterkenny, located in County Donegal. Some of these records mention individuals with the variant spelling "McNellis," which was likely a regional variation.

Bridget McNelis, born in 1792 in County Donegal, was a notable figure in the preservation of traditional Irish folk music. She was renowned for her extensive repertoire of ancient Irish ballads and songs, which she passed down through oral tradition.

During the 19th century, several members of the McNelis family emigrated from Ireland to other parts of the world, including the United States and Australia. One such individual was Patrick McNelis, who was born in County Donegal in 1825 and later settled in New York City.

Another notable figure was Michael McNelis, born in 1867 in County Donegal. He was a prominent scholar and author, best known for his work on Irish language and literature. His publications contributed significantly to the preservation and understanding of Irish cultural heritage.

The McNelis name has also been associated with various place names in County Donegal, such as McNelis Lough and McNelis Brae, which further reinforces the family's deep roots in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcnelis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcnelis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Mcnelis surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcnelis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016. That gives Mcnelis a modern rank of #15,406.

What does the Mcnelis surname mean?

A surname derived from the Gaelic personal name Niall or Neil.

What does the Mcnelis map show?

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