NameCensus.

UK surname

Neal

An Irish surname derived from Ó Néill, meaning "descendant of Niall," a personal name of Irish origin.

In the 1881 census there were 8,877 people recorded with the Neal surname, ranking it #472 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10,806, ranked #599, down from #472 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Sherston Magna, Luckington and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Fenland and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Neal is 11,750 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.7%.

1881 census count

8,877

Ranked #472

Modern count

10,806

2016, ranked #599

Peak year

1911

11,750 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Neal had 8,877 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #472 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 10,806 in 2016, ranked #599.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11,750 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Neal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Neal surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Neal 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 6,426 #427
1861 historical 6,141 #454
1881 historical 8,877 #472
1891 historical 9,221 #478
1901 historical 10,785 #482
1911 historical 11,750 #416
1997 modern 11,323 #536
1998 modern 11,607 #546
1999 modern 11,709 #546
2000 modern 11,555 #552
2001 modern 11,328 #548
2002 modern 11,424 #559
2003 modern 11,101 #559
2004 modern 11,059 #564
2005 modern 10,821 #575
2006 modern 10,746 #576
2007 modern 10,764 #584
2008 modern 10,791 #588
2009 modern 11,013 #589
2010 modern 11,290 #584
2011 modern 11,176 #581
2012 modern 10,966 #579
2013 modern 11,142 #580
2014 modern 11,160 #587
2015 modern 10,960 #593
2016 modern 10,806 #599

Geography

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Where Neals are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Sherston Magna, Luckington and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon, Fenland, Cardiff and North West Leicestershire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Sherston Magna, Luckington Wiltshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 004 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Fenland 006 Fenland
3 Cardiff 011 Cardiff
4 Stratford-on-Avon 013 Stratford-on-Avon
5 North West Leicestershire 001 North West Leicestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Neal

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Neal

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Neal is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Neal is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Neal 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 Neal 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 Neal, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Neal

The surname Neal has its origins in the British Isles, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "niwe," meaning "new," which suggests that the name may have been given to someone who had recently settled in a new area or who had newly acquired land.

One of the earliest known references to the name Neal can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1181, where it appears as "Niweman." This early spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during the Middle Ages, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and scribal interpretations.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct mentions of the surname Neal. However, it does record several individuals with the first name Nigel, which shares a similar linguistic root and may have contributed to the development of the Neal surname.

In the 13th century, the surname Neal appears in various records across England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. One notable figure from this era was Sir Ralph Neal, a wealthy landowner and knight who lived in Somerset in the late 13th century.

As the centuries progressed, the Neal surname continued to spread across the British Isles, with various spellings emerging, such as Neile, Neale, and Niel. In the 16th century, a prominent individual named Thomas Neale (c. 1519-1590) served as the Dean of Westminster Abbey and held influential positions within the Church of England.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several notable Neals, including Sir Paul Neale (c. 1613-1686), a successful merchant and philanthropist who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1676. Another prominent figure was Thomas Neal (1637-1714), a Puritan minister and author who wrote extensively on religious and historical topics.

In the 18th century, the Neal surname gained further recognition with individuals like Daniel Neal (1678-1743), a historian and author who authored a comprehensive history of the Puritans. Additionally, Thomas Neal (1768-1848), a renowned English boxer and pugilist, made a significant impact in the world of sports during this era.

As the British Empire expanded, the Neal surname traveled to various parts of the world, including North America, where it continued to flourish. One notable figure was John Neal (1793-1876), an American novelist, critic, and writer who played a prominent role in the early literary scene of the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Neal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Neal 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. Middlesex leads with 1,224 Neals recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.42x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,224 1.42x
Surrey 662 1.57x
Warwickshire 606 2.78x
Norfolk 505 3.80x
Lincolnshire 498 3.60x
Yorkshire 480 0.56x
Leicestershire 465 4.85x
Northamptonshire 369 4.54x
Wiltshire 316 4.13x
Kent 283 0.96x
Derbyshire 277 2.05x
Lancashire 243 0.24x
Oxfordshire 230 4.31x
Gloucestershire 205 1.21x
Staffordshire 182 0.62x
Worcestershire 177 1.57x
Hampshire 173 0.98x
Berkshire 163 2.51x
Dorset 162 2.86x
Bedfordshire 149 3.33x
Essex 140 0.82x
Buckinghamshire 139 2.66x
Durham 132 0.51x
Sussex 126 0.86x
Nottinghamshire 123 1.06x
Cambridgeshire 121 2.21x
Cornwall 115 1.18x
Suffolk 97 0.92x
Devon 78 0.43x
Northumberland 64 0.50x
Hertfordshire 55 0.92x
Somerset 46 0.33x
Cheshire 40 0.21x
Glamorgan 37 0.25x
Rutland 33 5.20x
Monmouthshire 32 0.51x
Huntingdonshire 30 1.75x
Shropshire 23 0.31x
Midlothian 18 0.16x
Royal Navy 7 0.68x
Aberdeenshire 6 0.07x
Lanarkshire 6 0.02x
Channel Islands 4 0.16x
Cumberland 4 0.05x
Cardiganshire 3 0.14x
Fife 2 0.04x
Isle of Man 2 0.12x
Renfrewshire 2 0.03x
Angus 1 0.01x
Berwickshire 1 0.10x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.08x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.05x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.04x
Roxburghshire 1 0.06x
Selkirkshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sherston Magna in Wiltshire leads with 192 Neals recorded in 1881 and an index of 416.76x.

Place Total Index
Sherston Magna 192 416.76x
Birmingham 182 2.51x
Aston 164 2.73x
Leicester St Margaret 103 4.41x
Islington London 91 1.09x
St Marylebone London 84 1.82x
Lambeth 77 1.02x
Tonbridge 77 7.24x
Hackney London 67 1.38x
Battersea 64 2.01x
St Pancras London 64 0.92x
Camberwell 63 1.14x
Shoreditch London 63 1.68x
Portsea 54 1.56x
Mile End Old Town 52 3.81x
Kensington London 50 1.04x
Newington 50 1.57x
Clerkenwell London 49 2.40x
Leicester St Mary 46 5.94x
Southwark St George Martyr 46 2.64x
St Luke London 45 3.25x
Paddington London 44 1.38x
Leeds 42 0.87x
Kettering 40 12.16x
Holy Trinity 38 1.84x
St George In East 37 6.29x
Wolverhampton 36 1.60x
Great Grimsby 34 3.88x
Lakenheath 34 61.15x
Raunds 34 41.07x
Bow London 33 3.00x
Brighton 33 1.12x
South Creake 32 106.03x
Wandsworth 31 3.73x
Bethnal Green London 30 0.80x
Oldham 30 0.91x
Ickford 29 263.40x
Nottingham St Mary 29 0.96x
Deptford St Paul 28 1.23x
St George Hanover 28 2.48x
Bermondsey 27 1.05x
Chelsea London 27 1.04x
Kings Norton 27 2.67x
Derby St Werburgh 26 3.33x
Irchester 26 51.51x
Sheffield 26 0.95x
Sopworth 26 450.61x
Barking 25 5.01x
Chesterfield 25 4.93x
Croydon 25 1.07x
Tredington 25 81.01x
Aylestone 24 31.76x
Cumnor 24 80.24x
Kingston On Thames 24 2.37x
Warkworth 24 32.80x
Boston 23 5.48x
Burton Latimer 23 46.82x
Greenwich 23 1.67x
Hampstead London 23 1.71x
Ilkeston 23 6.06x
Newark Upon Trent 23 5.49x
Peterborough 23 3.91x
West Ham 23 0.61x
Ashton Under Lyne 22 0.98x
Clapham 22 2.04x
Bampton 21 50.87x
Hammersmith London 21 0.99x
Hugglescote 21 14.89x
Ibstock 21 30.15x
Norwood 21 10.62x
Woolwich 21 1.93x
Alford 20 23.35x
Brightside Bierlow 20 1.19x
Burton Dassett 20 103.68x
East Dereham 20 11.91x
East Winch 20 167.36x
Barford St Michael 19 215.42x
Limehouse London 19 2.00x
Poplar London 19 1.16x
Stanton All Sts 19 156.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 548
Elizabeth 358
Sarah 347
Emma 183
Jane 154
Ellen 151
Annie 143
Alice 136
Ann 135
Eliza 135
Emily 117
Hannah 79
Florence 73
Harriet 68
Martha 65
Louisa 64
Caroline 63
Charlotte 62
Ada 59
Fanny 57
Clara 49
Margaret 46
Catherine 44
Maria 44
Harriett 40
Edith 39
Lucy 37
Susan 37
Kate 36
Agnes 34
Frances 33
Rose 31
Amelia 30
Anne 25
Matilda 23
Rebecca 23
Amy 21
Ruth 20
Elizth. 17
Jessie 17
Rosa 17
Anna 16
Julia 16
Minnie 16
Beatrice 15
Isabella 15
Selina 15
Esther 14
Henrietta 14
Laura 14

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 592
John 514
George 350
Thomas 267
James 248
Henry 217
Charles 161
Joseph 158
Alfred 103
Arthur 99
Edward 94
Robert 92
Frederick 89
Albert 75
Samuel 74
Walter 69
Richard 64
Harry 57
Herbert 36
Edwin 34
Frank 32
Daniel 29
Ernest 27
Stephen 27
Benjamin 23
Francis 20
Wm. 20
David 19
Tom 17
Fred 16
Geo. 15
Cornelius 13
Isaac 13
Thos. 12
Horace 11
Job 11
Chas. 10
Christopher 10
Matthew 10
Michael 10
Patrick 10
Jonathan 9
Fredk. 8
Fredrick 8
Peter 8
Sidney 8
Willie 8
Edmund 7
Abraham 6
Mark 6

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 Neal households.

FAQ

Neal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Neal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8,877 people were recorded with the Neal surname. That placed it at #472 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Neal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 10,806 in 2016. That gives Neal a modern rank of #599.

What does the Neal surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from Ó Néill, meaning "descendant of Niall," a personal name of Irish origin.

What does the Neal map show?

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