UK surname
A surname derived from the Gaelic word for 'champion' or 'cloud'.
In the 1881 census there were 97 people recorded with the Niell surname, ranking it #20,127 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #20,127 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Radcliffe, Tranent and Cardross. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Niell is 118 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 89.7%.
1881 census count
97
Ranked #20,127
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1851
118 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Niell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Niell surname density by area, 1851 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 118 | #15,362 |
| 1861 | historical | 77 | #23,975 |
| 1881 | historical | 97 | #20,127 |
| 1891 | historical | 79 | #26,897 |
| 1901 | historical | 85 | #24,636 |
| 1911 | historical | 36 | #29,370 |
| 1997 | modern | 11 | #36,912 |
| 1998 | modern | 13 | #36,679 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 8 | #37,572 |
| 2008 | modern | 8 | #37,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 12 | #37,342 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Radcliffe, Tranent, Cardross, Edinburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Radcliffe | Lancashire |
| 2 | Tranent | Haddington |
| 3 | Cardross | Dunbarton |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Niell surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Niell, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Niell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Niell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Niell is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Niell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Niell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "Niell" is believed to have originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Niall," which means "champion" or "cloud." The name was particularly prevalent in the Scottish Highlands and the Hebrides islands.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Niell" can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented the names of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. Among the names listed is "Gillecrist Niel," indicating the presence of the name in Scotland during the 13th century.
The surname "Niell" is also associated with several historical figures. In the 16th century, Nigel Niell (1510-1583) was a Scottish clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles. Another notable individual was Sir John Niell (1641-1715), a Scottish military commander who fought in the Jacobite risings of the late 17th century.
In the 17th century, the name "Niell" was recorded in the parish records of Kilfinan, a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The records mention several individuals with the surname, including Donald Niell (1620-1695) and Archibald Niell (1652-1721).
The name "Niell" also has ties to various place names in Scotland. For instance, the village of Neilston in East Renfrewshire is believed to have derived its name from the surname "Niell" or the personal name "Niall." Additionally, the Niell Burn, a river in Ayrshire, Scotland, likely originated from the same source.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname "Niell." One example is Thomas Niell (1779-1858), a Scottish architect who designed numerous buildings in Edinburgh, including the Old College of the University of Edinburgh. Another prominent figure was John Niell (1805-1875), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who founded the Niell Institution in Ayr, a school for the education of children from low-income families.
It is worth noting that variations in the spelling of the surname "Niell" exist, such as "Neill," "Niel," and "Neile." These variations may have arisen due to regional differences in pronunciation or transcription errors in historical records.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Niell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 23 Niells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.09x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 23 | 2.09x |
| Middlesex | 19 | 2.05x |
| Ayrshire | 15 | 21.63x |
| Lanarkshire | 10 | 3.34x |
| Kent | 6 | 1.90x |
| East Lothian | 5 | 40.75x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.58x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 1.28x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 1.38x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.22x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.16x |
| Buteshire | 1 | 17.83x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.49x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.95x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.32x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.22x |
| West Lothian | 1 | 7.17x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 10 Niells recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.18x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barony | 10 | 13.18x |
| Radcliffe | 10 | 188.68x |
| Galston | 8 | 421.05x |
| Chiswick | 6 | 118.58x |
| Tranent | 5 | 301.20x |
| Withington | 5 | 141.24x |
| Ayr | 4 | 122.32x |
| Gillingham | 4 | 61.35x |
| Widnes | 4 | 50.44x |
| Westminster St James | 3 | 31.48x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 2 | 8.32x |
| Bexley | 2 | 71.43x |
| Glossop Dale | 2 | 29.46x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.23x |
| Middlesbrough | 2 | 16.72x |
| Newton On Ayr | 2 | 96.15x |
| Ratcliffe London | 2 | 39.06x |
| Shoreditch London | 2 | 4.98x |
| Aldershot | 1 | 15.72x |
| Aston | 1 | 1.55x |
| Coventry St Michael | 1 | 13.32x |
| Croydon | 1 | 3.99x |
| Ealing | 1 | 12.08x |
| Gulval | 1 | 147.06x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 6.93x |
| Holdenhurst | 1 | 20.08x |
| Kilbride | 1 | 144.93x |
| Kirkland | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 17.39x |
| Linlithgow | 1 | 55.87x |
| Loudoun | 1 | 59.88x |
| Manchester | 1 | 2.02x |
| Montrose | 1 | 19.23x |
| Norwood | 1 | 47.17x |
| South Stoneham | 1 | 24.27x |
| Stayley | 1 | 42.74x |
| Westminster St | 1 | 29.24x |
| Wolstanton | 1 | 10.53x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Niell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Niell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Niell households.
FAQ
In 1881, 97 people were recorded with the Niell surname. That placed it at #20,127 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Niell a modern rank of #37,599.
A surname derived from the Gaelic word for 'champion' or 'cloud'.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Niell bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.