Find out how popular the last name MacNeil is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named MacNeil.

MacNeil, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the MacNeil surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of MacNeil in America

MacNeil is the 10653rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The MacNeil surname appeared 3,003 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname MacNeil.

We can also compare 2010 data for MacNeil to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name MacNeil

The surname MACNEIL has its origins in Scotland, where it emerged in the early medieval period. It is a variant of the Gaelic name MacNaghten or McNaughton, derived from the personal name Neachdain or Nechtan, which means "pure" or "bright." The name was first found in the regions of Argyll and the Isles, where the clan MacNeil held lands and wielded considerable influence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MACNEIL name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1263, where a certain Gillecalum MacNachtan is mentioned. The name is also found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England.

In the 14th century, the MACNEIL clan played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence, supporting Robert the Bruce in his struggle against the English. The clan's chief, Gillebride MacNeil, is recorded as having fought alongside Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

Over the centuries, the MACNEIL name has been associated with various notable figures. In the 16th century, Niall Og MacNeil (c. 1510-1585) was a renowned poet and bard from the Isle of Barra. His collection of poems, known as the "Book of Clanranald," is considered a valuable historical and cultural resource.

Another prominent MACNEIL was Sir John MacNeil (1637-1722), a Scottish lawyer and politician who served as Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland from 1689 to 1704. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the Church of Scotland and the maintenance of Presbyterian governance in the country.

In the 18th century, John MacNeil (1725-1789) was a Scottish army officer who served in the British Army during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He became known for his leadership and bravery in battles such as the Siege of Fort St. Philip and the Battle of Germantown.

Moving into the 19th century, Robert MacNeil (1804-1881) was a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. He was instrumental in the establishment of several important institutions, including the University of Queen's College (now Queen's University) in Kingston, Ontario.

Finally, in more recent times, Robert MacNeil (born 1931) is a renowned Canadian-American journalist and author. He co-anchored the acclaimed PBS news program "The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour" from 1976 to 1995 and has authored several books on journalism and American history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name MacNeil

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname MacNeil.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for MacNeil was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of MacNeil has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name MacNeil was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of MacNeil, please contact us.

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