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

McNeal, 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 McNeal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McNeal in America

McNeal is the 1723rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McNeal surname appeared 20,778 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 7 people would have the surname McNeal.

We can also compare 2010 data for McNeal 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 McNeal

The surname McNeal has its origins in the Scottish Highlands, emerging in the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Niall," which means "son of Niall." Niall was a popular personal name in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands, and the prefix "Mac" signified "son of."

The earliest recorded instance of the surname McNeal can be traced back to the year 1546, when a John McNeal was mentioned in the Annals of Inverness, a historical chronicle of events in the Scottish Highlands. The name was also found in various clan records and charter documents from the same period.

One of the earliest notable figures with the surname McNeal was Sir John McNeal, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. Another prominent figure was Angus McNeal, a 16th-century chieftain of the McNeal clan, who played a role in the clan battles and power struggles of the time.

In the 17th century, the surname McNeal began to appear in various parts of Scotland, including the Lowlands, as families migrated and settled in new areas. The name also underwent some spelling variations, such as McNeil, McNeal, and MacNeal, reflecting the regional dialects and pronunciation differences.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname McNeal was Sir John McNeal (1670-1743), a Scottish soldier and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Province of New Jersey from 1739 to 1743. He played a significant role in the development of the American colonies during the early years of British rule.

Another notable figure was Reverend Hugh McNeal (1795-1879), a Scottish-born Presbyterian minister who emigrated to the United States and became a prominent figure in the Free Presbyterian Church movement. He was known for his staunch opposition to slavery and his efforts to promote religious education.

In the 19th century, the surname McNeal continued to spread across the English-speaking world as Scottish emigrants sought new opportunities in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. One notable individual from this period was Daniel McNeal (1820-1899), an American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the mining industry and founded the McNeal Institute for the Education of Women in Missouri.

Throughout its history, the surname McNeal has been associated with various Scottish clans and families, reflecting the rich heritage and traditions of the Scottish Highlands. While the name has evolved and spread across the globe, its origins remain firmly rooted in the historical landscapes of Scotland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McNeal

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

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 McNeal 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 McNeal 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 McNeal was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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