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

McNeil, 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 McNeil surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McNeil in America

McNeil is the 1018th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McNeil surname appeared 34,368 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 12 people would have the surname McNeil.

We can also compare 2010 data for McNeil 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 McNeil

The surname McNeil has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Nèill," meaning "son of Neill." Neill was a popular given name in Scotland, derived from the Old Norse name Njáll.

The McNeil surname is believed to have originated in the Western Isles of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Bute. The first recorded use of the name dates back to the late 12th century, when a charter from King William the Lion of Scotland mentions a "Gillecalline Mac Nèill" in 1193.

In the 13th century, the Clan McNeil emerged as a prominent Scottish clan, with their ancestral lands located in the islands of Barra and Gigha. The clan played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence, supporting Robert the Bruce against the English.

One of the earliest notable figures with the McNeil surname was Sir Niall Óg McNeil, who lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. He was a renowned warrior and leader of the Clan McNeil during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Clan McNeil settled in the Kintyre peninsula, where they became known as the McNeills of Calquhoun. One prominent member of this branch was Sir John McNeil (1543-1623), who served as a diplomat and envoy for King James VI of Scotland.

Another significant figure in the history of the McNeil surname was Sir John McNeil (1770-1847), a British military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later served as Governor of the British West Indies.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the McNeil surname also became prevalent in Ulster, Northern Ireland, due to the settlement of Scottish families in the region. Notable figures from this period include Reverend Hugh McNeil (1680-1735), a Presbyterian minister and author from County Antrim.

In the 19th century, the McNeil surname gained prominence in the United States, with many Scottish and Irish immigrants bearing the name. One notable American with the McNeil surname was John McNeil (1887-1968), a Major General in the United States Army who served in World War I and World War II.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McNeil

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

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

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

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