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

Neal, 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 Neal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Neal in America

Neal is the 337th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Neal surname appeared 91,694 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 31 people would have the surname Neal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Neal 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 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Neal

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

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

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

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