Surname MacNeacail - Meaning and Origin
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MacNeacail: What does the surname MacNeacail mean?
The last name MacNeacail, of Scottish origin, is a patronymic surname that means "son of Nicholas". The name combines the Gaelic prefix "Mac", meaning "son of", and "Neacail", a Gaelic form of the name Nicholas. Nicholas itself comes from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people".
Order DNA origin analysisMacNeacail: Where does the name MacNeacail come from?
The last name MacNeacail is most commonly found today in Scotland and Ireland, with smaller populations throughout the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the world. In Scotland, the surname is most often found in the Highlands and Islands, while in Ireland it is most commonly found in Counties Donegal and Dublin.
The MacNeacail surname is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Mac an Eich, meaning "Son of the Horse". It is a patronymic name carried by the descendents of someone with the first name Eich, which is derived from the Old Irish ech, meaning "horse."
The MacNeacail surname can also be spelled in many different forms, including MacEneany, McKeneany, McEneny, etc., due to the different dialectal variations between Scotland and Ireland and the lack of traditional spelling rules in those areas. For example, some variations include McNeacail and M’Keneay.
The MacNeacail family are believed to have first originated in the Isles in 1513, and branched out from there. The strongest, oldest connection to the name MacNeacail is found with the McNeacail family of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
The surname is still relatively uncommon today, with a population of only around 5,000 people worldwide. Many people no longer carry the MacNeacail surname as they have changed it to other versions or uses their first name to identify themselves.
Variations of the surname MacNeacail
MacNeacail is a Scottish surname derived from the anglicised form of the Irish Gaelic Mac an Fhilidh, meaning “son of the poet”. It is typically translated to mean “son of the chieftain” and can also be spelled MacNicol, MacNicolle, or MacNeacaille. It is a variant of the surname Mac an Fhilidh, which is more commonly used as a given name in Scotland.
MacNeacail is most commonly found in areas of Scotland, including Inverness, Skye, and the Isle of Lewis. It is also found in other significant parts of the British Isles, such as Ireland, Wales, and England. In Ireland, the spelling may be MacEnagall, MacNeagall, MacEnagall, MacNecall, MacNecole, or MacNeacole.
The variants of MacNeacail are derived from the Irish Gaelic language and offer unique spellings for the same origin. In addition to the variants mentioned above, similar surnames such as McCann, McNicol, McNacoll, McNicols, and MacNair are used by different branches of the same family/clan.
This surname is found mainly in areas of Canada, the United States, and Australia, especially in those areas with large Irish populations. It is also quite common in Scotland, and in the United Kingdom, in the Scottish Highlands, as well as in some parts of Ireland, England, Wales, and Cornwall.
Famous people with the name MacNeacail
1.Kenneth MacNeacail: Scottish poet, author of “The Music of What Happens” and “An A-Z of World Poetry” 2.Karen MacNeacail: former singer, songwriter and composer of “Away From You” 3.John MacNeacail: union leader, former president of Canada's National Public Service Alliance 4.Robb MacNeacail: former Prime Minister of Scotland 5.Mona MacNeacail: Scottish actress and film producer 6.Claudia MacNeacail: TV and radio host 7.Janet MacNeacail: Scottish-born actress, best known for her role in the stage play “Macbeth” 8.Warren MacNeacail: Scottish actor known for his roles in films such as “Bound” and “Doomed” 9.Iain MacNeacail: Scottish singer-songwriter, best known for his hit songs “Don't Think Twice” and “Cherry Blossom” 10.Alastair MacNeacail: Gaelic singer, traditional Scottish dancer, and champion of Gaelic culture