Surname MacNealy - Meaning and Origin
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MacNealy: What does the surname MacNealy mean?
The last name MacNealy is an anglicised version of the Gaelic surname Mac Neillí. The origin of the surname is from the North Irish clan of the Neilí, a sept of the powerful O’Neill dynasty. It was originally an Ó Neillí chiefs who held lands in Fermanagh around 1227.
The literal meaning of the surname translates to “son of Neil”. In early times, this name was used to denote a loyal follower of a particular clan leader, rather than a surname to distinguish different branches of a single family.
Today, the surname is mostly found in Ireland and Scotland, though is also prevalent in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada. This is a result of waves of Irish and Scottish emigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The MacNealy forbearers of today are a hearty bunch who come from a long and proud lineage of strong warriors and loyal followers. Its legacy of strength, bravery, courage and determination has served them well throughout the ages, and will continue to do so for many generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisMacNealy: Where does the name MacNealy come from?
The last name MacNealy is most commonly associated with Scotland and Northern Ireland. MacNealy is a Gaelic surname, with its roots in the ancient Irish clan of MacConmara. The MacConmara clan was based in the western regions of Ireland, and the surname slowly spread to Scotland through cross-border marriages and immigration.
In Scotland, the MacNealy name is most popular in the counties of Perthshire, Renfrewshire and Ayrshire. The surname is also present in the large cities and towns in these counties, such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Kilmarnock. It is also present in other major cities in Scotland, such as Aberdeen and Dundee.
The MacNealy last name is not as common in other parts of the United Kingdom. However, there are some families found in England, Wales and the Isle of Man.
The MacNealy surname is still found in Ireland and Scotland today, although it is not a particularly common name. It has also spread to other countries, with individuals found in Canada, the United States, New Zealand and Australia.
Variations of the surname MacNealy
MacNealy is a Scottish surname, derived from the Gaelic Mac an Fhilidh, which translates to “son of the physician”. It also has several variants, alternate spellings, and other surnames of the same origin.
The variants of MacNealy include McKinley, MacNeely, and MacKneally. The alternate spellings are MacNeally, MacNally, and MacKneally. The other surnames of the same origin are MacNeal, MacNeill, and MacNeill.
MacNeal is a variant of MacNealy, derived from the Gaelic Mac an Fhilidh, which translates literally to “son of the physician”. MacNeill is a variant of MacNeill, also derived from the Gaelic Mac an Fhilidh. It is possible that MacNeill came about as a result of Scottish immigrants who moved to Ireland and changed their surnames over time to resemble the Irish Gaelic spelling MacNéill. MacNeill is an anglicized variant of MacNéill, and is also derived from the Gaelic Mac an Fhilidh.
MacNeely is an alternate spelling of MacNealy and is derived from the Gaelic Mac an Fhilidh. The surname is believed to have come from Scotland, most likely around the 1100s. MacNally is an Anglicization of the Gaelic name Mac an Fhilidh and is also derived from the Gaelic Mac an Fhilidh.
MacKneally is an alternate spelling of MacNealy and is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Mac an Fhilidh. It is believed to have originated in the Lowland Scottish area.
In summary, the variants, alternate spellings, and surnames of the same origin of MacNealy include MacNeal, MacNeill, MacNeill, MacNeely, MacNally, and MacKneally. All of these surnames originate from the Gaelic Mac an Fhilidh, which translates to “son of the physician”.
Famous people with the name MacNealy
- Emma Macnealy: An up and coming actress who recently appeared in the Netflix original series, The Queen's Gambit.
- Margaret Macnealy: A professor specializing in literature at the University of Virginia.
- Hilary Macnealy: A fashion icon and Instagram influencer with over 2 million followers.
- Laura Macnealy: An award winning journalist and staff writer for The New Yorker magazine.
- John Macnealy: A professional basketball player who played in the NBA for the Miami Heat.
- Matilda Macnealy: A singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who released her debut album in 2020.
- Mark Macnealy: An influential economist and the current chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank.
- Nicole Macnealy: An artist and sculptor known for her abstract sculptures.
- Colin Macnealy: A YouTube vlogger with over 400 million views and 15 million subscribers. 10.Max Macnealy: An actor and stand up comedian who has been featured in several movies and TV shows.