Surname MacNeely - Meaning and Origin
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MacNeely: What does the surname MacNeely mean?
The last name MacNeely is an anglicized form of the Gaelic last name Mac an Fhiliadha, also written as Mac an Fhı́oladha and Mac an Fhìlidh. This last name originated in the western Highlands and Islands of Scotland and is thought to come from the Gaelic term for "son of the servant". This implies that the original bearers of the name were probably farmers who worked in service to some kind of nobleman.
Traditionally, the Mac an Fhìlidh name referred to a member of a chief's household. They were likely estate workers and agricultural laborers as part of the chief's household staff. In Irish, the name translates to "the son of a follower" implying a close connection to the clan chief or a noble family.
Today, the name MacNeely is found throughout Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. It is most common in remote rural areas, though several modern MacNeelys have dispersed to major cities and some have emigrated to other countries. The name is also found in some parts of the United States and Canada, suggesting that some MacNeelys left Scotland and Ireland as part of the 18th and 19th century diaspora.
Order DNA origin analysisMacNeely: Where does the name MacNeely come from?
The last name MacNeely is most commonly found in Canada and the United States. In Canada, MacNeely is found in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec. It is also the 947th most common last name in Ontario. In the United States, MacNeely is found in 30 states, primarily concentrated in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Indiana, Florida, Ohio, and Iowa. It is also the 860th most common name in the US, according to surname databases.
In addition to Canada and the US, MacNeely is also found in Scotland. It is found mostly in the historic counties of Ayrshire, Fife, and Renfrewshire, with very few records of the name outside of these areas. It is also the 1,682nd most common last name in Scotland.
Overall, people with the last name MacNeely can be found in North America, Scotland, and other countries around the world. It is a very common surname, reflecting its ancient Gaelic origins.
Variations of the surname MacNeely
MacNeely is the Anglicization of the Irish surname Mac An Fhílí, which derives from the Irish name Ó hEanbhaigh. The family were Chief of Clann Eanabhach who were based in Ulster and parts of County Tyrone.
Variants of the MacNeely surname can include McNeely, McNealy, MacNealy, MacNealey, Macnelay, Macnely, MacNiel, MacNiled, McNiled, McNiel, McNille, McNyl, McNiley, McNeeley, McNeailey, and MacNilt.
In addition to MacNeely, other common variations of the surname include McNeely, McNealy, MacNealy, MacNealey, MacNilee, MacNelling, MacNilley, McNeely, McNealy, McNilee, McNiling and MacNilley.
The variants of the MacNeely surname have spread widely and can be found in Scotland, North America, Canada, Australia and as far as New Zealand.
The variants of the MacNeely surname are based in Irish and Scottish Gaelic heritage, but each variant can have different spellings, pronunciations, customs and history. As a result, certain variants have become more common based on specific cultural ties.
Famous people with the name MacNeely
- James MacNeely: an American radio producer, writer, and director whose radio work was nominated for the Golden Globe Award
- Tom MacNeely: an American comic book artist who has worked on books for Marvel Comics and DC Comics
- Winifred MacNeely: an American astrologist, mystic, and author of several books including "Out of the Blue: Soul Journeying Revealed"
- Ronnie MacNeely: a Scottish footballer who played as a forward
- Kid MacNeely: an American professional wrestler who competed in the National Wrestling Alliance
- Kristina MacNeely: an American actress, dancer, and singer best known for her role in the TV show "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
- Dennis MacNeely: an American jazz trumpeter
- Mimi MacNeely: an American actress, best known for her role in the movie "The Namesake"
- John MacNeely: an American songwriter, producer, and composer whose music has been featured in television shows such as "The Voice"
- Alison MacNeely: an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has released several albums including "The Art of Being Unseen"