Neel Family History

English (Jersey and Yorkshire): of Norman origin a variant of Neal 1 and French (Néel; Normandy): from the Old French personal name Neel derived either from the Latin name Nigellus (a diminutive of Latin niger ‘black’; compare 3 below) or from the Old Norse name Njáll (see Neal ) hence a cognate of 1 above.

Compare Nel French: from Old French nëel ‘black email’ (from Latin nigellus ‘black’) hence a metonymic occupational name for a jeweler.