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Neil Family History

Neil Surname Meaning

Scottish English (Lancashire) and Irish (Munster): from the Gaelic personal name Niall (genitive Néill) possibly derived from Irish néal ‘cloud’.

In most cases the name probably represents a shortened form of the derived patronymics McNeill or the comparable Irish O'Neill.

English: variant of Neal.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Neil family from?

You can see how Neil families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Neil family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Neil families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 361 Neil families living in Lancashire. This was about 20% of all the recorded Neil's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Neil families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Neil surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Neil ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Neil. 23% of Neil men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Neil women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Neil were Bricklayer and Private Means.

View Census Data for Neil | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    23%
  • Builders Labourer
    8%
  • Motor Driver
    6%
  • Bricklayer
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%

What Neil family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 259,000 census records available for the last name Neil. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Neil census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Neil

Passenger Lists

There are 36,000 immigration records available for the last name Neil. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Neil immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 29,000 military records available for the last name Neil. For the veterans among your Neil ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Neil military records

You've only scratched the surface of Neil family history

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What is the average Neil lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Neil life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Neil in 1943 was 46, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Neil

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Neil ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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