The Neal surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 91,694 people carried this name — #337 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 3,220 people counted. That is up 9% from 83,849 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Neal surname

A surname from Irish [in turn originating as a patronymic] derived from Niall.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Neal» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 10 births for the Neal name in 1890.

Most were registered in Leinster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 400 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The count includes the spelling Neale.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Leinster 7
Ulster 2
Munster 1

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

28 people named Neal live in Switzerland.

They live in 4 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Fribourg.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Fribourg 13
Geneva 7
Vaud 4
Zurich 4

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 24 people named Neal.

Most of them — 17 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 2 départements, most often Seine-Maritime.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 17
Seine-Maritime 6
Morbihan 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

22 people named Neal is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 22

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Neal was found among the farmers of 12 counties.

It was most frequent in Sussex: 33 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 303. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent. His list gives one count for the spellings Neal and Neale.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Sussex 33
Warwickshire 28
Leicestershire and Rutland 25
Gloucestershire 20
Hampshire 17
Nottinghamshire 16
Buckinghamshire 15
Norfolk 13

And 4 more counties.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

284 families named Neal, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,561 people lived in those households, 5.5 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: Neal, Kneel, Kneil, Neail, Neale, Neall, Neals, Neel, Neell, Neil, Neill, Niel, Niele, Niell, Nielle, Niels. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 51
North Carolina 44
Virginia 41
Maryland 37
New Hampshire 30
South Carolina 24
Maine 18
New York 17
Massachusetts 13
Connecticut 9

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 255 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Neal in American newspapers,
1915.

Newspaper page from Northern Wisconsin Advertiser carrying the name Neal
Northern Wisconsin Advertiser 1915-12-24
Newspaper page from The Review carrying the name Neal
The Review 1915-10-28
Newspaper page from The Watertown Weekly Leader carrying the name Neal
The Watertown Weekly Leader 1915-11-23

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 550,618 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Neal in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

43,513 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Neal. The most, 8,747, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Queensland, at 1.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 14,725
Queensland 12,002
Victoria 9,905
South Australia 2,400
Western Australia 2,104
Tasmania 1,886
ACT (Canberra) 330
Northern Territory 69

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Neal.

Who carried it

People named Neal,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Daniel Neal
    Daniel Neal 1678–1743 · writer
  • John Neal
    John Neal 1793–1876 · writer
  • Mary Neal d. 1945
  • Diallo S. Neal Sr. d. 2005
  • Thomas Neal 1519–1590 · Catholic priest
  • Dorcas Neal 1738–1810

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Neal,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States5,895 records

5,895 records of the Neal name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 2,885
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 1,210
  • Other U.S. records 1,800
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Emmett Neal

    Born 1932; from Alameda County, California. U.S. Army, light weapons infantry leader; killed in action 1953 in North Korea. Buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record George W. Neal

    Born 1914 in Mississippi. Enlisted 1942 at Shreveport, Louisiana; route man. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1993, buried at Biloxi National Cemetery, Mississippi.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Patrick Neal

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Berlin from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 24; laborer. From Waterford, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 5,895 records for Neal in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,342 records

1,342 records of the Neal name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 525
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 294
  • Other Australian records 523
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Sarah Neal

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Tasmania, sailing from London in 1844. Native of Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1851. Married 1851 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 47.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Henry Samuel Neal

    Died 1928 in Devonport, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1929.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Emily Jane Neal

    Born 1870 in Westbury, Tasmania. Died 1890 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 20.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,342 records for Neal in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Canada272 records

272 records of the Neal name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 199
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 20
  • Other Canadian records 53
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Jack Neal

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the Ranger, bound for Port Mattoon, aged 23.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Will'm Neal

    Came to Ontario in 1876 aboard the Moravian, bound for Hamilton, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Alfred Marshall Neal

    Buried in 1979 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 84.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 272 records for Neal in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand99 records

99 records of the Neal name in New Zealand
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 70
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 22
  • Other New Zealand records 7
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Lewis Raymond Neal

    Died 1978, aged 59; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Malcolm Albert Neal

    Died 1996, aged 46; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Henry Neal

    Buried in 1943 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 88.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 99 records for Neal in New Zealand.

Counts: Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom92 records

92 records of the Neal name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 60
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 29
  • Welsh wills index cards 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Abel Neal

    Buried in 1848 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 37.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Charles Neal

    Will proved in 1937; of Llandudno, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record S. E. Neal

    Royal Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 92 records for Neal in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

France8 records

8 records of the Neal name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Chhoeur Neal

    Born 1951 in Cambodia; died 1999 in Caen (Calvados).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Germaine Agnes Neal

    Born 1898 in Neufchâtel-en-Bray; died 1987 in Dieppe (Seine-Maritime).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Albert Achille Neal

    Born 1915 in Nesle-Hodeng; died 2000 in Rouen (Seine-Maritime).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 8 records for Neal in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands4 records

4 records of the Neal name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 2
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Edmund Graham Reginald Neal

    Married in 1946 in Eindhoven.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Eda Neal

    Married in 1934 in Vaals; born 1910 in North East Ham (Groot Brittanië).

    Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Limburg (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Neal in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Other spellings of this name

The same name, spelled another way.

Spellings that H. B. Guppy (England and Wales, 1890) or the Registrar-General for Ireland (births index of 1890) counted as one name together with Neal.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Neal.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Neal is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Neal volume
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