Neil "Neil" is a reduced form of the surname "McNeil" (from the Gaelic "Mac Néill", "son of "Niall""), or variant form the surname of Neill (from the Irish "Ó Néill" or the Scottish Gaelic "Mac Néill", meaning "descendant of "Niall"" and "son of "Niall"". The name passed from Ireland to Scotland where it had the "Mc/Mac" prefix. Some Scottish McNeill's returned to Ireland in the 14th century and are associated with "MacNeill", "MacGreal", "MacReill", and "Mag Reil" surnames. The Manx version of the name is "Kneal" (1598), "Kneale" (1655), or "Kneel" (1636). It evolved from McNelle (1408) and MacNeyll (1430) becoming
Kennedy (surname) Kennedy (surname) Kennedy, alternately O'Kennedy and Kennedie, is a surname of Irish and Scottish origin that has also been used as a given name. There have been several different etymologies given for the surname. One is that the name is an Anglicisation of "Ó Cinnéide", meaning "grandson of "Cinnédidh"" or "grandson of "Cinnéidigh"", with both of these personal names meaning "helmet headed." "Ceanéidigh" could be related to the old Gaelic name "Cennétig", which is known from Cennétig Mac Lorcáin, the father of the Irish high king "Brian mac Cennétig", who himself was also known as "Brian Bóruma" or Brian Boru.