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
Gillespie (surname) is most common in Ulster. During the nineteenth century in Ireland, the surname was most numerous in the counties of Antrim, Donegal, Armagh, and Tyrone. Scottish Gaelic forms of the surname include "GillEasbuig", and "GillEasbaig". Gillespie (surname) Gillespie () is both a masculine given name, and a surname in the English language. The given name is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic "Gille Easbaig" (also rendered "Gilleasbaig"), meaning "bishop's servant". The surname "Gillespie" is an Anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic "Mac Gille Easbuig", and the Irish "Mac Giolla Easpaig", both of which mean "servant of the bishop". The given