Neal ( Neil) is a given masculine, and sometimes feminine name and surname of the Gaelic origin. The name is an Anglicisation of Niall which is of disputed derivation. The Irish name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", "victory", "honour" or "champion". As a surname, Neil is traced back to

Niall of the Nine Hostages Niall Noígíallach (; Old Irish "having nine hostages"), or Niall of the Nine Hostages, was a legendary, semi-historical Irish king who was the ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasties that dominated Ireland from the 6th to the 10th centuries. ...

who was an Irish king and eponymous ancestor of the Uí Néill and MacNeil kindred. Most authorities cite the meaning of Neal in the context of a surname as meaning champion.

Surname

* Abbie Neal (1918–2004), American country music entertainer * Adam Neal (born 1990), English rugby league player * Alice B. Neal (1828–1863), American writer * Arthur Neal (1903–1982), English footballer * Blaine Neal (born 1978), American relief pitcher in Major League Baseball * Bob Neal (Atlanta sportscaster) (born 1942), American sports broadcaster * Bob Neal (Cleveland sportscaster) (1916–1983), American sports broadcaster * Charles Lincoln "Link" Neal (born 1978), American internet personality * Charlie Neal (1931–1996), American baseball player * Daniel Neal (1678–1743), British historian * David Dalhoff Neal (1838–1915), American artist, father of Max Neal * Diane Neal (born 1976), American actress and political candidate * Dylan Neal (born 1969), Canadian actor * Edwin Neal (born 1945), American actor * Elise Neal (born 1966), American actress * Eric Neal (born 1924), Australian businessman * Evan Neal (born 2000), American football player * Frederick "Curly" Neal (1942–2020), American basketball player * Gary Neal (born 1984), American basketball player * Jackie Neal (1967–2005), American blues singer * James Neal (disambiguation) * Jeff Neal (born 1969), American drummer * John Neal (disambiguation) * Joseph Neal (1950–2017), American politician * Keanu Neal (born 1995), American football player * Kenny Neal (born 1957), American blues musician *

Larry Neal Larry Neal or Lawrence Neal (September 5, 1937 – January 6, 1981) was an American writer, poet, critic and academic. He was a notable scholar of African-American theater, well known for his contributions to the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s ...

(1937–1981), American author * Lorenzo Neal (born 1970), American football player *

Matt Neal Matthew Stephen Phillip Neal (born 20 December 1966) is a British motor racing driver. Neal is a triple BTCC Champion having won the British Touring Car Championship in 2005, 2006 and 2011. Neal is also a record 6 time BTCC Independents Champio ...

(born 1966), British racing driver * Max Neal (1865–1941), German playwright, son of David Dalhoff Neal * Minnie E. Neal (1858–1945), American photographer and temperance leader * Patricia Neal (1926–2010), Academy Award-winning American actress * Patricia Neal (known as Fannie Flagg) (born 1944), American novelist and actress * Phil Neal (born 1951), English footballer * Philip Neal, New York City Ballet principal dancer * Raful Neal (1936–2004), American blues singer * Rajion Neal (born 1992), American football player * Richard Neal (born 1949), Democratic Representative representing Massachusetts' 2nd congressional district * Ryan Neal (born 1995), American football player * Scott Neal (born 1978), British actor *

Shay Neal Shay Neal (born 4 June 1990) is a New Zealand field hockey player. He represented his country at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeir ...

(born 1990), New Zealand field hockey player * Siran Neal (born 1994), American football player * Stephen Neal (born 1976), American football player * Stephen L. Neal (born 1934), former North Carolina Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives (1975–1995). *

Tom Neal Thomas Carroll Neal Jr. (January 28, 1914 – August 7, 1972) was an American actor and Amateur boxing, amateur boxer. Between 1932 and 1934, he was an amateur boxer who fought in many fights. As an actor, he was best known for his co-starring ...

(1914–1972), American actor * Ty Neal, American college baseball coach * William Neal (born 1947), English painter and graphic designer

Given name

Neal Adams Neal Adams (June 15, 1941 – April 28, 2022) was an American comic book artist. He was the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates, and was a Creator ownership, creators-rights advocate who helped secure a pension and re ...

(1941–2022), American comic book artist and writer * Neal Ardley (born 1972), English footballer and manager of AFC Wimbledon * Neal Baer (born 1955), American pediatrician and television writer and producer *

Neal Boortz Neal A Boortz Jr. (born April 6, 1945) is an American author, former attorney, and former libertarian radio host. His nationally syndicated talk show, ''The Neal Boortz Show'', which ended in 2013, was carried throughout the United States. The ...

(born 1945), American radio host *

Neal Brennan Neal Brennan (born October 19, 1973) is an American comedian, writer, producer, director, and podcaster. He is best known for co-creating and co-writing the Comedy Central series ''Chappelle's Show'' (2003–2006) with Dave Chappelle and for his N ...

(born 1973), American writer, stand-up comedian, actor, director and producer * Neal Carter (mountaineer) (1902–1978), Canadian mountaineer * Neal Casal (1968–2019), American guitarist, singer, songwriter and photographer * Neal Cassady (1926–1968), American beatnik who was the basis for

Jack Kerouac Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac (; March 12, 1922 – October 21, 1969), known as Jack Kerouac, was an American novelist and poet who, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, was a pioneer of the Beat Generation. Of French-Canadian ...

's character Dean Moriarty *

Neal Marlens Neal Marlens (born November 8, 1956) is an American television producer and writer. He is known for work on the television series ''Growing Pains'', ''The Wonder Years'' and ''Ellen (TV series), Ellen'', all with his wife, fellow television produ ...

(born c. 1955/1956), American television producer, creator of The Wonder Years *

Neal McDonough Neal McDonough (born February 13, 1966) is an American actor. He is known for his portrayal of Lieutenant Lynn Compton, Lynn "Buck" Compton in the HBO miniseries ''Band of Brothers (miniseries), Band of Brothers'' (2001), Deputy District Attorney ...

(born 1966), American actor and producer * Neal H. Moritz (born 1959), American film producer * Neal Morse (born 1960), American singer and multi-instrumentalist musician and composer * Neal Nelson, American basketball, tennis and golf coach and professor * Neal Patterson (1949–2017), American businessman * Neal Purvis (see Neal Purvis and Robert Wade) (born 1961), British screenwriter * Neal Roese (born 1965), Canadian-American psychologist * Neal Shapiro (born 1945), American equestrian and Olympic medalist * Neal Schon (born 1954), American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist * Neal Shusterman (born 1962), American writer of young-adult fiction *

Neal Stephenson Neal Town Stephenson (born October 31, 1959) is an American writer known for his works of speculative fiction. His novels have been categorized as science fiction, historical fiction, cyberpunk, and baroque. Stephenson's work explores mathemati ...

(born 1959), American writer * Neal Walk (1948–2015), American basketball center *

Neal Watlington Julius Neal Watlington (December 25, 1922 – December 29, 2019) was an American Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1953. Born in Yanceyville, North Carolina, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed; he was ...

(1922–2019), American Major League Baseball player

Places

* Neal, Georgia, a community in the United States * Neal, Illinois, a community in the United States * Neal, Kansas, a community in the United States * Neal, Michigan, a community in the United States * Neal, West Virginia, a community in the United States

Surname

Given name

Places

See also