Neill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Neill family in North America:

Neill Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• William Neill, who arrived in Maryland in 1652 6

Neill Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Francis Neill, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pa in 1746 6
• Clark Neill, who arrived in Brunswick, North Carolina in 1767 6
• Henri Neill, who arrived in Charles Town, South Carolina in 1782 6

Neill Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Jane Neill, aged 23, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 6
• Mark Neill, aged 25, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 6
• Emelia Neill, aged 22, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 6
• Neal Neill, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 6
• Henry D Neill, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 6
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Neill Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Huelin Cary Neill, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1904 6
• Charles Neill, who landed in Arkansas in 1906 6

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Neill Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Mr. George Neill U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 7

Neill Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Henry Neill, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1818
• Bridget Neill, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1821
• Denis Jeremiah Neill, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1822
• Eleanor Jane Neill, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1831
• Patrick Neill, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1831
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Neill Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Terence Neill, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 8
• Mr. Patrick Neill, (b. 1798), aged 22, Irish shoe maker who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
• Michael Neill, a sawyer, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
• James Neill, a brick-maker, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
• John Neill, a nailor, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Neill Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. Allan Neill, (b. 1811), aged 30, British surveyor travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Timandra" arriving in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand on 24th February 1842 10
• Mr. James Neill, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1859 10
• Mrs. Neill, Scottish settler with 2 sons and 2 daughters travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1859 10
• Miss Dorothea Neill, (b. 1850), aged 18, British general servant travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January1869 11
• Ann Neill, aged 40, a housekeeper, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Forfarshire" in 1873 12
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• Noel Darleen Neill (1920-2016), American actress, best known for her role as Lois Lane in the Superman film serials (1948) and the 1950s television series Adventures of Superman
• John Rea Neill (1877-1943), American magazine and children's book illustrator
• James Clinton Neill (1790-1848), American soldier and politician, most noted for his role in the Texas Revolution and the early defense of the Alamo
• Casey Neill, American musician
• Ben Neill (b. 1957), American trumpeter and composer
• William John Terence Neill (1942-2022), Northern Irish football player and manager who played in 344 matches and managed four teams (1970-1983)
• Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill OBE (b. 1947), Irish born New Zealand actor
• Thomas Neill (b. 2002), Australian swimmer, who won bronze at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, bronze at the 2024 Summer Olympics
• Mrs. Jacqueline Neill B.E.M., British recipient of the British Empire Medal on 8th June 2018, for services to Education and to the community in Northern Ireland
• Sir Francis Patrick Neill QC (1926-2016), Baron Neill of Bladen, cross bench member of the House of Lords, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford (1985-1989), Warden of All Souls College, Oxford (1977-1995)
• ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)