McNeely Surname Meaning & Origin
What the McNeely last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the McNeely last name
Meaning of the McNeely last name: son of the poet. McNeely is an Irish surname from Mac an Fhilidh, 'son of the poet', from the learned poets who served Gaelic lords. The last name is common in Ulster. A curious detail: an Irish poet, or file, held a rank close to a judge, and the office often ran in families.
Arms associated with the McNeely name
Heraldry associated with the McNeely surname uses a few strong colours, and each coat of arms has its own blazon.
Get your full McNeely family history
This is only a glimpse of the McNeely story. The full McNeely history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted McNeely coat of arms. Get the full McNeely report.
McNeely name FAQ
What does the McNeely name mean?
Son of the poet. Common variants include McNeilly, McNeelly.
Where does the McNeely surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a McNeely coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized McNeely coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).