Neal (Neil) is a surname and a masculine given name of Gaelic origin. The name is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic Niall which is of disputed derivation. The Gaelic name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", or "champion". As a surname, Neil is traced back to Niall of the Nine Hostages 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
Adam Neal, English rugby league player
Alice B. Neal, American writer
Blaine Neal (born 1978), American relief pitcher in Major League Baseball
Bob Neal (Atlanta sportscaster), American sports broadcaster
Charles Lincoln 'Link' Neal (see Rhett and Link) American internet personality
Charlie Neal, American baseball player
Chris Neal, English football goalkeeper
Daniel Neal, British historian
David Dalhoff Neal, American artist, father of Max Neal
Diane Neal, American actress
Dylan Neal, Canadian actor
Edwin Neal, American actor
Elise Neal, American actress
Eric Neal, Australian businessman
Gary Neal, American basketball player
Jackie Neal, American blues singer
James Neal (disambiguation)
Jeff Neal, American drummer
John Neal (disambiguation)
Joseph Neal (1950-2017), American politician
Kenny Neal, American blues musician
Larry Neal, American author
Lorenzo Neal, American football player
Matt Neal, British racing driver
Max Neal (1865–1941), German playwright, son of David Dalhoff Neal
Patricia Neal (1926-2010), Academy Award winning American actress
Patricia Neal (known as Fannie Flagg) (born 1944), American novelist and actress
Phil Neal, English footballer
Philip Neal, New York City Ballet principal dancer
Raful Neal, American blues singer
Richard Neal, Democratic Representative representing Massachusetts' 2nd congressional district
Scott Neal, British actor
Shay Neal (born 1990), New Zealand field hockey player
Stephen Neal, American football player
Stephen L. Neal (born 1934), former North Carolina Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives (1975–1995).
Tom Neal (1914–1972), American actor
Ty Neal, American college baseball coach
William Neal (born 1947), English painter and graphic designer
Given name
Neal Ardley, Manager of AFC Wimbledon
Neal Morse, American singer and multi-instrumentalist
Neal Brennan, American writer, stand-up comedian, actor, director and producer
Neal Cassady, American, Beatnick, basis for Jack Kerouac novels and the character Dean Moriarty, friend of the Grateful Dead and legend
Neal Marlens, Television producer, creator of The Wonder Years
Neal Stephenson, American writer
Neal Walk, American, National Basketball Association center
Places
Neal, Kansas, a community in the United States
Neal, West Virginia
