A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the McNeil family of Scotland.
Reg. 7875 · Scottish, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, 1st, az. a lion ramp. ar.; 2nd, or, a dexter arm couped below the elbow lying fessways gu. the hand grasping a cross crosslet fitchée az.; 3rd, or, a lymphad sa.; 4th, ar. out of waves of the sea in base ppr. a rock issuant gu”
Scotlandc. 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Scotland showing where the McNeil arms are recorded
The McNeil arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in Scotland when the McNeil arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the McNeil Family in Scotland
The surname McNeil is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Neill, which translates to the son of Niall. This name has deep roots in the history of Scotland, particularly within the western islands and the rugged coastal regions. While the family is famously associated with the Hebrides, members of the lineage moved across the country over the centuries to seek new opportunities in growing urban centers. By 1748, records confirm that individuals bearing this name were well-established in Edinburgh. During this period, the city was undergoing significant social and economic changes, and families like the McNeils played a part in the daily life and professional development of the Scottish capital. Their presence in Edinburgh during the mid-eighteenth century highlights the transition of the family from their traditional regional strongholds into the heart of Scotland's administrative and cultural life.
McNeil Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mac Neill
Gaelic patronymic prefix meaning son of and the personal name Niall.
This name
McNeilDerived from the Gaelic Mac Néill, signifying son of the champion or cloud.
also spelled
McNeale
Related arms
Mac Neil, or Macneillvariant spelling
M'Neillvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers of Edinburgh, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
