McNeill is a Scottish and Irish surname.
The name is considered a sub-sept of Clan MacNeill, which is historically associated with the island of Barra in the outer Hebrides.
The Irish and Scottish Gaelic patronymic meaning of McNeill is 'Son of Neil'.
The annals of ulster claim Lóegaire mac Néill as King of Tara or High King of Ireland.
The Irish name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", "victory", "honour" or "champion"[1] 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.