Blair Collection > Surnames & place-names of the Isle of Man

46 Manx Surnames,
Daugherdy [1630], Dougherty [1666].
Andreas, Jurby (formerly c).
Kneal and Kneale, contracted from Mac Niall
' Niall's son.' This is a name of Celtic origin, mean-
ing * champion,' but it was adopted by the Scandi-
navians at a very early period, and largely used by
them. ' NjALL, m. a pr. name (from the Gaelic),
Landnamaboc.'*
It has been a famous name in Celtic history
from the time of Niall of the Nine Hostages, who
reigned over Ireland from 384 to 411 a.d,, to that
of Hugh O'Neil, Earl of Tyrone, in Queen Eliza-
beth's reign. The Egilla Saga says that one Nial,
or Neil, was King of Man in a.d. 914. The
Flateyan MS. mentions 'Thorkel, the son of Neil,'
in 1229.
Compare (Irish and Gaelic) M^'Niel and
M'^Neal. (Scandinavian) Nielsen and Nilsson.
(English) Nelson (which see).
M^'Nelle [1408], Mac Neyll [1430], Mac Nele [1511],
Mac Nealle [1521], Kneal [1598], Kneale
[1666].
It is much commoner in the north than in the
south of the island.
Andreas, Bride (vc), Jurby, Maughold, Lonan, Patrick,
Ballaugh, Lezayre, German, [Santon, Michael (c), else-
where (u).
Nelson is probably, in the Isle of Man, a translation
of Mac Nial. It is found chiefly in the southern
parishes, where Kneale is uncommon.
Nealson [1430], Nelsson [1511], Nelson [1653].
Rushen, Malew (c), elsewhere (u).
* Cleasby and Vigfusson, p. 456.