Origins of Niell

Origins of Niell

The original Gaelic meaning of Neil is unclear, but Champion or Cloud.

(There is no mention of the name Niall or Neill before Niall of the Nine hostages in any of the Annals of Ulster and Annals of the Four Masters.)


English, Scottish, and Irish: from an Anglo-Scandinavian form of the Gaelic name Niall. It is assumed to have been adopted by the Scandinavians in the form Njal and was introduced into northern England and East Anglia by them, rather than being taken directly from Gaelic.

•NIEL: Norman French form of Scandinavian Njal, meaning "champion."
•NIELS: Danish form of Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people." Dutch form of Roman Cornelius, meaning "horn."
•NIGEL: English form of Latin Nigellus, meaning "champion."
•NIGELLUS: Latin form of Norman French Nihel "champion," but sometimes used as a diminutive form of the word Niger "black," thus "little black one."
•NIGUL: Estonian form of Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."
•NIHEL: Variant of Norman French Neil, meaning "champion."
•NIILO: Finnish form of Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."
•NJÅL: Norwegian form of Old Norse Njáll, meaning "champion."
•NJAL: Scandinavian form of Old Norse Njáll, meaning "champion."
•NJALL (Njáll): Old Norse form of Irish Niall, meaning "champion."

In Cornish British

The Surname Nell signifies power & might, ‘the powerful or mighty ‘. Neul or Nial, in the Gaelic, signifies a cloud or hue; figuratively, a dark complexion.


In Scotland


Nealcail: from Gaelic words meaning "victorious people".
Niall: an Old Irish name, prob. derived from Nel "cloud"; or "champion".
Neacal: meaning “victory of the people". Nicholas, Nicol, Niocal.