| ![Show Contents]() McGreal History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland The McGreal family history stretches back to the clans of the Dalriadan kingdom on the sea-swept Hebrides islands and mountainous western coast of Scotland. The name McGreal is derived from the personal name Neil. The Gaelic form Mac Neill translates as son of Neil. Early Origins of the McGreal familyThe surname McGreal was first found in on the islands of Barra, Gigha, Colonsay, and Oronsay. According to traditional records in 1049, Niall, a direct descendent of King Niall of the Nine Hostages, landed in Barra and founded the Clan MacNeill of Barra. However, another kinsman, some believe to be the younger brother of Niall named Anrothan, married a Princess of the Dalriadans, an ancient race from which sprang most of the early Scottish Kings. Legend has it that Anrothan started the MacNeill house of Colonsay through his son Torquil of Taynish. This latter branch acquired the lands of Gigha, Colonsay and Oronsay, beyond the Firth of Lorne. For the next two centuries it appears as though these two great houses were developing independently of one another. Early History of the McGreal familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McGreal research. Another 361 words (26 lines of text) covering the years 1370, 1380, 1526, 1562, 1590, 1612, 1613, 1631, 1640, 1686, 1730 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McGreal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McGreal Spelling VariationsMedieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. McGreal has been written as MacNeil, MacNeill, MacNeal, MacNeilage, MacNeale, MacNeall, MacNeille, MacNeel, MacNiel, MacGreal, Mcneil, Mcneill, McNeal, Mcneal, Mcneall and many more. Early Notables of the McGreal familyNotable amongst the Clan from early times was Nigel M'Nele, Laird of Blarekanne c. 1370-1380; Alexander Makneyll, a notary public in Edinburgh in 1526; Richard Neile (1562-1640) was an English churchman, Archbishop...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McGreal Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the McGreal family to Ireland
Some of the McGreal family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 85 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| McGreal migration to the United States | + |
The descendants of the Dalriadan families who made the great crossing of the Atlantic still dot communities along the east coast of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many of the settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Clan societies and highland games have allowed Canadian and American families of Scottish descent to recover much of their lost heritage. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that early immigrants bearing the name McGreal or a variant listed above include:
McGreal Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Domineck McGreal, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1879 1
| McGreal migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: McGreal Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- Mr. John McGreal, aged 5 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Eliza Caroline" departing 3rd May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 14th June 1847 but he died on board 2
- Mr. Thomas McGreal, aged 45 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Eliza Caroline" departing 3rd May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 14th June 1847 but he died on board 2
| McGreal migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: McGreal Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- W. McGreal, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Era" in 1855
- William McGreal, aged 18, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Era" in 1855
- Louisa McGreal, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Era" in 1855
| Contemporary Notables of the name McGreal (post 1700) | + |
- Chris McGreal, American Washington correspondent reporter for The Guardian
- Raphael V. McGreal, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1940 3
- Lawrence McGreal, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Wisconsin, 1912 3
- James T. McGreal, American politician, Candidate for village President of Alsip, Illinois, 2009 3
- John Leslie McGreal (b. 1972), English footballer
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Vincere vel mori
Motto Translation: To conquer or die.
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 87)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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McGreal migration to the United States 
McGreal migration to Canada 
McGreal migration to New Zealand 
