Contents [hide]

Neale History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Neale History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Neale was brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Neale family lived in Berkshire where Willelmus filius Nigelli was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. 1 While this may seem like a stretch form the modern day spellings of the name, we must remember that name entries at this time were in Latin. In fact later, another Willelmus Nigelli was listed in Wiltshire according to the Feet of Fines for 1195. "The name was carried to Iceland by the Scandinavians as Njáll, taken to Norway, then to France and brought to England by the Normans. It was also introduced direct into north-west England and Yorkshire by Norwegians from Ireland. " 2

Early Origins of the Neale family

The surname Neale was first found in Wiltshire where they held a family seat from ancient times as Lords of the manor of Grittleton, pre-Conquest called Grutelington (940 AD) and by the Domesday Book in 1086, the place name had changed to Gretelintone. 1 The parish of Grittleton included the Glastonbury Abbey, one of the richest churches in England at that time. At the time of the Conquest, the lands were held by Urso from the Bishop of Coutance, conjecturally the ancestor of this distinguished family.

Early History of the Neale family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Neale research. Another 187 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1485, 1641, 1678, 1699, 1743, 1754, 1789, 1805, 1828, 1836, 1845, 1846, 1850, 1857, 1891, 1894, 1895, 1900, 1950 and 1952 are included under the topic Early Neale History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Neale Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Neeld, Neald, Neild, Nield, Nields, Neelde, Nealde, Neilde, Nielde, Neele and many more.

Early Notables of the Neale family

More information is included under the topic Early Neale Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Neale World Ranking

In the United States, the name Neale is the 7,070^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3 However, in Australia, the name Neale is ranked the 883^rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,469 people with that name. 4 And in New Zealand, the name Neale is the 776^th popular surname with an estimated 938 people with that name. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Neale as 636^th with 10,372 people. 6

Neale migration to the United States +

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Neale or a variant listed above:

Neale Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Captain James Neale (1615-1684) who arrived about 1635 in Maryland and received 1,000 acres of land, many of his descendants became Jesuit priests
James Neale, who arrived in Maryland in 1635 7
Jon Neale, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 7
Jonathan Neale, aged 12, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Transport" 7
Pearce Neale, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Neale Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Daniel Neale, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 7
Bryan Neale, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 7
Charles Neale, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 7
Thomas Neale, who arrived in Georgia in 1738 7

Neale Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Neale, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1812 7
Arthur Neale, aged 45, who landed in Maryland in 1813 7
Robert Neale, aged 24, who landed in Maryland in 1813 7
Alice Neale, aged 55, who arrived in New York in 1864 7

Neale migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Neale Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James Neale, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Neale Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Johanna Neale, aged 26, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Pallas" from Cork, Ireland
Dennis Neale, aged 31, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Thomas Hanford" from Cork, Ireland
Catherine Neale, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Thomas Hanford" from Cork, Ireland
Daniel Neale, aged 26, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland
Mary Neale, aged 27, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1837 aboard the barque "Robert Watt" from Cork, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Neale migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Neale Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Henry Neale, English convict who was convicted in Suffolk, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. William Neale, English convict who was convicted in Norfolk, England for life, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Mr. Thomas Neale, (b. 1798), aged 24, Irish reaper who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 3rd September 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
John Neale, English convict from Buckinghamshire, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on July 29th, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 11
Mr. Robert Neale, British convict who was convicted in Norfolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 29th September 1831, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Neale 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:

Neale Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Neale, aged 37, a lime burner, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1841
Sarah Neale, aged 38, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1841
Mr. William Neale, (b. 1803), aged 37, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Olympus" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 20th April 1841 13
Mrs. Sarah Neale, (b. 1802), aged 38, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Olympus" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 20th April 1841 13
Mr. William Neale, Jr., (b. 1824), aged 16, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Olympus" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 20th April 1841 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Neale (post 1700) +

Alfred Earle "Greasy" Neale (1891-1973), American football coach who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969
Father Charles Neale (d. 1823), leader of the Jesuit Mission in America
Robert Neale, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the American Volunteer Group, during World War II, credited with 13 aerial victories
Howard F. Neale, American Republican politician, Member of West Virginia State Senate 3rd District, 1931-34 14
Henry Neale, American politician, Member of Maryland State House of Delegates from St. Mary's County, 1805, 1808-09, 1811-12 14
George Neale, American politician, Member of Maryland State House of Delegates from Kent County, 1817 14
G. Hallett Neale (b. 1896), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Elkhart, Indiana, 1943-44 14
Daniel R. Neale, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Parkersburg, Virginia, 1829-41 14
Christopher Neale, American politician, Mayor of Alexandria, District of Columbia, 1821-24 14
Cheryl Neale, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maine, 2004 14
... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Neale family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Henry Neale, British Trimmer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 15

HMS Hood

Mr. Robert S Neale (b. 1905), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Workington, Cumberland, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 16

The Neale Motto +

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: Nomen extendere factis
Motto Translation: The name matches the deed

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 151 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1823
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1831
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm