521 Global KNEALE Family Members

KNEALE Family History

This interesting name is a variant form of the surname "Neil", which is of Gaelic (Irish) origin from the personal name "Niall", thought to mean "champion". The Norsemen who settled in Ireland before the 11th Century adopted the name as "Njall", and introduced it into North West England when they began to invade and settle there directly from Ireland. The Norsemen were also indirectly responsible for the name being introduced to Southern England by the Normans after 1066, who had adopted it form the Scandinavians as "Ni(h)el".