Surname Nealan - Meaning and Origin
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Nealan: What does the surname Nealan mean?
The origin and meaning of the surname Nealan is uncertain; however, it is likely derived from the Gaelic Ó Nialláin, meaning “descendant of Nialláin.” The personal name Niallán was derived from the Old Gaelic Niall, which is believed to mean “champion” or “prosperous.”
While the name is most common in Ireland, it may have originated in Scotland as there is a similarly-spelled MacNealan surname. It is possible that both these names have a common root, indicating that the Nealan surname may have originally been a Scottish variant which made its way to Ireland.
In both Scotland and Ireland, Nealan is an uncommon or rare surname. It may have evolved from other surnames over time, including MacNeill and O’Neill. Interestingly, Nealan is seen to have both an English and Irish origin, as it is still used in these countries today.
Overall, the surname Nealan has a deep and ancient lineage that can be traced back to the Gaelic origin of the Old Gaelic Niall, which is thought to mean “champion” or “prosperous.” Despite its relatively rare nature, the surname continues to be used in various countries today.
Order DNA origin analysisNealan: Where does the name Nealan come from?
The last name Nealan is most commonly found in the United States, Ireland, and Great Britain. In the U.S., the highest concentrations of Nealan can be found in California, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, according to the 1990 U.S. Census. In the 2016 U.S. Census, the most populous states for Nealan are California, New York, Texas, and Florida.
In Ireland, Nealan is an occupational name, meaning “champion”. As such, it likely originated in County Clare, where the eponymous town of Nealan is located. Today, ground clusters of the last name Nealan primarily show up in Dublin, Cork, Tipperary, Sligo, Galway, and Donegal.
In Great Britain, Nealan is mostly concentrated in the south of England with higher concentrations in Essex, Kent, Hampshire, and London.
Overall, it appears to be a fairly rare and geographically dispersed surname, with smaller, localized clusters of the last name appearing in parts of North America (particularly Canada and the United States), Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, and even New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Nealan
Nealan is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Nialláin or Ó Niadháin, which is thought to have originally referred to a descendant of the great Niall of the Nine Hostages. Variations on the surname Nealan include O'Nealan, O'Neallan and O'Neillan.
Other variants and spellings of Nealan include Neylan, Nellan, Niallan, Niallen, Niallon, Neallin, Niallin, Neilon, O'Nallan and O'Nellan. The Irish O’ prefix may be incorporated into the name or dropped, depending on the individual's preference.
Nealan is also occasionally used as a given name, though this is much less common than the surname. Variations on the given name include Neallan, Neolan, Neylan, Nylene and Nyallan.
When in other countries, Nealan may sometimes be translated with different spellings. In Italy, for instance, it may become Nellan, whereas in Germany it can become Neelen.
The various variants of Nealan together make up a wide array of surnames and spellings worldwide. All but a few are related to the original Gaelic version, with all having descended from the same Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Famous people with the name Nealan
- Brian Nealan: an Oakland-based computer scientist who has worked in software engineering, distributed systems, and machine learning.
- Joseph Nealan: a former screenwriter, director and painter who won multiple Emmy Awards for his work.
- Patrick Nealan: a professional American football player who was part of three Super Bowl-winning teams for the San Francisco 49ers.
- Christine Nealan: a three-time Emmy-nominated television producer who worked extensively in stand-up comedy, game shows, and talk shows.
- Jack Nealan: a former NFL wide receiver who played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Denver Broncos.
- Kathleen Nealan: a former actress who appeared in numerous television shows during the mid-1990s.
- David Nealan: an Australian rules footballer who has played for both the Western Australians Football Association (WAFL) and the national Australian Football League (AFL).
- Peter Nealan: a retired quarterback who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for five seasons in the late 1970s.
- David Nealan: an Irish golfer who won the Indiana Amateur in 2010.
- Tony Nealan: a former professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA).