bear a MacNeil surname. Because it was not uncommon for a female slave to bear her slave-master's child, several African-American MacNeils may have legitimate descent from a MacNeil, however such descent can rarely be proven, and most African-American MacNeils remain uninvolved with clan activities and do not claim descent from the clan. Generally speaking, Caucasians with MacNeil surnames number between 40,000 and 80,000 worldwide. In England, Wales, and the Isle of Man source: UK National Statistics Database 2002 McNeil: 3,522 (rank:2262) McNeill: 4,212 (rank:1909) MacNeil: 314 (rank:15845) MacNeill: 286 (rank:16904) Sizable populations also exist in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, France, Australia, and New Zealand In the United States McNeil: 33,239 (rank:961) (source: 2000 US Census) McNeill: 22,383 (rank:1387) (source: 1990 US Census) McNeal: 8,928 (rank:1723) (source: 2010 US Census) MacNeil: 2,487 (rank:8716) (source: 1990 US Census) McNiel: (rank:14781) (source: 2010 US Census McNeilly: (rank:16430) (source: 1990 US Census) MacNeill: (rank:28690) (source: 1990 US Census) MacNeal: 540 (rank:36525) (source: 2010 US Census) Chiefs of Clan MacNeil Current chief: Roderick "Rory" Wilson MacNeil of Barra, The MacNeil of Barra, Chief of Clan Niall and 27th of Barra, Baron of Barra. The chiefs of Clan MacNeil, are reckoned from Niall Noigíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), from whom all the MacNeil chiefs claim descent. The clan claims Niall Noigíallach as its first chief, while the current chief, Rory MacNeil, is reckoned as the 47th chief. See also McNeil McNeill MacNeil MacNeill McNeal MacNeal MacNeille Victory or Death McNeil (surname) The Barra MacNeils Footnotes References Gibson, John G. Old and New World Highland Bagpiping. MacGill-Queen's University Press, 2002. . Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Iain. The Highland Clans. London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1967. External links Clan MacNeil Association of America Clan MacNeil in Canada Clan MacNeil Net Iain MacNeil – Daily Telegraph obituary MacNeil Gaelic families of Norse descent