Surname Neville - Meaning and Origin

Exploring the Neville Heritage: A Review of the iGENEA DNA Test

Journey into the past, connecting with lost family branches, and discovering ancestral roots and migratory tales are celebrated as an enriching and edifying experience with the iGENEA DNA test for tracing the Neville surname.

Z. Neville

Neville: What does the surname Neville mean?

The surname Neville originated from a place name in Normandy, France. It is derived from "Neuville" which means "new town" in French. This surname was brought to England during the Norman conquest in the 11th century. The name Neville is of Old French and Old English origin. The English Neville family, one of the oldest and most influential families in the country, has held various titles, including Earls of Westmorland and Warwick. In literature, the name Neville is perhaps most recognized from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, in which it belongs to a key character, Neville Longbottom. However, the name itself does not carry any particular meaning related to the character or the storyline.

Neville: Where does the name Neville come from?

The last name Neville is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. According to The Great Britain Surname Atlas (2020), the highest concentrations of Neville surnames are in Yorkshire and Lancashire where over 20 people in every 10,000 carry the surname.

In England, the Neville family was in the south of that country, particularly in Sussex. They were prominent Anglo-Norman noble families with family members recorded in the Greater London area. However, there are also notable Neville families in Ireland and Scotland.

The Neville name is also found in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. In the US, states such as Oklahoma, Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts and Illinois have sizeable Nevilles populations.

In Canada, the extensive French-speaking Quebec region boasts the highest concentration of Neville families in the entire nation. The province of British Columbia may have the second highest presence of Nevilles, and most of these Nevilles are English-speaking Canadians.

The Neville name is also widespread in the other European countries like France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Variations of the surname Neville

The surname Neville is a habitational surname derived from the place names of any of the numerous villages and towns named after those Norman nobleman, who was originally called "Neuville" in France. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Nevill, Nevile, Nevillle, Nevile, Nevill, Nevele, Nevell, Nevilles, Neavill, Neavillle, Nevells, Nevillle, Nevell, Neaville, and Neavill.

The Nevill variant of the surname is the most common spelling in the United Kingdom, and is an English form of the French surname Neuville. This version is typically found in the North Midlands of England.

The Neville variant of the surname is most commonly found in Ireland. This version is an Anglicised version of the Irish surname O'Neill, meaning descendant of Niall, a 10th century Irish king.

The Neavill variant of the surname is an Americanized form of the French and English name Nevill. This version is found most commonly in New England.

The Nevile variant of the surname is an English form of the French Neuville, and is most common in Yorkshire, Ulverston, and Axminster.

The Neavell variant of the surname is an Americanized form of the French and English name Nevill. This version is most commonly found in the Midwestern states of the United States.

The Nevilles variant of the surname is the most common version in the United States, and is an Americanized spelling of the French and English name Neuville.

The Nevell variant of the surname is an Anglicized version of the Irish O'Neill, and is found in Irish Roman Catholic families in Northern Ireland.

The Neaville variant of the surname is an Americanized form of the French Neuville and is most commonly found in the Northeastern states of the United States.

The Nevells variant of the surname is an Anglicized version of the Irish O'Neill and is generally found in Scotland and Northern England.

Famous people with the name Neville

• Gary Neville: Gary Neville is a legendary English footballer who played for Manchester United F.C. for most of his career and won 8 Premier League titles amongst other honors. He is now a football pundit and is part of the Sky Sports team.
• Ruth Neville: Ruth Neville is a British journalist and television presenter, best known for her work with Sky Sports. She has also presented the series Pranks, Secrets, and Surprises for ITV2 and DanceXtreme for Sky One.
• Tracey Neville MBE: Tracey Neville is an English netball coach and a former professional netballer. She represented England and the Greater Manchester Eagles in her national career. After her retirement, she was appointed to the Order of the British Empire in 2017.
• Michael Neville: Michael Neville is a former British barrister and Conservative Member of Parliament. Neville represented Wigan from 1974 until 1997 and served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
• Storey Neville: Storey Neville is an English actress. She is best known for her roles in the soap operas Hollyoaks and Series 2 of Our Girl.
• Abi Neville: Abi Neville is an English singer-songwriter. She released her debut EP, Take Control, in 2018 and has released a few singles and music videos since then.
• Neville Marriner: Neville Marriner is a British conductor and composer best known for his associations with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

Other surnames

Nevill