The McNeill's, Nilson's Nelson's and Neilson's

The Nelson’s originally Nielson, ‘Neil’s son’ or ‘Nell’s son’. Nell was the English version of the Gaelic Niall or Norman French Njal.

1. On the Isle of Man the surname Nelson was originally MacNeill.

2. Neilson’ of Craigcaffe, Ayrshire descends from Neil the Earl of Carrick.
3. The Neilson’s the hereditary coroners of the Clan Stuart of Bute.
4. The Nielson’s a Sept of the Clan Gunn.
5. The Nielson’s a sept of the Clan MacKay descendants of Neill MacNeill MacKay.

The Nillson’s or Nilsson’s surname is from the Norse word Njal ‘Champion’ meaning of surname ‘Son of Champion’. The Nillson surname is of a Scandinavian origin mostly found in modern day Sweden. Origins could be Danish, Norse or Swedish.
The Neil’s Clan of Galloway, Scotland originally the MacNeille’s who shortened their surname to Neil.

The Mac Neil’s of Gigha and Barra this clan is of the Hebrides of Scotland.

1. The McNeill’s of Barra served in Ireland during the 14th century with the Clan MacLean
2. In 1471 the MacNeill clan submitted to Con O’Neill.
3. The McNeil’s of North Antrim were followers of the MacDonnell’s of the Glen.
4. The MacNeill clan split into two affiliated entities, the "MacNeill’s" of Barra, and the "McNeill’s" of Gigha/Colonsay, under Torquil MacNeill in1427.

The MacNeill's of Barra and the MacLeans of Duart were those who settled in Ulster and arrived originally as Gallowglass in the 14th century.

The MacNeill's of Barra were known as "the Last of the Vikings".

]It was a Maurice MacNeill who killed with a stabed in the heart, King Somerled , Lord of Argyll .

The MacNeill's were followers of the McDonnell's of the Glen in Co Antrim during the 17th century.
[*]The MacNeill motto: Vincere vel Mori (Conquer or Die).[*]The MacNeill Battle Cry: No Buaidh Bas (Victory or Death).

While both assumed their own Crests and Tartans, for centuries the MacNeill of Gigha/Colonsay bore allegiance to the Chieftains of Barra. After 1493 the two branches of MacNeils took opposite sides in the long running feud between the MacDonald’s of Islay and the MacLean’s of Duart, Barra MacNeils sided with the Mac Leans while the Gigha MacNeils fought on the side of the Clan Donald.