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The Plantation of Ulster and the McNeill Legacy

In the early 1600s, the British Crown launched the Plantation of Ulster—one of the most transformative episodes in Irish and Scottish history. Aimed at securing the region after Irish resistance collapsed, King James I moved to settle Ulster with loyal Protestant colonists from England and Scotland. Gaelic Irish lands were confiscated, and new British communities were established, radically altering Ulster’s cultural and political landscape. For Gaelic families like the McNeills, this marked a period of both upheaval and opportunity.

While the official plantation scheme favored English and Lowland Scots, not all settlers fit that mold. Some Highland Gaels—including McNeills—found their way to Ulster through earlier mercenary service, private arrangements like those of the MacDonnells of Antrim, or later migration waves driven by war, famine, or religious persecution. These arrivals often settled in Antrim and Londonderry, forming part of the emerging Ulster-Scots identity. For many Highlanders, Ulster offered something Scotland increasingly did not: land and survival.

From Highland Roots to Ulster Fields: Why the McNeills Migrated

This blending of people and traditions created a complex legacy. Gaelic surnames like McNeill began appearing alongside Irish O’Neills, and cultural lines blurred. A McNeill in Ulster might have spoken Gaelic or Scots, married into Irish or Scottish families, and practiced Catholicism or Presbyterianism, depending on where they settled. Over generations, English and Scots dialects replaced Gaelic, and new identities emerged—most notably the “Scotch-Irish” (Ulster Scots), whose descendants would later populate parts of North America.

For the Macneil clan, this chapter is particularly ironic: tradition holds that the clan’s earliest ancestors came from Ulster to Scotland. By the 17th century, the journey reversed—some McNeills moved back across the North Channel. This historical loop underscores how deeply connected Scottish and Irish lineages truly are. Understanding the Plantation helps explain why the McNeill name is found not only in the Hebrides, but across Northern Ireland—and far beyond.

Today, many Clan Macneil descendants can trace their roots to this pivotal era. Whether through land grants, military service, or sheer necessity, their ancestors helped shape a new Ulster, while preserving echoes of the Gaelic past. The Plantation may have changed the map, but it didn’t erase identity—it transformed it. And that legacy lives on in the families, cultures, and stories we carry forward today.

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The Scottish and Irish Migration Connection: How Clan Families Settled in New Lands

Genealogy CMAA

Migration has long been a defining aspect of Scottish and Irish history, and the clan families were no exception. Across centuries, waves of migration carried these families from their homelands to new regions, shaping the cultural identities of communities worldwide. Influenced by war, famine, British policies, and economic opportunities, these movements contributed to the spread of Scottish and Irish heritage across North America, Australia, and beyond.

Timeline of Migration

Early Scottish and Irish Movement (Pre-1600s)
- Before major conflicts and colonization, Scottish and Irish clans primarily migrated within the British Isles.
- Many sought new lands within Scotland and Ireland due to clan disputes or shifting allegiances.
Plantation of Ulster (1609–1690s)
- Scottish Presbyterians were encouraged by the British Crown to settle in Northern Ireland, displacing native Irish populations.
- Some McNeill families in Northern Ireland trace their lineage to this period, settling primarily in Antrim and Down.
Jacobite Uprisings and Forced Migration (1715–1746)
- The defeat of Scottish Highlanders in the Jacobite Rebellions led to mass displacement.
- Many Highland Scots, including Macneils of Barra and McNeills of Gigha, were forced to flee to North America to escape persecution.
Irish Famine and Economic Migration (1840s–1870s)
- The Great Famine (1845–1852) devastated Ireland, prompting mass emigration to the United States, Canada, and Australia.
- Irish McNeills and Ulster Scots took advantage of immigration programs and opportunities in cities and rural settlements.
20th Century Migration and the Scottish Diaspora
- Economic hardship in Scotland and Ireland continued to push people abroad.
- Scots-Irish communities became deeply rooted in American culture, particularly in Appalachia and the Southern United States.

How Conflicts and Policies Shaped Migration

The Highland Clearances (1750s–1860s): Landowners forcibly removed tenant farmers to make way for sheep farming, driving thousands of Scottish families to Canada, the U.S., and Australia. Many Macneils of Barra emigrated during this time.
Penal Laws and Religious Persecution: Catholic and Presbyterian Scots faced discrimination under British rule, prompting voluntary and forced migration.
The American Revolution (1775–1783) & Civil War (1861–1865): Scots-Irish immigrants played key roles in these conflicts, shaping their status in North America.
The Industrial Revolution (1800s–1900s): Economic shifts led to job opportunities in cities, attracting Scottish and Irish immigrants to manufacturing hubs.

Regional Identities and Genetic Connections

Appalachian Scots-Irish Influence: Many Scots-Irish settlers, including McNeills, became part of the Appalachian frontier, bringing their customs, music, and storytelling traditions.
Maritime Canada’s Scottish Settlers: Nova Scotia (“New Scotland”) saw a major influx of Macneils, particularly from Barra, preserving strong Gaelic traditions.
The Gigha McNeills and Highland Identity: The McNeills of Gigha are often categorized as Highlanders due to their Gaelic heritage and clan structure, but their coastal location near Kintyre also placed them in contact with Lowland influences. They were part of the Gaelic maritime culture that spanned from the western Highlands to Ulster. Their genetic history shows both Highland and Norse ancestry, reflecting centuries of interaction in the region.
DNA and Family Links: Genetic studies reveal strong connections between McNeill/Macneil lineages and broader Celtic ancestry, showing how migration patterns shaped genetic diversity.

Conclusion

The migration of clan families was shaped by a complex web of conflict, policy, and opportunity. From forced displacement to voluntary settlement, these movements left a lasting imprint on regions around the world. Understanding these migrations helps preserve the history of these families and their enduring cultural legacies.

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What is in a Name

Needham Bass

"What’s in a name, a rose by any other name, a rose is a rose;" pick your cliché, but in the case of MacNeil or McNeill there is more than a wee bit of difference and it may be comparing a rose to a carnation. While there are a great number of variations, the two most common spellings are MacNeil and McNeill and while not always true, the spelling does tend to give away quite a bit of information about what branch of the clan someone came from, where their ancestors lived in Scotland and where their ancestors immigrated and even to some extent when their ancestors immigrated.
Where does the name Neil come from? We may never know for sure, but legend holds that both branches are descendants from King Nail of the nine hostages, a King of Ireland sometime between the 4th to the mid-6th century. On the surface it makes sense given the proximity of Ireland to both Barra and Kintyre Scotland.

Generally, people with the surname McNeill have roots in the Colonsay/Gigha branch of the clan. This variation of the spelling is traced back to the McNeills that controlled Castle Sween in Knapdale in Argyll for the Lord of the Isles. People with the surname MacNeil had ancestors that inhabited the Outer Hebrides, most notably the island of Barra. This spelling of the name traces back through keepers of Kisimul Castle on Barra. Legend has MacNeils there from the 11th century.

Does the following hold true for every MacNeil or McNeill? Of course not, but it is a start and does hold true for a great deal of each spelling group, and it is a start. Add to this the time frame that your ancestors left Scotland and you get closer to which branch your ancestors came from.

The first real immigration of Scots to the new world occurred in 1739 and was said to be led by Neil McNeill who lived on the island of Gigha. There were 350 in this group. Several of this group were members of his extended family with the surname McNeill. Once these Scottish families established themselves just north of present day Fayetteville North Carolina, they were quite active in convincing their kinsmen to follow them over. There were successive waves of Scots from the Argyll region right up just prior to the Revolution. You can be assured there were McNeills in each wave. So, if your ancestors came before 1770 or so and landed in North or South Carolina, then it is a good bet your ancestors are Colonsay/Gigha McNeills. Later immigrations went to New Zealand and Australia, being a safer bet than going to the American colonies at war. After the American Revolution, several more waves of Scots from Colonsay and the Kintyre region went to America, unfortunately sometimes by force. North Carolina continued to be their favorite destination. These McNeills spread though out the Southeast US.

Where does this leave the Barra MacNeils? Maybe Shakespeare had it wrong, there is a “a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” In 1838 Roderick MacNeil, head of the Barra MacNeils, who had squandered the family fortune, sold the island to Colonel Gordon of Cluny. Colonel Gordon was a tailor-made villain. In addition to Barra he bought several other islands in the Hebrides, which he forcibly cleared of the natives. In 1851, Gordon tricked 1500 inhabitants of Barra (a high number of which were MacNiel families) to show up for a meeting, where legend has it, they were overpowered, put aboard waiting ships and sent to Nova Scotia and Quebec. Many had only the clothes on their back and almost nothing in the way of money. The few that failed to show for the “meeting”, found their home burned and were removed on later ships. Some “passengers” were even put in irons. Contemporary reports in Quebec describe the new arrivals chances of surviving the winter as “grim.” Grim as it was, survive they did and went on to populate Canada and the Northern US all the way to the west coast. So, if your ancestors came through Canada mainly Nova Scotia and Quebec, around 1850’s chances are they are Barra McNeils.

What is in a name? In our case a lot of rich history of some very brave people who overcame some very great obstacles. We their descendants should be proud.

Needham Bass

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Remember, remember, the fifth of November…

1 Comment / CMAA Webmaster

Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night, Fireworks Night, or simply by the date- the 5th of November, is a Britain-wide celebration remembering the treasonous act attempted by Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators.

Born in England in 1570, conspirator Guy Fawkes was executed in 1606 for attempting to blow up the English Parliament building in what came to be known as the Gunpowder Plot. In a time when his religious beliefs weren’t allowed by law, Fawkes and a group of other Catholic conspirators, looking to overthrow the current Protestant regime, had planted at least 20 barrels of gunpowder under the building prior to the attempted attack. He failed. And now we set off fireworks to commemorate that he didn’t explode the government and the monarch.

Since the failed Guy Fawkes’ plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, people across the country have celebrated Bonfire Night on November 5th. In Scotland, this night was once a time of rowdy and raucous festivities - described as an evening of “prankish fun” - it is now a night of community wide celebration and wholesome fun, despite its more sinister origins.

One Scottish tradition was the burning of Guy Fawkes. Effigies of Guy were made across the country, usually consisting of a jacket and trousers stuffed with straw. They would often then be wheeled around towns while the owners shouted “penny for a Guy” with the money raised going towards buying fireworks.

Guy would then be placed on top of the roaring bonfire.

Sources used in this article:

https://www.biography.com/people/guy-fawkes-9292436

https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/in-pictures-bonfire-night-in-scotland-1-3938555

http://www.potw.org/archive/potw405.html

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Related History

CMAA Webmaster

The Picts

The Picts were a mysterious warrior people of ancient Britain. According to tradition, the Picts migrated from the shores of Brittany around the 15th century BC. They sailed northward to Ireland, but were refused permission to settle there by the ancient kings of that land. However, the Picts were granted permission to settle in the northeastern part of Scotland on the condition that each Pictish king marry an Irish princess, thus providing the Irish with a colony whose rulers were of royal Irish blood. This Pictish settlement was ruled by a matriarchal hierarchy.

The Boernicians

The Boernicians, who were a mixture of Scottish Picts, Angles, and Vikings, were one of the ancient clans of the Scottish-English borderlands. Considered to be the ancient founding peoples of the north, the Boernicians inhabited the tract of rugged territory that stretches from Carlisle in the west to Berwick in the east. In the 4th century,Scotland was composed of five different kingdoms, which were each home to a different race: the Gaels, Vikings, Picts, Britons, and Angles all held land, each had their own realm.

The Vikings

The Vikings, a Scandinavian people of astounding vitality, first began their invasion of Scotland in 794. However, the first wave of mass Viking migration occurred around 888, when King Harold of Norway defeated an unruly faction of northern clans who then abandoned their homeland. In search of a new place to live, they migrated to the sea-swept Orkney Islands in the north of Scotland under the leadership of their chief, Earl Sigurd. This settlement was permitted by the Scottish king and the kings of the Isle of Man, who allowed the Viking exiles to make their homes in the Orkney and Shetland Islands in return for a payment of 20,000 shillings.