Summer is coming, and so is one of our favorite traditions: the Clan MacNeil Ceilidh and Annual General Meeting, held […]
Join Us for Clan MacNeil’s 2026 Ceilidh and Annual General Meeting Read More »
CMAA Business, Highland Games
If you’ve already taken a Y-DNA test, that’s a great start—but the real power of DNA comes from numbers. More
Growing the Clan Tree: Why We Need More Testers Read More »
Genealogy
Every family has a mystery. Maybe there’s a missing father in the records. A sudden surname change. A cousin with
Can DNA Solve a Mystery? Using Y-DNA for Brick Walls and Unknowns Read More »
Genealogy
If you’ve looked at Y-DNA testing, you’ve probably run into two common options: Y-37 and Big Y-700. But what’s the
Big Y-700 vs. Y-37: Which Test Should You Take (and When)? Read More »
Genealogy
A message from your Clan MacNeil Deputy Commissioner of Western NY – “Rochester Bob” McNeill The Highland Games are coming,
Clan MacNeil to Be Honored at the 2025 AGM – Join Us in Lockport, NY! Read More »
CMAA Business, Highland Games
Joseph McNeil carries the McNeil name with honor through a remarkable life of service and courage. Born in 1942 in
Echoes of the Clan: Joseph Alfred McNeil’s Stand for Civil Rights Read More »
Genealogy, Heritage
Clan MacNeil’s rich heritage extends beyond those who bear the MacNeil/McNeill names. Across the centuries, several allied families, or septs,
MacGougan, MacGrail, and Other Septs: Their Place in Clan MacNeil Read More »
Genealogy, Heritage
The Macneil (and McNeill) name has traveled far beyond the shores of Barra, Colonsay, and Gigha. Today, descendants can be
Tracking Macneil and McNeill Family Migrations Through Historical Records Read More »
Genealogy, Heritage
Let’s simplify something that sounds complicated: haplogroups. If you’ve taken a Y-DNA test or looked into your Macneil or McNeill
What’s a Haplogroup? Understanding Your Place on the Tree of Mankind Read More »
Genealogy
In the early 1600s, the British Crown launched the Plantation of Ulster—one of the most transformative episodes in Irish and
The Plantation of Ulster and the McNeill Legacy Read More »
Genealogy, Heritage
In this month’s Echoes of the Clan feature, we remember two remarkable individuals whose legacy lives on through education, civic
Echoes of the Clan: Mae Allegra Carstensen Nelson & Dr. Randall Hylman Nelson Read More »
Genealogy, Heritage
While many are familiar with the Macneils of Barra, there exists another vital chapter in our clan’s history—one rooted in
The McNeills of Gigha and Colonsay: Their Role in Scottish and Irish History Read More »
Genealogy, Heritage
Have you ever wondered where your McNeill or Macneil line really came from—or how you’re related to others with your
How to Use Y-DNA Testing to Trace Your Ancestry Read More »
Genealogy
Migration has long been a defining aspect of Scottish and Irish history, and the clan families were no exception. Across
The Scottish and Irish Migration Connection: How Clan Families Settled in New Lands Read More »
Genealogy, Heritage
Louise McNeill Pease (1911–1993) was a distinguished Appalachian poet, historian, and educator from West Virginia. Born on January 9, 1911,
