Clan MacNeil, also known in Scotland as Clan Niall, is a highland Scottish clan, particularly associated with the Outer Hebride             island of Barra (and with the island of Gigha in Argyll) . The early
history of Clan MacNeil is obscure; however despite this, the clan traditionally claims to descend from the legendary Irish King Niall, a descendant of Aodh O’Neil, twentieth in descent of the nine hostages. Niall established himself on Barra in 1049 and
is considered the first Chief of the Clan MacNeil.

The fifth Chief, Neil MacNeil, was described as a Prince at a Council of the Isles in 1252 and aided in defeating the Norse at the battle of Largs in 1263. His son, the sixth Chief, Neil Og MacNeil fought with Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn and was rewarded with lands in Kintyre.

Another branch of the MacNeils established themselves on the
island of Gigha under Torquil MacNeil in 1427. After 1493 the two branches of MacNeils took opposite sides in the long running feud between the MacDonalds of Islay and the MacLeans of Duart, Barra MacNeils sided with the MacLeans while the Gigha MacNeils fought on the side of the Clan Donald.

While the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides and Kisimul castle in Castlebay is the well-known home of the Clan MacNeil, the McNeill / MacNeill families of Gigha have a different ancestry supported by recent Ancestral DNA analysis. Prior to 1530 AD the Gigha McNeills had their own Chief who was murdered by Allan Maclean of Mull. The Chieftainship was not continued and in more recent years the Court of the Lord Lyon has recognized Rory Wilson Macneil of Barra to be Chief of the Clan MacNeil.

Note also that the Arms associated with Barra are not related to a place but were granted to a person, Rory’s grandfather. He has
inherited to arms. Similarly the arms of Colonsay were not granted to Colonsay but to various members of the Colonsay and Kintyre Peninsula McNeills who applied for the matriculation of Arms. The crests which are associated with the arms may be worn by members of MacNeil / McNeill or other supporting families with the approval of the chief. Of course this only applies to the Barra crest as there is no current Chief or Commander of Gigha.

Clan Commander
In cases where a clan has no Chief or a family wishes to
have recognition as a clan, clan or family members can formally get together, witnessed by a representative of the Lord Lyon, in
a derbhfine and appoint either a clan Chief if the evidence of links to a chiefly line exists or otherwise a clan commander.

The Lyon Court can recognize the appointment of a clan
commander, for an interim period of up to ten years, whereupon a further derbhfine will be required. It is at this point that the Clan Chief is recognised by the Lyon Court. Clans with clan commanders are still referred to as armigerous clans.