This site is dedicated to tracing the history of the Neill family in Canada. Our particular family traces its roots to John Neill, who married Ellen Stott in Ireland in 1832. Although the family survived the potato famines in Ireland, John Neill died in the 1850's. In about 1860 Ellen Neill emigrated to Canada with her five grown children, Elizabeth, William, James, Jacob, and Joseph. Another son, Jeremiah (b. ca. 1839) had died in Ireland prior to the move to North America. They settled in Huron County in Ontario, where, according to family legend, Ellen had a brother.
Their descendants are now spread over North America, with over 460 traced to date. Over the years the family has moved from being modest farmers to a wide and diverse range of occupations. The family includes doctors, accountants, business owners, teachers, writers, and musicians. Surnames now go virtually from A-Z.
As knowledge of our history and our present continues to grow, so too will this website. Members of the family are welcome to pass along any additional information through e-mail to neill.legacy@hotmail.com .
Updated June 3, 2008