McNeill Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

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Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Gigha, co. Argyll). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, az. a lion ramp. ar.; 2nd, ar. a sinister hand couped fesseways in chief gu. and in base wavy az. a salmon naiant of the first; 3rd, or, a galley, her oars in saltire gu. on a chief of the last three mullets of the first. Crest—An armed man, from the shoulder issuing, holding a dagger point upwards all ppr. Motto—Vincere vel mori.
2) (Baron Colnnsay). As the last, within a bordure erm. Crest—A mailed arm and hand holding a dagger ppr. Supporters—Two Highland deerhounds ppr. Motto—Vincere aut mori.
3) (Sir John M’Neil, G.C.B., 1857). As Gigha, within a bordure gu. Crest and Motto, as Lord Colonsay. Supporters—Two Persian lions without manes ppr.
4) (Reg. Ulster’s Office to Sir John Macneill, Knt., Professor of Practical Engineering, Trinity College, Dublin, on whom the Earl de Grey conferred the honour of knighthood at the opening of the Dublin and Drogheda Railway, 1844). Per fess in chief per pale az. and ar. the base or, in dexter chief a lion ramp, of the second, in sinister chief a dexter hand couped at the wrist, lying fessway, and a salmon naiant in waves of the sea all ppr. in base a lymphad gu. oars in action of the last, on a chief also of the last three mullets of the third. Crest—An arm in armour embowed, the hand holding a sword all ppr. Motto—Vincere vel mori.
5) (Reg. Ulster’s Office). Quarterly, 1st, az. a lion ramp, ar.; 2nd, or, a dexter arm couped below the elbow lying fessways gu. the hand grasping a cross crosslet fitchee az.; 3rd, or, a lymphad sa.; 4th, ar. out of waves of the sea in base ppr. a rock issuant gu. Crest—A rock gu. Motto—Per virtutem scientamque.
6) (confirmed by Betham, Ulster, to Sir John Mac Neill, Knt., D.C.L., F.R.S., son of Torquil Parkes Mac Neill, Esq., of Mount Pleasant, co. Louth, and grandson of John Mac Neill, of Lower Fanchard, co. Louth, descended from a Highland family of Mac Neill, of Gaya and Fearfergus, co. Argyll). Per fess gu. and or, in chief three mullets of the second, in base a lymphad with sails furled and oars of the first, over all on a fess per pale az. and ar. dexter a lion ramp. of the last, sinister a dexter hand fessways, and in base a salmon naiant in the sea all ppr. Crest—A dexter arm embowed in armour, in the hand a dagger all ppr. Motto—Vincere aut mori.