- Mill: Loch
- Weight: 16 oz.
- Clan Motto: Vincere vel mori ("To conquer or die")
- Known Septs Include: MACGOUGAN, MACGRAIL, MACGUGAN, MACGUIGAN, MACNEAL, MACNEALE, MACNEILAGE, MACNEILL, MACNELLY, MACNIEL, MCGOUGAN, MCGRAIL, MCGUGAN, MCGUIGAN, MCNEAL, MCNEALE, MCNEILAGE, MCNEIL, MCNEILL, MCNELLY, MCNIEL, NEAL, NEALE, NEIL, NEILL, NEILSON, NELSON, NIEL, NIELSON
- Notes:
This tartan dates to "Pre 1831." The usual modern form differs from Logan's earlier version in that it features narrow "tramlines" about the yellow stripe. The MacNeils claim descent from Neill, King of Ireland, who came to Barra in 1049. The present chief, American, Professor Ian Roderick MacNeil of Barra. There is also a tartan for the MacNeils of Colonsay. MacNeils are hereditary pipers to the MacLeans of Duart. In their 1850 book "The Clans and Family Tartans of Scotland" William and Andrew Smith of Mauchline wrote: "the Specimen here given, is what has always been known as "The MacNeill Tartan" and they show a version with the thicker black tramlines around the yellow. The following is an extract from a letter from the Chief, MacNeil of Barra in 1997. "The tartan of the MacNeils of Barra is the familiar black, green, and blue tartan with narrow alternating white and yellow (encased in black) stripes. (Donald C. Stewart, the Setts of the Scottish Tartans, No. 166.) This has been the standard MacNeil of Barra tartan for well over a century."