Neilson (name)
Neilson is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Neil". The prefix Neil- is of Irish Gaelic origin, a genitive of 'Niall', possibly meaning "Champion" or "Cloud". Neilson, as a surname, is common in English language-speaking countries, but less common as a given name. It can be an anglicisation of MacNeil or the Scandinavian name, Nielsen.
People with the name Neilson or its variant spellings include:
Surname
- Adelaide Neilson, British actress
- Alan Neilson, German footballer
- Alex Neilson, British musician
- Annabelle Neilson, English socialite
- Anthony Neilson, British playwright
- Bill Neilson, Australian politician
- Brendan Neilson, New Zealand-Japanese rugby union player
- Charles Neilson, Scottish footballer and teacher
- Cook Neilson, U.S. journalist and motorcycle racer
- David Neilson, British actor
- Donald Neilson, British criminal
- Ed Neilson, American politician
- Francis Neilson, British playwright and politician
- Harry B. Neilson, British illustrator
- Ian Neilson, South African engineer and politician
- Jackie Neilson, British footballer
- James Beaumont Neilson, British inventor
- James Neilson (director), American film and television director
- Jim Neilson, Canadian ice hockey player
- John Neilson, Canadian politician
- Julia Neilson, British actress
- Kim Nielsen, U.S. professional wrestler
- Lois Neilson, U.S. silent movie actress
- Marjory Newbold née Neilson, leading Scottish socialist and communist, prominent in the Independent Labour Party and a 'Red Clydesider'
- Melany Neilson, U.S. novelist
- Perlita Neilson, English actress
- Phyllis Neilson-Terry, British actress
- Robbie Neilson, British professional football player
- Roger Neilson, Canadian hockey coach
- Samuel Neilson, Irish political activist
- Sandra Neilson, U.S. swimmer
- Scott Neilson (athlete), Canadian hammer thrower
- Scott Neilson (footballer), English footballer
- Shane Neilson, Canadian physician, author and poet
- Shaw Neilson, Australian poet
- Susan Bieke Neilson, U.S. judge
- Tommy Neilson, British footballer
- Walter Montgomerie Neilson, Locomotive builder
- Willie Neilson, British Rugby player
- William Neilson, Canadian businessman
- William Allan Neilson, British-born U.S. educator, writer and lexicographer
Given name
- Neilson Hubbard, American singer-songwriter, musician and producer
- Neilson Powless, American road racing cyclist