Neathery is a surname that is spelt phonetically as /ˈniːð.ər.i/. The first syllable 'nee' begins with the long vowel sound 'ee' pronounced with the tongue placed high in the mouth. The second syllable 'thər' is pronounced with a soft 'th' sound followed by the short vowel sound 'uh'. The final syllable 'i' is pronounced with a long 'ee' sound. The spelling of Neathery is unique and might suggest a Welsh origin since many Welsh surnames begin with "Neath".