Surname Nees - Meaning and Origin
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Nees: What does the surname Nees mean?
The last name Nees has origins in both German and Dutch language. In German, Nees means “son of the people” or “courtesy of the people”. In Dutch, Nees can have a few different meanings depending on its spelling and pronunciation. In Flemish, Nees means “son of” and in Dutch, Nees means “nose”, or is a diminutive for “Corne” meaning “Horn”. In southern Germany, Nees is a topographic name for someone who lived by a nose-shaped hill.
Nees is a common surname throughout the United States, Canada, Austria, and Germany. The name can also be found in less frequency around other parts of Europe, such as France and the United Kingdom.
The name Nees can be spelled in different ways including Neece, Neese, Neess, Nießen, Nuss, and Nüssen. The variations of the name may be a result of varying use and pronunciation of the original German pronunciation, Neece, or a variation of the Dutch form of the name, Neess.
Despite small variations within different countries and regions, the surname Nees is mostly found amongst German-speaking individuals, who have either migrated to or are living in other countries. Regardless of its origin, the surname Nees stands as a reminder that its holders have a common bond as people of the same name, regardless of their current location.
Order DNA origin analysisNees: Where does the name Nees come from?
The last name Nees is most commonly found today in Germany and around German-speaking countries, such as Austria and Switzerland. According to Genealogy.com, the last name has its roots in Dutch and German, with the spelling "Nies" or "Nissen" being more common than "Nees", both meaning "Son of Nie(s)".
The most densely populated area where the name is found is the German-speaking part of Switzerland. According to Ancestry, the top Swiss canton for the surname is Bern. However, other areas with high concentrations of individuals with that last name include the city of Stuttgart and the region of Nordrhein Westfalen in Germany, where many descendants of Dutch and German immigrants are found.
Many Americans are thought to have the Nees name, with the largest concentrations in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The last name is also thought to have a small presence in France due to the Dutch immigrant populations present there.
In conclusion, the last name Nees is most common in German and Dutch-speaking countries, particularly Switzerland and Germany. Additionally, the Nees name can be found in smaller numbers in other parts of Europe, as well as in the United States, due to large-scale emigration of German and Dutch citizens.
Variations of the surname Nees
The surname Nees is derived from the personal given name Nicolaus, which is the Latin form of the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos). It is a combination of the words 'nike' and 'laos', meaning 'victory' and 'people' respectively. There are various variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin for the surname Nees.
The variants of the surname Nees are Néz, Neis, Neyss, Neess, Ness and Neuss. These variants also have variations in their spellings which include Nesss, Neus, Neuss, Neusser, Neusser, Neuß, Niess, Niesses and Nayes. The surnames of similar origin for the surname Nees are Nagel, Nägel, Nagels, Nägels, Neiss, Niels, Nagelschmidt, Neumann, Neumanns, Neubert, Ney, Nickel, Nickelson, Nilssen and Nissen.
The popularity of the surname Nees is highest in Germany, where it is the 583rd most common last name. In The Netherlands, it is the 606th most common surname. It is also common in parts of Australia, the US, France and Switzerland.
Nees is related to surnames like Nagel, Neiss and Neumann which are most popular in Germany and some parts of Switzerland. Other surnames of similar origin are Nagelschmidt, Neubert, Ney, Nickel, Nickelson, Nilssen and Nissen which are common in The Netherlands, Germany and the US.
Famous people with the name Nees
- Ernst Nees (1864–1916): German composer and musicologist.
- Friedrich Nees von Esenbeck (1776–1858): German botanist.
- George Nees (1926–2005): German computer graphics pioneer.
- Gustav Nees (1910–1998): German composer and conductor.
- Richard Nees (born 1937): English Glastonbury and Taunton Symphony Orchestra conductor.
- Ralph Nees (1939–2004): American actor.
- Dave Nees (born 1967): American football player.
- Krysten Ritter (born 1981): American actress, singer, model and comic book author with the maiden name Nees.
- Travis Nees (born 1981): American professional wrestler better known as Travis Banks.
- Jeremy Nees (born 1985): New Zealand rower.
- Ryann Nees (born 1985): American professional wrestler known as Rebel.
- Tod Nees (born 1988): American road bicycle racer.