Surname Niedergesäs - Meaning and Origin
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Niedergesäs: What does the surname Niedergesäs mean?
The last name Niedergesäs is a German toponymic surname derived from the name of various associated places in Germany. These places have been found in regions such as Thuringia, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse. The meaning of the last name is "lower or down-going Landstraße", which describes an area with a milder climate or soils lower in altitude than the surrounding area.
In the Middle Ages, when names derived from places began to be adopted as last names, the name Niedergesäs began to be used as a hereditary surname. The family name could be used by someone with a connection to one of the places associated with the name, such as having ancestral origins from the area or having rented or owned property in the area.
Over time the name began to develop various spelling variations, such as Niedergess and Niedergees. In the present day the name is still used as a family name. Its usage has spread to other countries, particularly the United States, where many descendants of German immigrants adopted the name as their own.
The last name Niedergesäs is a testament to the area’s rich history and culture, and its continued use across centuries suggests a proud and resilient family tradition.
Order DNA origin analysisNiedergesäs: Where does the name Niedergesäs come from?
The last name Niedergesäs is a common German surname. It is derived from the Middle High German “niedergesez” meaning "low house." The surname is still popular today and is found in most German-speaking regions of the world.
In Germany, the last name is most common in the state of Hesse, where it is one of the top 500 last names. It is also found in other areas of Germany such as Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Lower Saxony.
Outside of Germany, the name is common in Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. It is also found in parts of the United States, particularly in the Midwest. Immigrants from Germany brought the last name Niedergesäs with them to the U.S. during the 19th-20th centuries.
In the U.S., the last name is most common in large cities such as Chicago, St. Louis, and Milwaukee which are known for their German emigrant populations. It is also found in smaller towns throughout the Midwest such as Lincoln, Nebraska, and Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Overall, the last name Niedergesäs is still quite common and can be found in German-speaking inhabitants throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Niedergesäs
Surname Niedergesäs is a German-language locational surname meaning “down Gäs” or “low Gäs” and is derived from the German place name Gäs(e) (two separate villages in the region of Buchenland). It is also spelled Niedergeß, Niedergesaess and Niedergesass, but all these variants refer to the same origin.
Surnames that are variants of Niedergesäs include Niedergespaß, Niedergesas, Niedergesaße and Niedergesse. Niedergesaß and Niedergesaße are the most commonly used variants, though the latter is mainly used in North America.
Meaning “low” or “down”, the German word nieder also has meaning in relation to ‘surname’, as it is often linked to the family line of a noble family name. This denotes an ancestral land of origin for those who possess a Niedergesäs surname. Additionally, the word Gesäs also has meaning as taken from the Old German dialect, meaning a boundary or border line near Gäs, Germany.
In some cases, the surname Niedergesäs has been Anglicized and Americanized into various surnames such as Neges, Neggars, Negges, Negs, Nigars and Hannigars. All of these are variants and alternate spellings of the original German surname Niedergesäs.
Though Niedergesäs is mainly found in Germany, its variants and alternate spellings have been spread fairly globally, mainly to other parts of Europe, but also to some parts of the United States and Canada.
Famous people with the name Niedergesäs
- Mona Niedergesäß: German track and field athlete who won bronze in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- Achim Niedergesäß: German footballer who played for FC Bayern Munich between 1992-1994
- Günter Niedergesäß: German painter of landscapes and seascapes
- Reinhold Niedergesäß: German writer and journalist
- Georg Niedergesäß: German oceanographer and marine biologist
- Ursula Niedergesäß: German operatic soprano and actress
- Bernd Niedergesäß: German musician and composer
- Niels Niedergesäß: German classical saxophonist and conductor
- Hendrik Niedergesäß: German glass blower
- Vinzenz Niedergesäß: German philosopher and theologian