Surname Niels - Meaning and Origin

Niels: What does the surname Niels mean?

The surname Niels is of Scandinavian origin, primarily found in Denmark and Norway, and is derived from the Old Norse name Níel, or variants of Nigel. Depending on which language the name was taken from, it can mean either ‘cloud-strider’, ‘son of Niall’ or ‘champion’.

The surname is especially common in Denmark and certain parts of Norway, where the name is strongly associated with Danish and Norwegian royalty. It is estimated that about 7.2% of the Danish population carry the surname, making it the second most popular surname in the country, with Nielsen leading the rankings.

The popularity of Niels as a first name and surname has waxed and waned over the years, particularly in the 20th century, and it is still relatively popular in Denmark and Norway today. The name often appears in the records of the church, with a priest named Niels Nielsen being one of the founding fathers of the Lutheran church in Denmark during the early 1600s.

In recent decades, the name Niels has seen a resurgence in popularity, particularly in Norway. The name is even commonly used elsewhere, with notable Niels figures including Nobel Prize winner Niels Bohr and soccer player Niels Giffey, testament to its enduring legacy throughout the world.

Niels: Where does the name Niels come from?

The last name Niels is most commonly found in Scandinavian countries. It is especially popular in Denmark where it is the 11th most common surname. It is also quite common in other parts of Northern Europe, such as Norway, Sweden, Germany, and The Netherlands where it is a top 30 surname. Outside of Europe, Niels is most common in South Africa, where it is found among many Afrikaner families who originally migrated from Europe in the early 1900s. In the United States, the surname Niels is much less common and is found primarily in the Midwest and Northwest regions, among the descendants of Danish and Scandinavian settlers. In certain areas of the US, in particular rural areas, the surname Niels is more prominent than in other parts of the country. Similarly, in Canada, Niels is most common in the western provinces, such as British Columbia and Alberta, which are where the highest numbers of Scandinavians and Danish emigrants settled.

In terms of its linguistic origins, Niels is a Scandinavian variant of the Greek name Nicholas, which means “victory of the people”. It is also related to the Germanic name Neil, which has the same meaning. As a result, variations of Niels can be found across many countries today, and it is often seen written as Nils in Norway, Niiles in Finland, and Neils in Germany.

Variations of the surname Niels

The surname Niels is of Germanic origin, meaning it is derived from the personal name Nicholas. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Neil, Niel, Neel, and Neilson.

Niels is both an English and Scandinavian given name, having its earliest roots as a common personal name in ancient Germany. It has been found in various spellings throughout the centuries, showing up in records as far back as the thirteenth century. It is believed to be a form of the Latin “Nicolaus”, meaning “victory of the people”.

When Niels was adopted as a surname, the most common spelling variant was Niel, a form which is still in use today. Neel, Neil and Neilson are also variants seen in some documents from the same period.

The name Niels can be found all around the world. In Norway, it is very common, with over 33 thousand people bearing the name as of 2020. The Netherlands and Australia have also seen a high proportion of people with the surname, as have countries such as South Africa, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

In countries where English is spoken, the spelling Neil is more common, whereas in countries where Scandinavian languages are spoken, the spelling Niels is more common.

The variants of the name and the various spellings which arise from different countries all stem back to the same origin, the Germanic personal name Nicholas. Although multiple spellings and surnames have evolved throughout the years, they all derive from the same source.

Famous people with the name Niels

• Niels Bohr: Niels Bohr was a prominent physicist in the early 20th century. He is best known for his work on quantum mechanics and contributions to the structure of the atom, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1922.
• Niels Stensen: Niels Stensen was a Danish Catholic bishop, natural scientist, and theologian. He was an active proponent of scientific thought at a time when the Church disapproved of it and supported the concept of ‘modern science’.
• Niels Stockfleth: Niels Stockfleth was an early 18th-century Norwegian baroque painter and architect. He was famous for painting portraits of the Danish Royal Family and nobility.
• Niels Anderson: Niels Anderson was a Danish-born American Lutheran pastor and missionary. He was notable for his strong commitment to the faith and his goal to spread Christianity to Native American tribes.
• Niels Bjerrum: Niels Bjerrum was a Danish chemist and physiologist known for his studies of electrolytic conduction and its effect on the activity of enzymes.
• Niels Breslau: Niels Breslau was a Danish botanist and plant collector who made a number of important contributions to botanic knowledge in the late 19th century. He specialized in the study of cycads, conifers and ferns.
• Niels Hansen: Niels Hansen was a Danish mathematician who made significant contributions to the fields of geophysics, hydrology and aerodynamics during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Niels Kaj Jerne: Niels Kaj Jerne was a Danish immunologist and Nobel laureate. He was best known for his pioneering work on the immune system, as well as his theories on the role of the immune system in the development of autoimmunity.

Other surnames

NielNielaenderNielandNielanderNieländerNielandtNieleNielingNiellNielleNielsenNielsonNielsson