Surname Niesen - Meaning and Origin
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Niesen: What does the surname Niesen mean?
The surname Niesen is a German surname, which originated from the Middle Ages. The name Niesen is derived from the old German word “nese”, which translates to “nose”. It is believed that this name was given to individuals with particularly prominent noses.
In more recent times, Niesen had its first recorded appearance in the mid 16th century in Prussia, and is thought to have developed from an alternative spelling of the surname Nennig. The surname may also be found in regions of Scandinavia, Finland and the Netherlands.
The surname Niesen can be associated with many different places. It was an especially common name in the Netherlands between 1880 and 1920, as the number of people bearing the surname increased over that period by 15%.
As is typical of German surnames, many of which developed into occupational surnames over time, it is likely that those bearing the surname Niesen were related to individuals who were woodcutters or picture framers. However, there are also records of individuals having the surname Niesen who were miners or traders.
In some parts of Germany, Niesen is also a topographic surname, which relates to a geographical feature, such as a hill or mountain. In this case, it is associated with the Niesen mountain range in Bern, Switzerland.
For over 500 years, the Niesen surname has been found across Europe and Scandinavia. It is a unmistakably a German surname, but in the generations since has become a descriptor for individuals of all backgrounds and nationalities.
Order DNA origin analysisNiesen: Where does the name Niesen come from?
The last name Niesen is most commonly found in areas of Europe such as Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. In Germany it is particularly concentrated in the northern and western parts of the country. The Netherlands page on the Niesen family name also notes that many of the earliest records of this surname can be found in the country.
In the United States of America, the Niesen family name is found most commonly in the midwestern states, particularly in Wisconsin. The 2000 US Census reported that the Niesen name was the 32,649th most popular last name in the United States, which was 0.0124% of the population at the time. This suggests that there may be a small but well-established community of Niesen people living in America.
The Niesen surname also has a presence in Canada, mostly found concentrated in the province of Manitoba. In fact, a Niesen family received the Order of Canada in recognition of their social and community work in Manitoba in 1991.
Overall, the Niesen surname has a strong presence across Europe and in parts of North America. It remains a name that is recognizable, though not as popular as some other names. It heavily concentrated in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the midwest United States, and provides a link back to the original Niesen family members who migrated to these countries hundreds of years ago.
Variations of the surname Niesen
The surname Niesen is of German origin. It is derived from the Old High German word nison, which means “son of”. Variants and alternate spellings of this surname include Nießen, Nissen, and Niessen.
The surname Niesen is present in many countries worldwide. In Germany, it is most commonly found in the states of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. In the United States, it is most commonly found in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
There are numerous variations and surnames associated with Niesen. In Germany, some of these variations include Niessen, Nissen, Niessenamer, Niese, Nissenbach, Nissenbaum, Nissendorf, Nissenkurth, and Nissensohn. In the United States, other surnames connected to the Niesen family include Niessenheimer, Nessen, and Niessiner.
Niesen is also an occupational surname, which indicates that the family members were likely descended from someone who worked in the occupations of carpentry, farming, or roofing. Niessen is a combination of the German words niesen and sen, which translates to roofer or thatcher. Nissen and Nissenbach indicate that the family members were likely involved in farming.
There are also related variations of the surname, such as Newson, Nesson, and Nunson. All of these surnames derive from the same German origin and possibly indicate married female family members who adopted a new surname due to their marital status.
Overall, the surname Niesen has various spellings, variants and connected surnames around the world due to its German origin. These related surnames solidify the historical roots of the Niesen family.
Famous people with the name Niesen
- Julian Niesen: German fashion model
- Lucy Niesen: English actress
- Edward Niesen: American opera singer
- Stephan Niesen: German musician
- Jake Niesen: Australian football player
- John Niesen: American politician
- Matt Niesen: American ski jumper
- Annika Niesen: Swiss field hockey player
- Hannah Niesen: Dutch equestrian
- Daren Niesen: American watercolor painter
- Uwe Niesen: German photographer
- Rune Niesen: Norwegian painter
- Christian Niesen: Dutch sculptor
- Stephen Niesen: American architect
- Phillip Niesen: American banker
- Krista Niesen: Canadian ice hockey player
- Gaby Niesen: German volleyball player
- Anke Niesen: German judoka
- Jacob Niesen: American carpenter
- Kevin Niesen: Dutch initiative entrepreneur