Surname Nieland - Meaning and Origin
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Nieland: What does the surname Nieland mean?
The surname Nieland (also spelled Neeland, Neelandt or Neilant) is a topographic name derived from the Dutch word "niels," meaning a sandbank in a river. It may also have originated from an ancestor who lived in a place with this type of feature. The most common use of the name in Europe was in the northern Netherlands, specifically in the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel.
The surname is believed to have first been found in East Friesland where family members may have been farmers, living in the sandbank regions of the rivers. The earliest recorded use of the surname Nieland (or its variants) is from 1415 in Friesland, with the first recorded person of the name being Johann van Neeland.
In the United States, the first recorded spelling of the surname Nieland was found in Philadelphia in the year 1732 with the recording of Johannes Nieland. Throughout the 19th century, many new Nieland immigrants arrived in the United States, mostly from Germany.
Today, the Nieland surname is found around the world, with notable populations in Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, France, Canada and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisNieland: Where does the name Nieland come from?
The last name Nieland is most commonly found in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States today. In Germany, the name is most common in North Rhine-Westphalia as well as in Lower Saxony and Bavaria. In the Netherlands, the name is most commonly found in Friesland and Noord-Holland. In the United States, the name is most commonly found in the Midwest, the Great Lakes region, and the Mid-Atlantic States, particularly in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio. The worldwide population of individuals with the surname Nieland is estimated to be between 11,000 and 14,000 people.
When looking at the origin of the name Nieland, it is believed to originate from a combination of the early Germanic words "niw" and "land" which essentially refers to a new settlement or a newly cultivated land. Therefore, it is reasonable to guess that the name originated from an area where the family had recently settled or which they had recently developed.
Despite the unusual spelling, the last name Nieland is actually quite common and can be found in many different countries and regions. The wide geographical distribution shows that the surname was likely common at one point in time, which further suggests that several centuries ago, the family had a significant presence in much of Europe.
Variations of the surname Nieland
The surname Nieland is of Dutch and German origin, and it has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants include Neeland, Neiland, Nielland, Nighland, and Nyland.
Variants of Nieland are more common in North America than in many other parts of the world. In the United States and Canada, the surnames Neeland and Nighland are most common, while Nyland is also known in those countries. In the Netherlands, Nieland is more common, and in Germany, the variants Neiland and Nielland are the most popular.
Surnames of the same origin as Nieland include Stromland, Oostendorp, Valk, Dobbelaar, van Amstel, and Smedts.
Stromland is a Dutch surname derived from “strom” or “stromland”, meaning “marshy land”. Oostendorp is a Dutch topographic and patronymic surname derived from “oosten” meaning “east” and a second element derived from the Germanic word “dorp” meaning “village”. Valk, a Dutch occupational surname meaning “falconer” in reference to a professional bird-trainer employed to raise and train birds of prey. Dobbelaar is a Dutch locational surname derived from the Dutch word “dobbele” meaning “double” and “leen” meaning “estate”. Van Amstel is a Dutch topographic surname derived from a place in the Netherlands. Lastly, the Dutch surname Smedts is derived from the word “smed” meaning “smith”.
Famous people with the name Nieland
- Dr. Joe Nieland, professor at Missouri State University.
- Max Nieland, Dutch football player.
- Chase Nieland, American snowmobiler.
- Betty Nieland, Canadian triathlete.
- Mark Nieland, Professor of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
- Cindy Nieland, American actress.
- Bettina Nieland, German politician.
- Corry Nieland, Dutch graphic designer.
- Kim Nieland, American journalist.
- Craig Nieland, American military veteran and political operative.