Surname Niemeijer - Meaning and Origin
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Niemeijer: What does the surname Niemeijer mean?
The Dutch surname Niemeijer is a topographic name for someone who formerly lived near a meadow or grassland, coming from the combination of two elements. The first element from Dutch, "nieuwe," which translates to “new” or “fresh”, and the second from “meijer” which means “meadow” or “field.” This surname is scattered throughout the Netherlands, having its origins in places such as Utrecht, Groningen, and Friesland.
Throughout the Middle Ages, surnames derived from place names, topography, and occupations. Thus, a people's origin and descent could be ascertained by their name. Some surnames were altered from the original spelling, but in many cases, the slight variations are easily recognizable. In the case of Niemeijer, the two distinct elements have remained consistent over time.
The modern use of the surname is far removed from its origin in the 14th century as a topographic name. Today, the surname is mainly associated with families living in cities or suburbs and with those who have traveled from the rural Netherlands to metropolitan cities throughout the world.
Overall, the history of this Dutch surname speaks to the earliest conditions of life in the Netherlands and the importance of surnames in providing identity, continuity, and a narrative of one’s ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisNiemeijer: Where does the name Niemeijer come from?
The last name Niemeijer is most commonly found in the Netherlands today. Specifically, there are concentrations of the Niemeijer name in the provinces of Flevoland, Friesland, Groningen, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, and Utrecht.
This Dutch last name is derived from the term "niemand," which translates to "nobody" in English. In more rural portions of the Netherlands, Niemeijer likely originated as a nickname for somebody who was so ruggedly independent and self-reliant that they were seemingly nobody's responsibility.
The Niemeijer name was recorded as early as 1312 when Clever Niemander appeared on a record in Apeldoorn District in the province of Gelderland. Later Niemeijer births were recorded in Werkendam in 1602, and Reimerswaal in Zeeland in 1651. Since then, the number of Niemeijer births started to steadily increase.
Today, the last name Niemeijer is scattered all throughout the Netherlands, yet there are more denser concentrations of the name in the western and northern provinces. Niemeijer remains a fairly common Dutch last name, and there is still a good chance of finding a Niemeijer in the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Niemeijer
The surname Niemeijer is a Dutch toponymic surname derived from the name of a place where an individual ancestor used to live or work. Niemeijer can also be spelled as: Niemeijers, Niemeyer, Niemeyers, Niemeijer, Niemeijers, Nijmeijer, and Nijmeijers.
Variants of Niemeijer are found in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and the United States. In Germany, Niemeijer has become Neumann over time and is a common surname in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. In France, the spelling is commonly seen as Nyemeijer. In the United States, it is most commonly spelled as Niemeyer. In Northern Ireland, Niemeijer and its variants are commonly called Mimie.
A variant of the name Niemeijer is Niemoller. It is a Dutch surname with the same origin as Niemeijer. Niemoller is most common in the Netherlands and may have emerged as a spelling variation of Niemeijer when families moved away to different areas.
In North America, the spelling of the surname tends to become corrupted to Nimmo, Nimmoz, Nemo, Nemmo an Neemoh.
The variations of the surname are thought to have arisen for several reasons—including clerical errors as names passed from one generation to the next, or when families moved away to different areas and changed their spelling to sound more like the local dialect. Despite the variations, all of these surnames trace their origin back to Niemeijer.
Famous people with the name Niemeijer
- Klaas Jan Niemeijer: Dutch filmmaker and producer best known for his work on films such as Praat met Teun (2013) and 193Rood (2015).
- Jan Niemeijer: Dutch permit holder at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and PhD holder in physics from Eindhoven University of Technology.
- Ben Niemeijer: Dutch artist and sculptor who is known for his sculptures made from everyday items such as bottles and fabric.
- Bram Niemeijer: Dutch businessman and manager of several companies such as NIBC and Hollandsche Reederij.
- Cees Niemeijer: Dutch political scientist and journalist specializing in the politics and society of the Netherlands.
- Koos Niemeijer: Dutch Paralympic wheelchair basketball player and advocate for social change for the disabled.
- Joost Niemeijer: Dutch composer and organist who wrote several symphonic works for choir, orchestra, and organ.
- Marjolein Niemeijer: Dutch visual artist specializing in photography and textiles, and winner of the prestigious Charlotte Köhlerprijs.
- Marlies Niemeijer: Dutch swimmer and record holder of several national and international swimming records.
- Gerrit Niemeijer: Dutch jurist and prominent figure in the 19th century movement for freedom in the Netherlands.