Surname Niese - Meaning and Origin
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Niese: What does the surname Niese mean?
The last name Niese is of German origin, and is believed to refer to the residents of Nienstadt am Dietzessee, a small town in the Lower Saxony region of Germany.
The name Niese likely derived from the German word "Nien," which means "nine" or "new." As a result, it is likely that the inhabitants of this area during the Middle Ages were referred to as "the nine" or "the new ones".
Over time, the original meaning of the name evolved, and references to it eventually began to refer to those who were particularly handsome, clever, or wealthy. This common usage continued for some time until it was eventually adopted as a surname; with the spelling "Niese" eventually becoming the preferred form.
Today, the last name is common in Germany and much of Europe, as well as in areas of the United States and Canada with limited populations of German-descent. Variations of the surname include Niess, Niss, and Nies.
Though the exact origin of the name is not known, it is believed that the many different uses of the term demonstrate the diverse characteristics and abilities of the Niese surname holders. As such, the name is believed to signify intelligence, beauty, or wealth - all of which are prized attributes of any family.
Order DNA origin analysisNiese: Where does the name Niese come from?
The last name Niese is most common today in Germany, where it can be found in the regions of Mecklenburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, and Thuringia. It is also found in countries bordering Germany, such as the Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland.
Niese can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Germany. While its original spelling is Nieße, the modern spelling was established in the 1600s. The meaning of the name is unclear, but it could derive from the Middle Low German word niesen, meaning to sneeze.
The Niese surname in Germany is most commonly found in rural, agricultural regions. Some branches of the Niese family have lived in and around the city of Parchim in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern since the 16th century. The family has also been tied to the castle and estates of Kallmin, as well as other regions of Germany such as Schleswig-Holstein and Brandenburg.
Niese family members emigrated to America in the 19th century, primarily settling in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Today, the Niese surname is still found in these states in addition to other areas of the world. Niese is also found in Australia, Canada, South Africa, and other countries across the world.
Variations of the surname Niese
The surname Niese has many variants throughout Europe, stemming from an overall Germanic origin. In Germany, the surname Niese is typically spelled Niese, which is derived from early Germanic personal name Nith, which means ‘bold’. Beyond Germany, variations of this name include Nies, Nise, and Nieß. Notable bearers of this surname include the German writer Theodor Niese, and the American bankers Dirk Niese and William Nise.
The common surnames derived from the German origin of Niese include Neese, Neis, Neise, Naese, Nais, Naise, Nähse, Nies, Niesen, Nisen, Nissen, Niess, Nis, Nise, Biese, and Biesen. Additionally, the surnames Nised, Nyce, and Nyse are derived from elements of the original Germanic surname. Further variations include Dis, Dees, Diess, Diessen, and Deiss.
In other parts of Europe, the surname Niese has undergone various transformations. In the Netherlands, the Dutch variation of the surname Niese is Neijs, Neijssen, or Neyssen. In Belgium, diminutive variants of the name in Flemish include Neys, Neijs, Nijs, and Nijssen. In Norway, Niese is spelled Nyhus and Nyhusen.
In Britain, the surname Niese has been anglicized to Nice, Nise, Wise, Wiese, Wyss, and Wisee. The Irish form of Niese is speeeylled Ní Shuilleabháin, whilst in Italy, Niese is seen as Nigro. Lastly, in Hungary, the surname is spelled Nézsi or Nézsii.
Famous people with the name Niese
- Jon Niese: Former MLB professional pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets.
- Jake Niese: Former professional basketball player who played in the Italian and German leagues.
- Pavol Niese: Slovakian professional footballer who is currently playing for Nitra.
- Desiree Niese: American individual rhythmic gymnast who won medals at the 2005 Junior Pan American Games.
- Martin Niese: Surfer from Brazil who has placed in numerous South American Championships.
- Adam Niese: Entrepreneur and founder of The Crack Shack, a restaurant in Los Angeles.
- Jessica Niese: American makeup artist and blogger who has worked on the 2014 film “Noah.”
- Grant Niese: Professional bull rider from Lovell, Wyoming.
- Jon Niese Herrald: English classical music singer.
- Dr. Robert Niese: Ophthalmologist and resident clinician at the Mayo Clinic.