Surname Nießen - Meaning and Origin

Discovering Heritage through iGENEA: A Dive into the History and Migration of the Nießen Lineage

My journey with the iGENEA DNA test has revealed the fascinating history and resilience inherent in my surname, Nießen. Originating from the popular Greek name, Nicholas, my forebears were once tradespeople in Northwestern Germany who over time migrated across Europe. This historical learning journey brought me closer to my roots and fueled a newfound appreciation for my ancestry.

J. Nießen

Nießen: What does the surname Nießen mean?

The last name Nießen is German in origin and is derived from the word nessen, which means to enjoy and partake in something. The name can be interpreted to mean "one who enjoys or partakes in things" and is likely to have originally been bestowed upon the ancestor of the family because they had a reputation for enjoying life.

In the early part of the 20th century, the Nießen family were living in the Westfalia region of Germany which is now part of the modern-day state of North Rhine-Westphalia. There is evidence that members of the family had been living in this area since at least the 16th century, making it likely that the name has been in this region for several centuries.

The Nießen family came to prominence towards the end of the 19th century when the family business was started by a Matthias Nießen in 1885. The family business, which still exists today, produces traditional German confectionary products such as Gernschmalz, Bienenstich, and other confectionary products.

Today, Nießen is still a prominent name in the Westfalia region of Germany and descendants of the family are still living in the same area. The Nießen name has come to represent a family of industrious people who have carved out a livelihood for themselves in the Westfalia region through their production of traditional German confectionary products.

Nießen: Where does the name Nießen come from?

Nießen is a surname commonly found around Germany and the greater European region. It is a German version of the name Nielsen and is derived from the name Nicolaus or Nicola meaning “victory of the people”.

In Germany, Nießen is most popularly found in the region of North Rhine-Westphalia close to the city of Dusseldorf. It is also found in several other states including Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Thuringia. In addition, this name is seen in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland, Belgium and France.

The name Nießen is the 48th most common name in Germany with around 7300 people carrying it. In terms of frequency, it is ranked 2,359th among all surnames in the world. Nießen can also be found among German-Americans who have migrated and settled in the United States, particularly in Texas, Pennsylvania, California and New York.

While the name is mainly associated with Germany and the German language, it has spread to other parts of the world as German diaspora has set root in various nations. As more people become familiar with the Nießen family name, its popularity only continues to grow.

Variations of the surname Nießen

The surname Nießen is a variant of the German surname Nissen, although there are other spelling variations such as Niesen, Nieser, Niessen, Niesser, Nihesen and Nijsen. Other variants include Nissler, Nissner, Nischner, Niessner, Nissmann, Nissenberger, Niesmann, Nießmann, Nießmann and Nießler.

It is derived from the Middle High German name Nise, which was derived from the old German personal name Niso, an old Germanic personal name found in historic records dating back to 1162 as the name of a follower of a Saxon leader in Germany.

The first recorded instances of the surname in its various forms were found in the records of the Middle Rhine in the 12th and 13th centuries, when the Nise family was recorded there as a family of knights. The name was also borne by several notable figures, including Peter Nissen, a Danish statesman and military leader in the late 17th century.

In modern times, the surname is most commonly found in Germany, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland and Bavaria. It is also relatively common in Slovakia, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as other countries with large Germanic populations.

In some countries, the surname is commonly shortened to Nies, although this is not as common in other countries. In the United States, many variants are combined to form the single Niesen surname. In the United Kingdom, the surname is generally spelled as Niesen or Nissen.

Famous people with the name Nießen

• Hans Joseph Nießen (German academic, historian, and social activist)
• Joachim Nießen (German footballer)
• Wilfried Nießen (German footballer)
• Gilbert Nießen (French painter)
• Christopher Nießen (German actor)
• Edgar Nießen (German actor)
• Karl Nießen (German painter)
• Günter Nießen (German actor)
• Caroline Nießen (German actress)
• Wolf Nießen (German actor)
• Günter Nießen (German jurist)
• Adolf Nießen (German sailor and Olympic medalist)
• Jasmin Nießen (German performance artist and film-maker)
• Cora Nießen (German television actor)
• Jochem Nießen (Dutch Paralympic swimmer)
• Loup Nießen (Belgian philosopher, bioethicist, and medical doctor)
• Katharina Nießen (German historian and writer)
• André Nießen (Luxembourgian cyclist)
• Erwin Nießen (German actor and theater director)
• Alexander Nießen (German cinematographer)

Other surnames

NießeNießelNießelerNießer