Surname Neesen - Meaning and Origin
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Neesen: What does the surname Neesen mean?
The last name Neesen is a patronymic surname which originated from northern Germany. Derived from the given name Niessen, the surname is believed to have been derived from the personal name Niels, a shortened form of Nicholas. In the Netherlands, Neesen is an extremely common name, and Dutch records indicate that it dates back at least to the 1500s.
In Germany, Neesen is a a topographic name for someone who lived near a swamp or wet meadow, derived from the Old German nihe as a combination of ni (“wet”) and he (“meadow”).
The variants of the name can include Neese, Niesen, Nissen, Niessen, Meessen, Nessen, and Meise. Individuals with the last name Neesen have emigrated to many different countries, including the United States, Argentina, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
The surname is believed to have been brought to the United States in the 1700s by German settlers. It is most prominent in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, and New York. It is in these areas of the United States where individuals with the last name Neesen live today.
Order DNA origin analysisNeesen: Where does the name Neesen come from?
The surname Neesen is today most commonly found in the Low Countries, particularly in Belgium, the Netherlands, and in both the Luxembourg region and in Luxembourg itself. It is also found in countries with more recent ties to these countries, such as Germany, Denmark, Norway, and even Australia.
In the Netherlands, it is not a particularly common name as of yet, but the name is mainly found in the eastern province of Drenthe. In Belgium, it is found mostly in the east and the centre of the country, in the provinces of Liège, Namur, and Luxembourg, but certain occurrences of the name can also be found in the Brussels and Walloon regions as well.
In the German region of North Rhine-Westphalia, this name is most commonly associated with Krefeld and the surrounding area, where it is still quite common today. In Denmark, it is mostly found in the capital city of Copenhagen and neighbouring cities such as Odense and Vejle.
In Norway, the name is found mainly in the more rural parts of the country, such as in the areas surrounding the cities of Trondheim, Bergen, and Stavanger. In Australia, this is a relatively rare surname but still can be found in prominent communities in the eastern states of New South Wales, South Australia, and even Victoria.
Variations of the surname Neesen
Neesen is a surname derived from the German word 'Nees', which is a variant of 'Nas'. This surname was common in the region of South America during the 15th-17th centuries, but is now found across the world.
Variants of the surname Neesen include Neesan, Neson, Neessen, Nessen, Neisen, Neeson, Nissen, Niesen, Nece, Neesman and Neesmann. Additionally, the surname may be altered due to different regional or linguistic variations, for example, Neise in south German dialects.
The most common spelling of Neesen is Neeson, although it is more likely that the surname is spelled Nessen in Germany and other German-speaking regions, due to the influence of Dutch spelling and language, which uses a double 's'.
Neesen is not to be confused with Abrahamsen, a Danish and Norwegian habitational surname possibly derived from the given name Abraham, or with Natzmer and Natzmair, which are both derived from the German word 'Natzer', meaning 'ruler'.
In the Netherlands, you can also find the surname spelled as Neesem or Niessen. In Poland, the surname is often spelled as Neisman and Niemann.
Overall, Neesen is a surname with many variants and spellings, including Neeson, Nessen, Niessman, Niesman, Nece, Neise, Neesman, Nissen, Niesen, Abrahamsen, Natzmer, Natzmair and more. It is a surname still found today around the world, although it is more commonly found in German-speaking countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands.
Famous people with the name Neesen
- Liam Neeson: Irish actor best known for appearing in action films such as Taken, The Grey, Schindler’s List, and Love Actually.
- Nat Neeson: Australian singer and songwriter, lead singer of iconic rock band Cold Chisel.
- Justin Neeson: English actor and writer, best known for roles in films like Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Bright Young things.
- Don Neeson: Canadian former National Hockey League player, playing in the league between 1978 and 1983.
- Dan Neeson: iconic Australian actor and comedian, most well known for his role in the long-running soap opera ‘Neighbours’.
- David Neeson: British journalist and author, writing about topics such as politics and technology.
- Stephen Neeson: Northern Irish politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Northern Ireland.
- Miriam Neeson: Irish actress, appearing in film and television across her career.
- Bill Neeson: Northern Irish former footballer, playing in the English leagues between 1969 and 1979.
- Lou Neesen: American former college basketball player, best known for his time as a member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, where he won two Big East championships.