Surname Neier - Meaning and Origin

Neier: What does the surname Neier mean?

The last name Neier seems to be of Germanic origin, however, its meaning is not well defined in public records. It could be a variant of several other surnames. In some instances, it may be a derivation of the surname "Neuer", which has its roots in the Middle High German "niuwe", meaning 'new' and was likely initially given as a nickname to someone who was new to a village or community. It could also be a variant of the surname "Neier", which might have been given to people who lived near a river. It's also possible that it's a variant of the German-Jewish surname "Neier", derived from the Yiddish word 'neier', meaning 'tailor'. Given the vagueness surrounding the origin and meaning of the surname Neier, it's possible that different families with this name have different origins. It's also worth noting that many surnames have evolved in their spelling and pronunciation over centuries, leading to a range of variants.

Neier: Where does the name Neier come from?

The last name Neier is most commonly found in Germany, where it possibly has its origin. There are a few people with the last name Neier in various parts of Europe including Switzerland, Austria and Denmark. The name Neier can also be found in other locations around the world, primarily in the United States.

In the United States, Neier is a relatively rare surname, mainly found in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Jersey. It is likely that most, if not all, of the people carrying this surname in the States are of Germanic descent. It likely spread to the US from the German immigrants who came to the country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Interestingly, a handful of Neier families are also found in Australia, which may indicate that some early Germanic immigrants settled down in the country.

Overall, the last name Neier is mainly found in Germany and other parts of Europe, though a few Neiers can be found in various parts of the world. It likely originated in Germany, and later spread to other countries, primarily through immigration.

Variations of the surname Neier

The surname Neier is of German origin, with variants and spellings including Nair, Nayer, Neirer, Neyer, Neyerchuk, Naer, Naeher, and Näher. It is a habitational name, coming from localities such as Nair in the Rhineland region, or Neier in Baden, Bavaria, as well as a variant spelling of Meyer, which means "farmer" or "caution".

Neier is an old nickname for "knight" or a nobleman in German, so it is likely derived from this as well. Additional variants of Neier in other European languages include Najer, Najrer, Nejer, Naider, and Neire. In Yiddish, the surname is often spelled Nayyer, and in Anglo-Saxon, Neir, Neare, and Neere.

The Swedish variant of the Neier surname is Näyer, and the Dutch variant is de Neijer or Neijer. The Danish variant is Najer, and the Slovenian variant is N'er. In Italy, the Neier surname is often spelled Neir or Ner.

In some cases, Neier may also be an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Ó Néill or O’Neill from County Antrim in Northern Ireland, derived from the personal name Niall, which comes from the Irish word "neach", meaning ‘person' or ‘family'. The German variant of this surname is Neel, and the Dutch variant is Neelen.

Neier is also found as a Jewish Ashkenazic name, either originating from Nájer, the name for a former flooded village in Czech Republic, or from Neyer, a variant of Meyer. The Jewish variants for Neier include Neir, Nejr, Neyer, and Neyerchik.

Famous people with the name Neier

• Daniel Neier: German TV producer and social media personality
• Gary Neier: American lawyer and Executive Vice President of Americans United for Separation of Church and State
• Eric Neier: American soccer player who last played for the Major League Soccer team Philadelphia Union
• Arthur Neier: American architect and designer
• Ryan Neier: American basketball player who currently plays for Ballin' Berlin in the German Basketball League
• Dale Neier: American track and field athlete who competed in the decathlon event
• David Neier: German musician, writer, inventor and futurist
• Richard Neier: German theatre and film actor
• Ursula Neier: German actress and voice actress
• Georg Neier: German sculptor best known for his work in the European Baroque style of sculpture.

Other surnames

Neie