Surname Nassau - Meaning and Origin

Nassau: What does the surname Nassau mean?

The last name Nassau is a German and Dutch surname thought to have originated in the region of Nassau, found in the Rhine region of Germany. The name refers to a duchy that was founded in the 12th century to become the dominant principality of Germany’s western states. The name is derived from the Nela river that goes through the area.

Today, the name is still common throughout Germany, with the largest number of people bearing the name living in the state of Lower Saxony. It is also popular in other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands, Switzerland, and France. Furthermore, it is also common in some other parts of the world, such as the United States and parts of Canada.

In many cases, the Nassau name is associated with names found in the historic duchy, including a line of wealthy, powerful aristocrats who would later become the royals of the Netherlands. Examples of the most famous name holders include Dukes Adolf and Vilhelm, who governed the duchy and its several territories. Furthermore, Alexander von Humboldt, and his brothers Wilhelm and Ludwig, are thought to have used the last name Nassau.

In the view of many historians and genealogists, the Nassau name has symbolic significance for many people of German heritage. The name is indicative of numerous milestones in the history of German culture, and is thus associated with strength, royalty, and a kind of nostalgia that remains strong even today.

Nassau: Where does the name Nassau come from?

The last name Nassau is commonly found in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland today. Many also trace their origins to the Grand Duchy of Nassau - an independent state between 1806 and 1866 located in what is now western Germany and the Netherlands. The Grand Duchy of Nassau was a member of the German Confederation - a loose confederation of German states that existed from 1815 to 1866 before the establishment of the German Empire in 1871 - and was led by the House of Nassau, a dynasty that spanned parts of present-day Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

Being an independent entity for 60 years, it is not surprising that there are some people who keep the last name Nassau alive today. In the Netherlands, Nassau is the 23rd most common surname according to the Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie data from 2014. It is the 8th most common last name in Germany and the 4th most common in Austria. In Switzerland, the name is less common, ranking 83rd, but still widely found.

Today, the Nassau name stands for noblesse, power, and stability due to its long legacy in European history. The House of Nassau has lived on for centuries and many people of this last name still live and work in the countries where the name originated.

Variations of the surname Nassau

Nassau is a surname derived from a region in Germany. It has several variants and spellings depending on the language, including Nassow, Nassov, Nassauer, Nassow-Sandweiler, and Nassoff. It is derived from the German word "Nassaw" which means "hollow ground". In the Netherlands, the surname is Nassou, while in Danish it is written as Nassov or Nassaue.

In France, like other German surnames, the spelling of Nassau has been interpreted differently over time and depending on local dialects. French variants include Nassau, Nassault, Naskaou, Nassault-Dufaux, Nassault-Victor, Nassaut, Nassart, and Nassau-le-Viel.

In English, the surname’s most common spelling is Nassau, but English variants can also be Nassow, Nassov, Nascus, and Nassauer. Across Latin Europe the spelling varies, and Italian interpretations of the name can be Naselli, Nasella, Nasalli, Nassoni, and Nasello.

In the UK, the Nassau surname can also be found with various spellings such as Nassaw, Nassou, Nassow, Nassic, Nassau, and Nasou. It is possible many of the variants of the Nassau surname over time may have been influenced by the foreign countries in which those people with the surname first settled.

Famous people with the name Nassau

• Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands: Willem-Alexander (born Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand) is the reigning king of the Netherlands, reigning since 30 April 2013. He is the oldest child and heir apparent of Queen Beatrix and is a member of the Dutch royal family. His mother bestowed upon him the title of Prince of Orange at birth in 1967.
• Albrecht von Bernstorff, German diplomat and statesman: Albrecht von Bernstorff was a German diplomat and statesman who served as the German diplomat in Washington, D.C., from 1904 to 1917, during World War I. Prior to this he had served as German Ambassador to the United States from 1889 to 1904.
• Alexander Von Nassau-Weilburg, Grand Duke of Luxembourg: Alexander Von Nassau-Weilburg, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, was Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1890 to his death in 1905. He was a great-grandson of William I, Prince of Orange.
• Rudolf Johannes Joseph Rainer von Nassau-Usingen: Rudolf Johannes Joseph Rainer von Nassau-Usingen was a German diplomat who served as the President of the Bavarian royal cabinet from 1867 to 1898.
• Marie Adelaide, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Princess of Nassau-Weilburg: Marie Adelaide was a German princess who reigned as the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg from 1912 to 1919. She was a daughter of William IV, Prince of Orange, and his wife, Princess Marie of Luxembourg.
• Erich Detlev von Moltke, German field marshal: Erich Detlev von Moltke was a German field marshal who served in the German military from 1857 to 1917, including service in the Second World War. He was a member of the House of Nassau-Usingen.
• Prince Georg of Nassau-Usingen: Prince Georg was a German prince of the House of Nassau-Usingen who was a general in the Prussian Army. He served as a colonel in the Prussian Guard cavalry and as a military advisor to Kaiser Wilhelm II.
• Erwin von Wied, German politician: Erwin von Wied was a German politician who served as a member of the Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg branch of the House of Nassau. He was a member of the Reichstag from 1907 to 1919 and was chairman of the German Democratic Party from 1920 to 1933.
• Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, German general: Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck was a German General and soldier who served in World War I. He was born into the House of Nassau-Sarre and was one of Germany's most renowned war heroes.

Other surnames

Nassar