Surname Neander - Meaning and Origin
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Neander: What does the surname Neander mean?
The last name Neander is derived from the German word "neander," meaning "new man." It's believed to have been first used by a family living in the Rhineland region of Germany during the Middle Ages. Its roots go back to an old German word for "man," which was used to refer to a large, strong, and brave individual.
Over time, the word evolved into the surname Neander. In its early forms, the name was spelled Nieder or Neuder. Eventually, it took the form Neander and came to refer to people of strong, noble character.
Throughout the centuries, the Neander surname has been linked to German nobility. In fact, several members of the family served in the court of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V.
Today, the surname has a strong presence in Germany and other German-speaking regions, such as Austria and Swiss. It can also be found around the world in countries with large German populations, such as America, Canada, and Australia.
Overall, the surname Neander is a proud, time-honored moniker of German origin, with strong ties to nobility and honor.
Order DNA origin analysisNeander: Where does the name Neander come from?
The last name Neander is commonly found in Germany and its surrounding regions today. It is also frequently seen in parts of the UK, including Northern England, Southern Scotland, and Wales. Neander can also be found in the United States, with a concentration in Pennsylvania, where many early German immigrants settled.
The Neander surname comes from the Germanic word neurod, which means “strong or brave”. This last name likely originated from a nickname for a courageous soldier or a hunter. An alternative origin for the last name may be from the river Nieder, which was an affluent of the Rhine river.
The original Neander family was a prominent family in Germany in the 1600s. Many Neander descendants live all over Germany today, as well as Belgium, Netherlands, and Switzerland.
In addition to these locations, Neander can be found in the Philippines, Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand.
In the United States, the peak of the Neander surname came around the early 19th century. Records from the Glore Family Center in St. Louis indicate that more than 700 Neander immigrants arrived in the United States between 1717 and 1867. Most settled in Pennsylvania, while others spread out through the Midwest, Northeast, and beyond.
The Neander last name is still in use today, although it is certainly not as common as it once was. Hopefully future generations will benefit from the legacy of the Neander family and their strong connection to our shared ancestral homeland, Germany.
Variations of the surname Neander
The surname Neander is primarily of German origin. It is derived from the German Neumann, meaning "newman". The variants of Neander include: Neumayer, Neumann, Naumann, Neimann, Neyman, Newmann, Newman, Naumann, Niemann, Nimann, and Neimayer.
Neumann/Neuman is the primary spelling, and is found mostly in Germany. Naumann/Naumann is found mainly in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria. Neimann/Neimann is mainly found in the northern regions of Germany. Neumayer/Neimayer is found mainly in Austria. Neyman/Neymann is an old variant of this name primarily found in Central and Eastern Europe. Newmann/Newman is found mainly in Central and Eastern Europe.
In some cases, the surname Neander has also been adapted and spelled differently. For instance, Neuman may have been adapted to Numan, Noman, or Numon in some parts of Eastern Europe. Niemann has sometimes been adapted into other spellings such as Numan and Nimon. Nimann may have become Nimson and Nimsen in some areas. Additionally, Neumann has sometimes been interchanged with Nocon, Nieman or Nico.
Today, the surname Neander is predominantly found in Austria, Germany, and Eastern Europe. It is also found in parts of the United States, Canada, and Australia due to migration from Europe.
Famous people with the name Neander
- Jakob Neander (1650–1680), German poet and hymn writer
- Andreas Neander (1650–1680), German theologian, philosopher and hymnwriter
- Philipp August Neander (1723–1789), German theologian and church historian
- Johann Jacob Neander (1741–1810), German theologian and philosopher
- Johann Neander (1789–1850), German theologian
- Joseph Neander (1793–1860), German educator
- Karl Immanuel Neander (1792–1850), German musicologist and historian
- Wilhelm Neander (1798–1875), German Styrian-born botanist
- Johannes Neander (1814–1880), German theologian
- Christian Dietrich Neander (1818–1890), German jurist
- Kurt Neander (1913–1972), German actor
- Gerald Neander (1928–2020), German theologian and professor
- Armin Neander (born 1944), German jurist
- Martin Neander (born 1982), German footballer
- Denise Neander (born 1983), German rower
- Julius Neander (active since 2006), Hamburg sculptor and painter