Surname Neisley - Meaning and Origin

Neisley: What does the surname Neisley mean?

The surname Neisley is of German origin and it is a variant of "Neiswanger," a habitational name for someone from any of various places named Neuschönau in Bavaria. Further, typical of Germanic names, it may have also evolved from a personal name or nickname. The etymological root of the name may come from the German words "neu" meaning new and "schön" meaning beautiful. An administrative division of Austria is named Neusiedl, and there's also a German town called Neusäß. This could suggest possible additional geographical associations. Like many surnames, exact origins can be hard to pin down due to changes in spelling and pronunciation over centuries, as well as migration. Therefore, the precise meaning of 'Neisley’ isn't entirely clear.

Neisley: Where does the name Neisley come from?

The last name Neisley is most commonly found in the United States, with many people being concentrated in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Virginia. It is also present in parts of Canada, particularly in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta. According to the United States Census Bureau, it resided in nearly every US state in 2000, with the highest concentration of Neisleys found in Pennsylvania at that time.

Neisley is thought to be a Germanic surname, possibly derived from the given name Nicolas, the French variant of the Latin name Nicolaus. While the name can be found today throughout the United States, it is especially concentrated in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states where many German settlers originally settled. It is also quite common in counties of Pennsylvania that were initially settled by German immigrants such as Berks, Lehigh, and York. In particular, the 2000 US Census shows the highest concentration of the last name to be located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Today, the Neisley name is found in many documents across the United States and the world, many of them related to immigration. Its continued presence across multiple countries in different regions also suggests that many members of the Neisley family may have participated in international migrations since the early 19th or 20th centuries.

Variations of the surname Neisley

The surname Neisley can take many different forms and spellings. The most common variant is Neiley, but there are other variants and alternate spellings such as Neeley, Nele, Neele, Neis, Nies, Nysley, and Neesley. Variations to consider include Nayles, Neyles, and Neyels.

The surname Neisley is of German origin and its early forms were Neinsel, Neinzil, Neinsil. The first known recording of the name dates to early 11th century Germany, when Conrad Neinzile was recorded in 1230. The name could have originated as a geographical or topographical name, from a geographical area known as "Neinzelle".

The surname can also be used as a metronymic, indicating that the individual was the son or daughter of Nein or Neiss. In this case a variant of Nein, such as Neins or Neyes, would have had to be adopted as a surname.

Variations of the surname Neisley can also be found across Europe, including Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In the United States, the surname has been found since early colonial times, primarily in Pennsylvania, but also in other states such as Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.

In Scotland, the name appeared in its ancient form of Neinsil in a record of the barony of Westerkirk, Dumfries in 1392.

Overall, the surname Neisley has seen numerous spelling variations over its long history and can be found in many variations around the world.

Famous people with the name Neisley

• Chad Neisley: Known as an Americano shoegazer musician, Neisley often pairs up with his brother for live shows.
• Jim Neisley: Brother of Chad, Jim is a well-known bass player.
• Morris Neisley: American painter, photographer, and sculptor.
• Anna Neisley– American voice actress, best known for her work in video games.
• Morgan Neisley- An American multifaceted musician, producer, and songwriter for various acts.
• Gary Neisley: Famous as a US Air Force Brigadier General and Commander of the F-86 division in Korea.
• Kirk Neisley: an experienced trombonist who has served as the principal trombonist in numerous jazz bands.
• Della Neisley: A philanthropist, well known for her discovery of the Neisley-Williams Scholarship.
• Jon Neisley: Skateboarder and videographer for many big skate companies, Neisley is also an actor.
• Mitch Neisley: Famous Arizona Mixed Martial Arts fighter and one-time Strikeforce Bantamweight Champion.

Other surnames

Neisl