Surname Nelißen - Meaning and Origin
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Nelißen: What does the surname Nelißen mean?
The last name Nelißen is of German origin and is most commonly found in the regions of Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. It may have originally been associated with a person or people from a region called Nellißen, which is no longer in existence. It could also be derived from two other German words: “nelson” (noble) and “neltzer” (pertaining to a waterfall).
The name Nelißen is most likely a patronymic surname, meaning that it was passed down from a father to his children. Patronymic surnames were commonly used in the past and indicate that the ancestor of the name likely came from a particular region. Another concept related to the name is that of an occupational surname, in which an ancestor of the nameholder was a servant or worker in some capacity.
Overall, the origin of the name Nelißen is difficult to determine definitively. It could be derived from someone living in a certain region or simply taken from another name. However, there are records of people with the surname in Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, indicating that it has a strong presence in these areas of Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisNelißen: Where does the name Nelißen come from?
The last name Nelißen is most commonly found today in Germany and the countries of Scandinavia, including Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. These areas are known for having some of the longest-standing genealogical historical records. The origin of the Nelißen last name is a combination of two German words, “Nel” which means needle and “ißen” which means to eat. This suggests that the family who adopted it was known for making needles for a living.
The last name is also common in the Netherlands, where it originated as a variation of the Dutch surname Nellessen. It could also have been a reference to the German (Bohemian) name “Nelzen” which was popular with nobility in the 15th century and would later evolve to “Nalzesen". This could explain why the last name is still popular in German-speaking countries today.
Within Germany, the Nelißen last name is particularly common in cities such as Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg. It is also widespread in East Germany, where since the fall of the Berlin Wall many emigrants from East to West Germany have carried the surname with them.
In the U.S., the Nelißen surname is more rare, but it is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, with other small pockets throughout the Midwest and East Coast. Those who bear the surname in the United States are likely descended from German immigrants who arrived in the 19th or early 20th century.
Variations of the surname Nelißen
The variants of the surname Nelißen include Nelissen, Nelisen, Nelisson, and Nelissone. It is a patronymic or metronymic surname derived from the first name Eli or Elis, both forms of names derived from the Hebrew "Elijah,” meaning “My God is Yahweh” or “Yahweh is my God”.
The surname has been spelled in many different ways including Neliß (German and Dutch), Nelliß (Prussian), Nellißen (Westphalian German), Nelissen (Frisian), Nelissone (Flemish), Nelisen (Luxembourgish, Dutch and Estonian), Nelisone (Occitan), Nellisone (Catalan), Nelisson (Mixed French, Dutch, Luxembourgish and Danish), Nelzonne (Walloon) and Nelissino (Italian).
The forms of the surname appear in other countries such as Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, and even in some parts of the United States. Similarly, the surname appears as Nelison, Nelperson, Nelsan, Nelsin, Nelsson, Nelsen, Nelton, and Netl in certain countries, all of which are considered to have the same origin as Nelißen.
The surname Nelißen is found in records going as far back as the 1200s when two farmers named Wirt Hilse Nellissen and Gerd Nellissen were listed in historical documents in the northern Westphalian region of the Rhine in the 13th century. By the 1500s local records in Westphalia show the Bechtkes family descending from the Nellissen's. The name was adopted by many immigrants over the years due to its unique spelling, which made it easier to retain after relocating to other countries. Today, it is one of the most common surnames in Western Europe, especially in Denmark and Germany, indicative of its long history on the continent.
Famous people with the name Nelißen
- Hippe Nelißen: Danish actor, known for his roles in films such as "A Funny Man" (2011), "Reunion" (2014) and "The Keeper of Lost Causes" (2013).
- Bjarne Nelißen: Danish film director, known for his films such as "The Weight of Water" (2003), "My Sister's Kids in the Snow" (2005), and "Kamikaze" (2007).
- Claus Nelißen: Danish actor and musician, known for his roles in films such as "Borgen" (2010), "Ride Along 2" (2017) and "Egon & Dong" (2015).
- Christian Nelißen: Danish actor and filmmaker, known for his roles in films such as "The Windmill Massacre" (2016), "The Clan" (2016) and "Dead Man's Village" (2010).
- Henrik Nelißen: Danish composer, known for his music compositions in films such as "Oceans" (2009) and "A Hijacking" (2012).
- Emil Nelißen: Danish actor, known for his roles in films such as "To Walk Again" (2014), "Flickering Lights" (2000) and "Anna" (2013).
- Mikkel Nelißen: Danish actor, known for his roles in films such as "A Royal Affair" (2012), "Krøniken" (2003) and "The Last Viking" (2019).
- Mette Nelißen: Danish actress, known for her roles in films such as "Dear Wendy" (2004), "Flickering Lights" (2000) and "Copenhagen" (2014).
- Henrik Nelißen-Ledet: Danish actor, known for his roles in films such as "Hello Darkness" (2013), "The Numbers" (2015) and "The Island" (2009).
- Søren Nelißen: Danish actor, known for his roles in films such as "The Art of Crying" (2006), "On the Edge" (2009) and "Brothers" (2004).