Surname Nelius - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'N'
Nelius: What does the surname Nelius mean?
The last name Nelius is believed to be of German origin and is derived from the ancient German name "Nigel" which can be translated to mean "champion" or "winner". In early Germany, this name was typically given to boys who were expected to be great warriors and leaders.
Due to the popularity of this name in Germany, variations began to appear, among them being the Nelius form. The name can be found in records from the 14th century in the form of "Neele". It later appeared as the name "Nelsen", which is a much more common form of the name and it is thought to be related to a word meaning "son of Niles".
The roots of the name lie in the Biblical character—Niles, son of Reuben, son of Jacob. This would suggest that the name could be of Jewish origin, or at least derived from one.
Today, this surname is found quite commonly across Germany and various other European countries in different variations such as Nilse, Nilius and Nelius. In North America, the surname is much less common, although there are still a few people carrying it. It is thought that those with the name Nelius are hardworking and ambitious individuals who strive for excellence in whatever they do.
Order DNA origin analysisNelius: Where does the name Nelius come from?
Nelius is a surname with German origin. Today, it's found mostly in Germany, as well as in other parts of Europe and North America.
In Germany, the largest concentrations of this surname are in the states of Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria, and Lower Saxony. It's also relatively frequent in Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt, and Rhineland-Palatinate.
In France, Nelius is a relatively common surname, especially in the French region of Brittany. It is also found in other parts of France such as Alsace and Lorraine.
In the Netherlands, Nelius is mostly found in the North and East of the country.
In Switzerland, the surname is relatively common in the German-speaking region of the country, with most people bearing the name originating from the cantons of Zurich, Lucerne, St Gallen, and Graubunden.
In Canada, Nelius is mainly found in Quebec and Ontario with more than 400 people living in these two provinces who share the same last name. It's also found in smaller numbers in Alberta, British Columbia, and the rest of Canada.
In the United States, Nelius is mainly found in the Midwest and West Coast. It's also present in small numbers in other parts of the country. There are more than 8,000 people living in the US with this last name.
All in all, although most people with the Nelius surname originally come from Germany, today it can be found in many parts of Europe, North America, and other regions around the world.
Variations of the surname Nelius
The surname Nelius is a variant of the surname Nelson, which is a patronymic derived from the first name Neil, meaning “champion”, “cloud”, or “passionate”.
Other spellings and variants of the surname Nelius are Nelis, Neelis, Neillius, Nillius, Nilus, Nellis, Nels, Nelson, Nellus, and Neilson. It is a relatively rare surname and is not found in many countries, although it is most commonly found in Scandinavia and some parts of the United Kingdom.
Different parts of the world have their own spin on the surname Nelius. In the Netherlands it is often spelled as Nelis, while in Scotland it is sometimes given as Neillius. The United States first saw the name Nelson as a variation of Nelius in the 1800s, when many Scandinavian immigrants arrived.
Other variations of Nelius, such as Nellis, is often found in the United States and parts of Canada. And Nilus, a spelling most commonly found in Australia, is believed to be a phonetic spelling variation of Nelius.
The surname Nelius is also associated with a number of other surnames, such as Nielsen, Nilsson, Nilssen, Neilson, and Neilssen, which are all derived from the same original source: Neil. These variations are found in countries like Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
Overall, there is no question that the surname Nelius has a long and interesting history. Its many different spellings, variants, and associations provide a window into the lives of our ancestors and their unique journeys.
Famous people with the name Nelius
- William Nelius: He is a retired American soccer forward who most notably played in Major League Soccer from 1996 until 1998 with the New England Revolution and Kansas City Wizards.
- Chris Nelius: He is a writer from Australia, known for his television shows like “Neighbours” and “Home and Away”.
- Patrick Nelius: He is an actor from Germany, who starred in a few films, such as “Auf der Suche nach Paul” and “Robin Hood and the Sorcerer”.
- Peter Nelius: He is a British composer who has created several movie and video game soundtracks, including “The Lion King” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”.
- Martina Nelius: She is a German journalist, best known for her work on television programs such as “CAT Spezial” and “Mysterien des Mittelalters”.
- André Nelius: He is a South African singer and actor, most famous for his appearance as Peter Pan in the “Peter Pan: The Musical” production at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town.
- Thomas Nelius: He is an artist from Norway, well-known for his sculptures and public art projects.
- Manfred Nelius: He is a Dutch music producer and audio engineer, known for his work with bands like “Within Temptation” and “Daisyhead”.
- Wolfgang Nelius: He is an Austrian professor and historian, who published several works about the Biography and Economics in Europe.