Surname Nellies - Meaning and Origin
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Nellies: What does the surname Nellies mean?
The origin of the last name Nellies is uncertain. One possible root of the name is derived from the Dutch word 'nel', meaning 'light'. This suggests that individuals from this family may have been noted for being physically or mentally agile. Additionally, some experts suggest that the root of the surname could be from the Middle English word meaning 'daughter,' in the sense that individuals bearing this name could have been daughters of someone distinguished.
The Nellies surname has been present in record books since 1374, when Radulphus filius Nelyes was recorded in Oxfordshire, England. Over the subsequent centuries, the surname spread to multiple countries, particularly in Europe and North America. Today, the last name is still prominent in many places around the world.
Despite the mystery surrounding the origin of the surname, many traditions are shared amongst families with the last name Nellies. The descendants of this lineage often share a love of knowledge, music, and art, and continue to value the importance of close-knit family relationships. Many of these families find their connections to their roots an integral part of their identity.
Order DNA origin analysisNellies: Where does the name Nellies come from?
Nellies is a very old surname originating from the French city of Nantes. There are many descendants of the Nellies family scattered all over the world. The last name Nellies is most commonly found in parts of Holland, Canada, the United States, and South Africa.
In the United States, Nellies' descendants can be found in the states of Texas, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Florida, Virginia, California, and Illinois. Canada - mainly in the cities of Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, and Toronto, and in South Africa - mainly in the provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Free State.
Perhaps the most famous Nellies in the United States today is one of baseball's all-time greats, Tiger Nellies. The legendary pitcher Nolie Nellies struck out 197 batters over his nine-year Major League career. In the Canadian provinces, yodeler Janet Nellies is known for her work with numerous folk bands such as the Vancouver Folk Band, Chilliwack Bluegrass Band, and the Wild Rose Folk Band.
Although the last name of Nellies has waned in the past century, it is still found in many countries. Those bearing this name can trace their roots back to the city of Nantes and are proud to carry on the Nellies legacy.
Variations of the surname Nellies
Nellies is a Dutch and Flemish surname with several variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin, including Nelis, Nelleis, Nelises, Nellijs, Nellissen, and Nelissen.
Nellies is a patronymic surname, which means it is derived from the personal name of the father. This is often the first name or grandfather’s first name. The root of the surname is likely Nico or Nicolaes, which are both derived from the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos), meaning “victor of the people”.
The various surnames come from various migrations of the same family. In Dutch, the ‘i’ ending could be used to differentiate between variants of the same spelling. An example would be Nellijs vs Nellis.
The suffixes ‘sen’ and ‘en’ are used differently in Dutch and Flemish, with ‘en’ oftentimes being used by Flemish speakers. As a result, both Nellissen and Nelissen are variants of the same surname.
Nellies and its variants can be further divided into geographic regions. Nellijs can be found mostly in the Netherlands, while the more common Nelis isn’t found outside of Flanders.
Lastly, other surnames of the same origin include Noels, Noelsen, Noois, and Nooijs.
Famous people with the name Nellies
- Mark Nellies: German professional basketball player in the NBA.
- Charles Nellies: former Canadian politician and Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1925 to 1931.
- Donald Nellies: former British Member of Parliament for the East Fife constituency.
- Mathieu Nellies: French freestyle skier who represented France at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
- Stan Nellies: British singer-songwriter and musician best known for his hit single, “I Wanna Be An Astronaut”.
- Ryan Nellies: American baseball pitcher in the MLB.
- Justin Nellies: American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist currently signed to WWE.
- Andy Nellies: Canadian figure skater and five-time national champion.
- Samuel Nellies: Greek opera singer and tenor who has performed with some of the world's leading opera houses.
- Lydia Nellies: Dutch television presenter and journalist known for her work on the Netherlands' TV show “HBO Channels”.