Surname Nellis - Meaning and Origin
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Nellis: What does the surname Nellis mean?
The last name Nellis is an Anglo-Saxon English name that originated from a geographical locality. In the Middle Ages, surnames identified people according to where they were from, their trades, and their personal characteristics. In this case, the name Nellis comes from a place in the area of Manchester in England. The place was called Nether Nellis, meaning 'lower meadows'. This name likely referred to a area in the valley of a river, or a marshy area.
The name came to be given to people who had come from that region, and who were identified with that area. In the earliest records of the name, the spelling was very diverse and changed depending on the document or language of the author. Examples include: Nelle, Nell, Nellys, and today, Nellis.
This family name has since spread around the world, carried by individuals who wanted to settle in different climates and countries. Today, individuals with the last name Nellis hail from countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
The name Nellis represents a broader theme in English surnames of identifying individuals based on where they came from or what region they identified with. This practice has become increasingly unusual in modern times, though the Nellis family name will continue to be a reminder of the geography and culture associated with its original origins.
Order DNA origin analysisNellis: Where does the name Nellis come from?
The last name Nellis is relatively common throughout the United States, but is especially prominent in some parts of the country. The highest concentrations of people with the Nellis surname are found in New York, followed closely by Pennsylvania and Ohio. However, the name is actually of Dutch ancestry, and is still fairly common in the Netherlands.
The earliest recorded Nellis ancestor in America was Jan Nellis, who immigrated from Holland in 1650 and eventually settled in upstate New York. Over the centuries, the Nellisses spread out to other areas of the US, and today the name is found throughout the country.
Nellis is also popular in Australia, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria. This can be attributed to the large influx of European immigrants into Australia in the nineteenth century.
In the Netherlands, records of the name Nellis date back to 1548, and there is a small village called Nellis in the province of Groningen. Nellis is also fairly common in France, primarily in the regions of Normandy and Picardy.
In addition, Nellis is a common last name in many countries in Europe, including Belgium, Spain, and Scotland. Thus, the last name Nellis is widely distributed throughout the world today, from its roots in the Netherlands to its modern-day popularity in the United States and beyond.
Variations of the surname Nellis
Nellis is a surname with multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations of the name Nellis include Nells, Nelliss, Nellys, Neliss, Neles, and Neliss. Other variations include Nele, Nel, Nelle, Nelesse, Nelleman, Nellisen, Nellist, Nellsoon, Nellow, Nellsie, Nellstein, Nellystone, Nellwood, Nelligon, Nelliman, Nelley, Nelligan, Nelzar, Neltner, Neltz, Neltman, Nelshen and Nelsen.
The surname is believed to have Germanic origins and has been traced to Niederlausitz, a region located in the northeast corner of Germany on the border of Poland and Czech Republic. It is also speculated that the surname originated from Antwerp, Belgium as early records of the name can be found in Antwerp by the year of 1501.
In England, the name Nellis has been associated with Leicester, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire counties. In the United States, the surname can be found in large numbers in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Jersey.
Despite its Germanic roots, the surname Nellis has been found in numerous countries including Canada, Scotland, Wales and Australia. Various spelling variations of the name are still being used today.
Famous people with the name Nellis
- Walter Nellis (1884–1955), American Major League Baseball outfielder
- John Nellis (1874–1941), American Major League Baseball player
- Barbara Nellis (1931–2013), American actress
- Robert Nellis (1912–1980), American Major League Baseball player
- Jack Nellis (born 1939), American Major League Baseball manager
- Joshua Nellis (born 1977), American professional baseball pitcher
- Kyle Nellis (born 1981), American college football coach
- Barbara G. Nellis (born 1933), American librarian
- David Nellis (born 1947), American pianist and academic
- Wally Nellis (born 1928), American racing driver