Surname Nevala - Meaning and Origin

Nevala: What does the surname Nevala mean?

Nevala is a Finnish surname of geographic origin. The word "Nevala" roughly translates to "swampy place" in English, but it's more faithfully translated as "fen" or "marshland" - a type of wetland covered by shallow water and dominated by grassy vegetation. It suggests that the original bearers of this surname likely resided near or were associated with such a location. The "-la" ending in Finnish surnames is common and generally denotes place or location. However, meanings of surnames can vary greatly, as they were often assigned based on a person's occupation, characteristics, or place of residence, and this specific meaning may not apply to all who bear the surname today. Like many other surnames, today it serves more to indicate family lineage than any particular characteristic or occupation.

Nevala: Where does the name Nevala come from?

The last name Nevala is believed to have originated in Finland. It is most commonly found there today, as well as in other parts of the Scandinavian region, such as Sweden and Norway. It has also been found to be fairly common in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, mainly among immigrants with Finnish backgrounds.

The etymology of the name is unclear but it is thought to have come from one of two sources. The first theory is that the name is a combination of two old Finnish words, neva meaning “riverbank” and la meaning “place”, making the direct translation “riverbank place”. The second possibility is that it is derived from the old Finnish personal name Nefal. Personal names were often used as surnames in Scandinavia, so it is possible that Nevala is derived from this.

Variants of the name include Nevalainen and Nevala-Korpelainen. The former is a patronymic variant of the surname, meaning “son of Nevalainen”, and the latter is a compound of two Finnish words. In the United States, the spelling of the name has also been changed to Nevela or Nevelah.

Regardless of the origin, Nevala is a fairly common surname today. It is frequently used by families with Finnish roots, particularly in Finland, but its use has spread throughout different countries due to immigration and the changing of spelling.

Variations of the surname Nevala

The surname Nevala may have a number of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations of Nevala include Nevalainen, Nevalainene, and Nevela.

Nevalainen typically originates from Finland and is a relatively common last name. It is also found in other Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Sweden. This spelling of the name is derived from the Finnish word 'neva', meaning 'riverbank', and the suffix 'läinen' meaning 'inhabitant of'.

Nevalainene is derived from the same Finnish root word 'neva', and is considered a variant form of the surname Nevala.

Nevela is another variant of Nevala that originated in Sweden and is primarily found in Nordic countries. It is believed to be derived from the Swedish term 'nevle', which has the same meaning as the Finnish word 'neva', the riverbank.

Finally, spelling variations of the surname Nevala may also include Navela and Nivela. Navela is a variant of Nevala, and is primarily found in Latvia. The name Navela derives from the Latvian word 'naba', meaning 'bend in the river'.

Nivela is an uncommon variant spelling of the surname Nevala and is believed to have originated in Estonia. The Estonian root word from which this spelling is derived is 'neva', the same as the Finnish and Swedish root words.

In conclusion, the surname Nevala has a range of variant spellings and surnames of the same origin, which include Nevalainen, Nevalainene, Nevela, Navela, and Nivela.

Famous people with the name Nevala

• Sami Nevala: a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who plays with KooKoo of the Liiga.
• Jessica Nevala: an American model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss California USA in 2018.
• Ville Nevala: a Finnish soundtrack composer and music producer.
• Emilia Nevala: a Finnish National Senior Gymnastics champion.
• Teemu Nevala: a Finnish professional football defender who plays for Klubi 04 of the Kakkonen.
• Tommi Nevala: a Finnish professional football midfielder who last played for KaaPo of the Ykkönen.
• Saku Nevala: a Finnish former professional football striker who last played for FF Jaro of the Ykkönen.
• Vilma Nevala: the first female Member of Parliament in Finland, serving from 1929 to 1936.
• Kimmo Nevala: a Finnish speedway rider who has competed in the Speedway Grand Prix series.
• Jarkko Nevala: a Finnish professional football defender who plays for Ypa of the Kakkonen.

Other surnames

NevalainNevalainen