Surname Nihell - Meaning and Origin

Nihell: What does the surname Nihell mean?

Nihell is a surname of Irish origin. It evolved from the old Gaelic name O'Neill, which means "descendant of Niall", a personal name derived from the Gaelic word "niall" meaning "champion". The O'Neills were a powerful Irish clan which produced several High Kings of Ireland. Over time, the surname was anglicized in various forms, such as Neill, Neil, Neal, and Nihell due to English dominance and their efforts to suppress the Irish language and culture. It is important to note that the translation of surnames often resulted in a wide array of spellings, thus the original significance of the name may have been lost or altered through translation. Nevertheless, the name Nihell generally signifies a family history connected to the ancient O’Neills and ultimately carries a connotation of strength, power, and championship.

Nihell: Where does the name Nihell come from?

The surname Nihell is primarily found in England and Ireland today, though it is not as widely distributed as some other surnames. It originated in the Norman region of England in the 12th-13th centuries, and was very common in some parts of the country until the mid-17th century. After that, the name gradually became more widespread as people moved to different parts of the country and to the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

In England, the Nihell surname is most commonly found in the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Durham. It is particularly strong in some parts of West Yorkshire. It has also been relatively common in parts of Ireland since the 1600s, particularly in County Donegal.

In America, the name is not as widely spread as in Britain. Despite this, the states that have the highest percentage of Nihell’s are Pennsylvania, California, New York, Michigan, and Massachusetts.

At present, Nihell is not particularly common, which is why it can be slightly difficult to trace family histories using this surname. Its lower frequency may however mean that individuals bearing the name have a greater chance of being related to one another. If, for example, you have a Nihell relative from England, the chances are that there are other Nihells living in the same part of the world.

Variations of the surname Nihell

The surname Nihell is a rare English name of unknown origin and etymology. Its variants and spelling variants include Nihill, Nihall, Nihal, Nyhill, and Nyholl. All of these variants have a similar pronunciation and share a common root.

This surname could also be a truncation of an Irish or Scottish last name, such as Niall or Neal. Niall is of Irish and Scottish origin and means “champion”. The English spelling of the word is Neal or Neale, but the surname could also be spelled or abbreviated as Nial, Niel, and Nihell.

Other variants of the Nihell surname include: Nyhale, Nyhal, Nyhall, Nyholl, Nyhole, Myhell, Myhal, Myhall, Myholl, Myhale, Myhole, Nyehale, Nyehal, Nyehell, Nyholl, Nyhole, Miyhell, Miyhal, Miyhall, Miyholl, Miyhale, and Miyhole.

All variants of the Nihell surname are uncommon in the United States, but there are some pockets of Nihells in various parts of the country. The Nihells in the United States are mostly descended from Irish and Scottish immigrants who settled in the northeastern part of the country in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Famous people with the name Nihell

• Robert Nihell: English paper mill engineer and inventor.
• Adele Nihell: English author and illustrator of children’s books.
• Martha Nihell: English ultramarathon runner.
• Jane Nihell: English actress of stage and screen.
• Robinson Nihell: British artist known for his liturgical art.
• Christopher Nihell: English writer, poet, and essayist.
• John Nihell: English painter of contemporary classical art.
• Thomas Nihell: English portrait painter.
• Alfred Nihell: English designer of textile prints.
• Mary Nihell: English feminist and philanthropist.

Other surnames

Nihel