Surname Nils - Meaning and Origin
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Nils: What does the surname Nils mean?
The last name Nils is of Norse origin, deriving from the ancient Nordic personal name of “Njall”. This Norse moniker was derived from the Old Norse word “njala”, meaning “nest” or “dwelling”.
The name Nils has seen a dramatic surge in popularity in the last few decades and is still a popular name choice today. It is quite common across Europe, especially in the Nordic countries, and also some Anglo-Saxon countries like the United Kingdom and United States.
In Scandinavia, the name is particularly common and carries infectious positivity. It is a reference to the eternal Sun and its many qualities such as strength, warmth, and awe. It has been thought that this name conveys bright, powerful, and inspiring characteristics upon those who are given it.
The name Nils can also be seen as a patronymic surname, suggesting a direct paternal line of sons named Nils. Patronymic surnames were commonly adopted by families to identify different branches and were mostly passed down from generation to generation.
The name Nils is currently very popular in Sweden, but its strong roots date back to an even earlier era. It is certainly an ancient and meaningful name that still maintains a relevant and powerful presence today.
Order DNA origin analysisNils: Where does the name Nils come from?
The surname Nils is most commonly found among people with a Scandinavian or Northern European heritage. Records show that the name first began appearing in Norway and Sweden during the late Middle Ages and early modern period. It is still quite common in both countries, particularly in rural communities where tradition has been retained. Nils is also found among Scandinavians who have emigrated to other nations throughout Europe, North America, and Australia. In the United States, the name is especially common in Minnesota due to its Scandinavian heritage.
The meaning of the name Nils is debated. The most popular suggestion is that it is a short form of the Biblical name Nicholas, which means 'victor of the people'. Alternatively, it is thought to derive from the old Norse word 'níðlas', meaning 'hunter' or 'military leader'.
Today, the name Nils is still quite popular in many parts of the world, especially in Scandinavian countries and the United States. Despite its long history, the name has endured as an attractive and meaningful choice for baby names.
Variations of the surname Nils
The surname Nils is derived from the given name Nils, which is a Scandinavian version of Nicholas. It is derived from the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos) meaning “victory of the people”. This surname has many variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin including:
Nielsen – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Nils”.
Nelson – A patronymic name derived from the English surname, “son of Nils”.
Nilsson – A Swedish surname derived from the given name Nils.
Nygard – A Scandinavian surname derived from the word “nygaard” which means “newenclosure”.
Nylund – A variant of the Swedish name Nilslund, which is derived from the given name Nils and the word “lund” meaning “grove”.
Nygren – A variant of the surname Nygard, derived from the word “nygren” which means “new branch”.
Nilsen – A Norwegian patronymic name derived from Nils.
Nilsdotter – A matronymic name derived from the given name Nils meaning “daughter of Nils”.
Nilsson-Tenggren – A variant of the last name Nilsson, derived from the Swedish given name Nils and the word “tenggren” which means “tea garden”.
Nilson – A variant of Nilsson and Nelson, derived from the given name Nils.
Nilsson-Vanikainen – A Swedish variant of Nilsson named after the small Finnish island of Vanikainen.
Famous people with the name Nils
- Nils Linke: German video game designer
- Nils Udby: Danish film director
- Nils Bohlin: Swedish inventor of the three-point safety belt
- Nils Poppe: Swedish actor and director
- Nils Holger Moe: Norwegian social anthropologist
- Nils Petter Molvær: Norwegian jazz trumpeter
- Nils Masterlark: Swedish singer, songwriter and record producer
- Nils Gustav Rosén von Rosenstein: Swedish physician and medical reformer
- Nils Liedholm: Swedish football player and manager
- Nils Sörensen: Danish footballer
- Nils Asther: Danish-American actor
- Nils Günter Liedholm: Swedish political scientist and steel company CEO
- Nils Larsen Steen: Norwegian soldier and politician
- Nils Grandelius: Swedish chess grandmaster
- Nils Jönsson: Swedish dancer, choreographer, singer and director
- Nils Dardel: Swedish painter
- Nils Søren Qvigstad: Norwegian jurist and politician
- Nils Anderssen: Norwegian mathematician
- Nils Malmros: Danish film director, screenwriter and producer
- Nils Juul: Danish sports shooter
- Nils Fjellström: Swedish speed skater
- Nils Vidar Ingulstad: Norwegian journalist
- Nils Strandberg: Finnish actor
- Nils Reinhardt Krog: Norwegian architect
- Nils Ejlertsson: Swedish actor