Surname Nissley - Meaning and Origin

Nissley: What does the surname Nissley mean?

The surname Nissley is of German origin and primarily associated with regions where German is or was spoken. The exact meaning is not explicitly defined in many historical or etymology records, which is common for many surnames. Like many European surnames, it could have been derived from a profession, location, personal name, or characteristic. It could be a variation of other German surnames like Nussle or Nissel, which refer to people living near nut trees. Notably, numerous people with the surname Nissley served as Mennonite ministers and bishops, indicating a long-standing tie to the Mennonite faith community. Therefore, the Nissley name is particularly common among Pennsylvanian Dutch communities. The name is relatively uncommon and likely carried over to the United States and other countries through immigration. In terms of current name carriers, highest concentrations are seen in North America. Remember that the actual meaning of the surname might be personal and could differ from family to family.

Nissley: Where does the name Nissley come from?

The last name Nissley is most commonly associated with the United States, in particular Pennsylvania, where the majority of the population with that surname resides today. It is a relatively rare surname, with only about 1,000 people in the United States carrying the last name in 2019.

The surname Nissley is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German personal name "Nisse", which was a pet form of "Theodor" (or "Dietrich"). The earliest known record of the name was in Germany in the 14th century.

In the years following, the Nissleys migrated to the United States in the 1700s and 1800s, eventually settling in Pennsylvania, where their presence can still be strongly felt today. About 60% of the Nissleys in the United States live in this Mid-Atlantic state, with the majority clustered around Lancaster County, making it the epicenter of the surname.

Other states with noticeable populations of the Nissley name include Kansas, New York, Virginia, and Ohio. In addition, there are also small populations outside of the United States in Canada, and even smaller numbers in the United Kingdom. However, the current concentration of the Nissley surname lies primarily in the United States, with Pennsylvania being its strongest representation.

Variations of the surname Nissley

The Nissley surname is primarily spelled as such. It is an American or English surname of Germanic origin, which means ‘son of Nisse’, or ‘son of the little deity’. The spelling variants of Nissley include Nisley, Nislie, Nusley, Nuslie, Niesley, Nieslie, Niyisley, and Niyislie.

The surname is particularly widespread in the United States of America, where it was first found in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It has also spread to other parts of North America, including Canada and Mexico. In Australia, the surname can mainly be found in the states of New South Wales and Victoria.

Other surnames that share the same origin as Nissley include Nesler, Nissler, Neisler, Nuslar, and Nusler. In Germany, the surname is usually spelled Nüsseler or Nüßeler.

The alternate spellings and variations of Nissley come from the different dialects of the various languages spoken in the different countries where it can be found. For example, the variant Nusley has been suggested to be a combination of two different German dialects: Low German and Middle German. Similarly, ‘Nislie’ is thought to have originated from the combination of Low German and Anglo-Saxon words. Consequently, there are a variety of spellings of this surname, although the most common one remains Nissley.

Famous people with the name Nissley

• Lorrie Nissley, an American actress best known for her role as M'.H. on the television series Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters
• Michael Nissley, an American Republican politician who served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• David Nissley, an American former professional baseball player
• Kirah Nissley, an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Symetra Tour
• Janelle Nissley, an American competitive figure skater
• Marilyn Nissley, an American photographer and artist
• LaRue Nissley, an American jazz pianist, singer, and composer
• Rieth Nissley, a Canadian professional soccer player
• Emily Nissley, a British actress most known for her role in the television series The Missing
• Kirk Nissley, an American college lacrosse player who has played for the Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team.

Other surnames

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