Surname Nolen - Meaning and Origin

Unravelling Genetic Surprises: The Tale of Surname Nolen

While delving deep into my genetic makeup and surname origins with the help of iGENEA DNA test, I came across some unexpected turns that helped me understand my lineage better. The revelations were truly surprising!

E. Nolen

Nolen: What does the surname Nolen mean?

The surname Nolen is of Irish and English origin. It is a variant of Nolan, which is derived from the Gaelic surname Ó Nualláin meaning "descendants of Nuallán". The name Nuallán itself is derived from two Gaelic words, "nuall" meaning "noble, famous" and "-án", a diminutive suffix. Therefore, the meaning of Nuallán, and by extension Nolen, would be "little famous one" or "descendant of the little famous one". This surname generally points to a person’s ancestor who had achieved some form of notoriety or fame. Considering the vast migration of Irish and English people during the 17th and 18th centuries, this surname is now found in many parts of the world. It can have variations in its spelling such as Nolen, Nolan, Knowlan, Noland, and more depending on geographical locations and local pronunciation.

Nolen: Where does the name Nolen come from?

The last name Nolen is an English surname that is widely distributed throughout the United States. It can be found in high concentrations in the southern states, particularly in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. It is also relatively common in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, and West Virginia. Nolen is also present in other parts of the Anglophone world, particularly Australia and the United Kingdom, with a notable presence in both countries.

Nolen is a patronymic name derived from the given name "Nolan," a medieval variant of the Irish name "Ó Nualláin" meaning "descendent of an Nuallán." An Nuallán was the Irish god of hospitality and the giver of gifts, hence the popularity of the surname in Ireland. The Nolen surname can be found in records in the British Isles as early as the 12th century, and was brought to the United States by Anglo-Scottish settlers in the 17th century.

Nolen is still a relatively common surname today. According to the Social Security Administration, it ranks at position 4,521 in terms of popularity in the US and its variants occur at roughly one in every 45,000 people. That being said, Nolen tends to be more common in certain parts of the country like the Southern states and those mentioned previously.

Variations of the surname Nolen

The surname Nolen is derived from the Old Norse name Njal (Njall), which is anglicized to Nalon. It is most common in Northern Ireland, where it is found in County Antrim and County Tyrone. In Ireland, the Nolen name is considered a variant of Noland. It is also a variant of Nalen, Nallon, Nolan, Nolin, Nolin, Nowlan, and Noulan.

In Scotland, the spelling is usually Nolon or Nolun. In England, Nolen is generally found in the north of the country, especially in Cumberland in North West England and in Lancashire, where the most common variant is Nolon. Other variants include Noolan, Noolin, and Noulon.

In the United States, the Nolen family descended mainly from Irish emigrants, with variants that include Noland, Nolon, Nowlin and Nollan. In Canada, especially Nova Scotia, the most common form of Nolen is Noland.

Other variants found around the world include Morleans, Morlen, Morlan, Nolen, Neolen, and Nora, which are patronymic forms of the Old Norse name, Njal. In Germany there is a form of the surname, Nölle, and and in Poland there is a form, Nowal.

Famous people with the name Nolen

• Jim Nolen: professional golfer
• William Nolen: Pulitzer Prize-winning American author
• Neil Nolen: professional boxer
• Terra Nolen: American soccer goalkeeper and Paralympic athlete
• Anthony Nolen: former NFL cornerback
• Arash Nolen: professional football player
• Brent Nolen: former NASCAR driver
• Charles Stanley Nolen: former judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals
• David Nolen: American software engineer and computer scientist
• J.E. Nolen: American sculptor and medalist

Other surnames

Noles