Surname Nörnberg - Meaning and Origin
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Nörnberg: What does the surname Nörnberg mean?
The last name Nörnberg is a German locational surname that originates from the city of Nürnberg in Bavaria, Germany. It is derived from the Middle High German words for "nur" meaning "bare" or "barely" and "berg" meaning "mountain" or "hill". People who bore this name originally hailed from the city and were known as the "people from the bare hill/mountain", hence the name.
The city of Nürnberg was a major center in the Middle Ages and the home to a powerful ruling family. Being originally from here, people with this surname can trace their ancestry back to this original powerful family. This family spread far and wide through Europe, setting up branches in other countries.
As a result of this migration, people with the surname Nörnberg can be found in other parts of the world, particularly in countries that were historically part of the German-speaking world. These include Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, the United States and Canada.
The irony behind the meaningful name is that Nürnberg is now one of Germany's biggest and most thriving cities. This means that those who still bear the name Nörnberg are now probably far richer and more successful than their ancestors, who had to survive off the meager resources of the once bare mountain or hill.
Order DNA origin analysisNörnberg: Where does the name Nörnberg come from?
Nörnberg is a German-language surname that is most especially common in Munich, Bavaria, Germany and the surrounding areas today.
Nürnberg, a city in Bavaria, became its namesake in the 15th century when the city was given the right to grant the inhabitants the right to use the name. Nürnberg had been a major trading center since the Middle Ages, with dozens of merchants, farmers, craftsmen, and city officials.
It is also very common in the United States, particularly in areas of German heritage in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and other midwestern states. Nörnberg can also be found in Austria, Luxembourg, Sweden, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
Genealogists have been able to trace many Nörnberg families back to the time of the Thirty Years' War, when a large number of German immigrants made their way to the United States to settle in the Mid-Atlantic region and the Midwest. The name is also common among the Jewish population, as there was a Jewish merchant family living in Nürnberg in the 16th century.
Nörnberg is still a common name today in these areas. According to theMindat.org, a genealogy website, there are currently 2855 individuals in the world with the last name Nörnberg. Given its long history, it is likely that the Nörnberg surname will continue to be a common name for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Nörnberg
Nörnberg is a German surname that can be seen with many variant spellings. This is because surnames were often spelled differently by both clerks and families of different regions and time periods. In some cases, slight changes to surnames were made to make them easier to spell or pronounce. Variants of the surname Nörnberg include Nurnberg, Nurmberg, Neurmberg, Neanderberg, Neurberg, Nornberg, Nornburger, Norndberg, Nornberger, Normburg, Nomburg, Norberg, Noormberg, Noermberger, Nuernberg, Nurnburger, and Neurnberg.
Surnames with a similar etymology also include Norbaugh, Norbach, Norbux, Norbich, and Norbeck. These are generally derived from the Northern Germanic elements "nord" meaning north and "berg" meaning mountain, and can date back as far as 18th century German records. Nörnberg can also be seen as an anglicized rendering of the Jewish surname Neumann which is derived from the German personal name Neumann meaning "new man". While similar in origin, the two surnames are distinct.
The German surnames Nörnberg and Neumann have become international due to migration during different time periods. Today, migration continues, resulting in descendants of these surnames all over the world. Through marriage and adoption, Nörnberg and Neumann can also be seen combined or paired with other surnames, creating even more variants.
Famous people with the name Nörnberg
- Walther Nörnberg: German Expressionist painter
- Claus Zoch Nörnberg: German actor, TV presenter, and theatre director
- Albrecht Nörnberg: German industrialist and businessman
- Philipp Nörnberg: German glass artist
- Sabrina Nörnberg: German TV producer and TV presenter
- Julius Nörnberg: Austrian race car driver and entrepreneur
- Philipp Nörnberg Jr.: German architect and urban planner
- Marc Nörnberg: German politician
- Alfred Nörnberg: German art dealer
- Herbert Nörnberg: German sculptor