Surname Nova - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'N'
Nova: What does the surname Nova mean?
The last name Nova has multiple origins, including Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, all of which imply a similar meaning. In Latin, "nova" means "new". In astronomy, a nova is a star that suddenly increases in brightness and then slowly fades to its original intensity. Hence, the surname could symbolize something fresh, innovative, bright, or sensational. In certain cultures, Nova is also a feminine first name. The surname could as well represent geographical affiliations indicating the person’s linkage to a place or area. Therefore, depending on the regional locale, the meaning of the surname Nova could be multi-dimensional but the generally accepted meaning is "new."
Order DNA origin analysisNova: Where does the name Nova come from?
The last name Nova is most commonly found in Latin American countries, especially Brazil. It is also popular in some Spanish-speaking countries; Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Chile for instance.
In Brazil, the surname appears among all the major ethnic groups, and is of Portuguese origin. It can refer to a person from the city of Nova, which is located in the northwest of the country, as well as to someone living near the star Nova, a bright star in the constellation Scorpius.
In Spain, the Nova surname is most commonly associated with the Asturian region and Galicia. It is speculated to have existed in the area since the Middle Ages. Since then, It has spread to all other regions in Spain including the Balearic Islands.
In Mexico, the surname appears mostly in the regions of Michoacan and Oaxaca. It is of Galician origin, and it is believed to originate from the name of the city of Nova in Galicia.
In Puerto Rico, the surname is found among both Spanish and African descendants. It is believed to have either originated from the Canary Islands or, alternatively, from the French town of LaNouvelle-Orleans (New Orleans).
Lastly, the surname is also found in Chile. It is believed that the Chilean form of the surname originated from the surname Nava, which started to spread during the Spanish colonization of the Americas due to the many wooden ships (naús) that sailed from Spain to the New World.
Variations of the surname Nova
Given name Nova is of Latin origin and is derived from 'novus' meaning 'new'. An alternative spelling of Nova is Novah. The surname Nova can have a variety of spellings including, Novak, Nowak, Nowicki, Novacek, Nováková, Novotná, Nowicka, Novotny, Nuova, and Novotny.
The origin of Nova can be traced to the countries of Central and Southeastern Europe, particularly Czech, Slovak, Polish, and German. In Czechoslovakia, the name has been in use since 16th century, as a surname associated with nobility. In Poland, the surname Nova was formed from 'Novak', which is a topographic name for someone living near a new settlement.
The surname Nova is also prevalent in countries such as Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Norway, and Denmark. In Norway, the surname is derived from the Old Norse personal name 'Nori'.
Other variants of Nova include Novack, Nowack, Novochk, Novek, Novok, Noven, Novock, Novik, Novy, Novotny, Novocky, Novicky, and Novacki. In Spanish speaking countries the surname Nova is spelled as 'Nova'. It also has variations such as 'Nova de Curiel', 'de Nova' and 'de la Nova'.
In the United Kingdom, the variant Nova is used as a surname in some cases. The alternate forms include Novak, Nowak, Nowicki, Novosad, and Nowosad. In the United States, the surname generally appears as Nova, Novak, Nowak, or Nowicki.
Overall, despite a variety of spelling changes, the surname has the same origin and its variants are connected to the Latin root ‘novus,‘ meaning ‘new’.
Famous people with the name Nova
- Noida Moreno: Spanish actress, singer, and dancer
- António Novaes: Brazilian politician
- Lúcia Novaes: Brazilian film director, actor, writer, and photographer
- Paulo Novaes: Brazilian composer and conductor
- Marcos Novaes: Brazilian football player
- Eric Nova: American punk singer and songwriter
- Gia Nova: Brazilian singer, songwriter, and musician
- Nino Nova: French singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and sound engineer
- Laurent Ferrer Nova: French-Brazilian singer
- Leo Novaes: Brazilian singer and songwriter
- Novaelin: Argentine singer-songwriter and theater director
- Patrick Nova: Canadian musician and composer
- Roberta Novaes: Brazilian singer and guitarist
- Roberto Nova: Brazilian singer and television presenter
- Júlio César Novaes: Brazilian actor, singer, and composer
- Jean Nova: American actor
- Rafael Novaes: Brazilian actor and producer