Surname Nüsslein - Meaning and Origin
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Nüsslein: What does the surname Nüsslein mean?
The last name Nüsslein is of German origin. It derives from the Middle High German word "nützelin" which originally referred to someone from a small village or who was of lesser importance. Today, it can be loosely translated to mean "humble" or "small".
The Nüsslein family likely had Germanic roots that reach as far back as the tenth century, when the name first began to appear as an occupational name. In its early days, the name was likely used to identify members of the "nützelin" guild, signifying a person of expertise in the craft of building.
Where many German families are particularly proud of their lineages and are able to trace them back to a prominent figure or family member, this is often not the case with the Nüsslein family. The Nüsslein surname, however, remains a source of pride in Germany, as it is considered to be an old, established surname.
At the time of the Thirty Years War, the Nüsslein family had spread throughout present-day Germany and Austria. Although not a particularly popular surname today, it is still found among modern German families — a testament to the industriousness and perseverance of its original bearers. Despite its humble roots, the Nüsslein name has endured into modern times and remains a source of pride for its modern carriers.
Order DNA origin analysisNüsslein: Where does the name Nüsslein come from?
The last name Nüsslein can be found today predominantly in Germany, where it is estimated to have around 7,200 bearers. It is also fairly common in Switzerland, where it was carried to the nation by German immigrants, as well as in Austria, where it is similarly linked to a German origin. Many immigrant families from these regions have taken the Nüsslein name to other countries around the world, leading to small pockets of the family being found elsewhere such as in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
The origin of the family is linked to an old German root. The first known use was in Bavaria, where a man named Udo vun Nuolssin documented a donation to a local church in the late 14th century. The personal name Nuol or Nusso became Nüsslein after the system of German family names was established in the mid-19th century.
In addition to the advanced digitization of records, many families have sought out genealogical services in order to trace their ancestral lines. This has resulted in a tremendous resurgence in interest in the historical origins of the name, leading to increased awareness and popularity of the Nüsslein name today.
Variations of the surname Nüsslein
The surname Nüsslein is of German origin, with variants bringing an added Umlaut over the "u" (Nüßlein) or removing it entirely (Nusslein). The current common spelling is generally accepted, but depending on which region it originated from, the pronunciation can be slightly altered such as replacing the “ß” with a “ss” which is more common in tendency for Bavaria.
The surname has been slightly modified over the years, and one of the other alternate spellings of Nüsslein includes Nussling, Nussle, Nüssl, Nusl, and Nesslein. In some cases, the spelling has also been altered with the removal of an “e”, as in Nusl and Nussl.
Nüsslein is a distant relative of the surname Nuß. This could be traced back from the Bavarian dialect, in which the word “nuß” translates to “hazelnut”. Despite this family connection, this surname is not believed to be the source of the Nüsslein surname.
Other surnames of the same origin as Nüsslein include Nusz, Nüsser, Nüssli, Nüssel, Nusser, and Nüslein. These names may be found with different prefixes or suffixes, such as de Nüsslein or Nüßlein von. The name element “Nüshal” is believed to be a variation of Nüsslein, although this is still unverified.
Lastly, there are some Nüsslein family members who have adopted the name Nuß as it is an ancestral variant of the original surname. Even though the two surnames share a common origin, they are considered to be distinct and are listed as separate family names.
Famous people with the name Nüsslein
- Katrin Göring-Eckardt Nüsslein, German politician
- Matthias Nüsslein, German biologist, Epidemiologist, and professor
- Hanna Thalmann Nüsslein, German-Austrian television presenter
- Wolfgang Nüsslein, German politician and member of the European Parliament
- Margerete Nüsslein-Volhard, German biologist and Nobel Prize winner
- Magnus Nüsslein, German actor
- Charles Eugène Nüsslein, French organist, composer, and music teacher
- Jutta Nüsslein-Volhard, German author, speaker, and professor
- Heinrich Nüsslein, German automaker and aviator
- Eva Nüsslein, German politician