Surname Nysen - Meaning and Origin
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Nysen: What does the surname Nysen mean?
The last name Nysen is of French origin and is derived from the Old French personal name Ny(s)on, which is thought to have come from the ancient Old Latin personal name *Nithon. This name is derived from the Latin “nidus”, meaning “nest”. The name is thought to have originally been a nickname for someone with a fondness for birds' nests. Alternatively, the name might be derived from the Old Germanic personal name Nitho, which was derived from the Old Norse word “nit”, meaning “bold” or “brave”.
Over the centuries, the surname has taken on many spelling variations as families moved around throughout Europe and beyond. In some cases, it has been changed to sound more similar to native language. Examples of this are, Neiden and Nissen in Germany, Nay salon in France, Nyzson in Hungary, and Nay Zen in Italy. Each of these spellings has its own unique history.
In modern times, the surname Nysen is still popular. It is found mostly in France and in French-influenced countries, such as Canada and countries in the Caribbean. In France, the name is especially popular in the region of Alsace-Lorraine, where it was first found. The name is also commonly found throughout the United States, typically amongst French and French-Canadian descendants.
Overall, the surname Nysen is an indication of French lineage and is a proud reminder of a family’s unique history.
Order DNA origin analysisNysen: Where does the name Nysen come from?
The surname Nysen is most commonly found in Norway today. According to data collected by the Norwegian National Population Registry, Nysen is the 851st most common surname in the country, with over 5,400 people currently bearing the name.
Nysen is thought to be originally derived from the Old Norse word nysa, meaning 'to point'. This suggests that the name may have been used to identify a person who had a characteristic of pointing out things or directions, such as a guide or tour guide.
The general concentration of Nysen in Norway is quite scattered, with the most commonly found areas being the counties of Sogn og Fjordane, Møre og Romsdal, Aust-Agder, and Hordaland. The city of Bergen, located in Hordaland, is the most common place for Norwegians with the Nysen surname, accounting for over 700 individuals. There, the name is quite an ancient one, as records from the 17th century on show a number of Nysen individuals living in the city and the surrounding region at the time.
Outside of Norway, Nysen is also found in small numbers in the United States, particularly in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and in Canada.
Variations of the surname Nysen
The surname Nysen is of Norse origin, and is derived from the Old Norse elements 'nyss', meaning mist or clouds, and 'son', meaning son. Variations of the surname include Nyssen, Nyssen, Nysson, And Nyssen.
The Old Norse variant of this surname is Nísson which is also found in Swedish and Danish countries. Another common alternative is Nielsen which is a Danish and Norwegian variation, likely originating from the Middle Low German phrase 'Nielsen sunne'. This translation roughly equates to 'son of a misty one'.
There are also some alternative spellings of the surname, including Nissen, Nisson, Nyssom, Nyssom and Neissom.
Other surnames from the same place of origin include Näsman, Namne, Naum and Nyman.
In some cases, the spelling of this surname may have changed as it crossed borders. In other instances, the spelling variations may have occurred due to regional dialects or the illiteracy of the person recording the name.
Regardless of spelling, all variations and derivatives of the surname Nysen are linked to the same general origin – a misty and cloudy environment.
Famous people with the name Nysen
- Lars Nysen: Danish rower who won a gold medal in the men’s eight event at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Rolf Nysen: Norwegian footballer and coach
- Jacob Nysen: Norwegian Olympic cross country skier
- Carl Nysen: Norwegian sprint canoer
- Erwin Nysen: Dutch field hockey defender
- Philip Nysen: American actor, writer, and director
- Murton Nysen: Norwegian sprinter
- Ingvild Nysen: Norwegian Olympic figure skater
- Einar Nysen: Norwegian wrestler
- Kirsten Nysen: Danish politician
- Kristoffer Nysen: Norwegian javelin thrower
- Karen Nysen: Danish film producer
- Anne Nysen: Danish painter
- Lene Nysen: Danish artist
- Jon Nysen: American sculptor
- Bette Nysen: American artist
- Stanley Nysen: American architect