Surname Neebuhr - Meaning and Origin
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Neebuhr: What does the surname Neebuhr mean?
The last name Neebuhr is of German origin and is derived from the personal name "Niebuhr," meaning "farmer." Historically, the name is derived from "niw" — Old High German for "new" — and "burg," meaning "fortification." The combined meaning is "new fortification."
The name is an occupational surname that dates back to the Middle Ages, when people adopted surnames based on where they lived, their occupations, or their family's reputations or titles. In the Rhineland region of Germany, some people adopted "Neebuhr" as an occupational surname to designate someone who was a farmer or worked on a large farm.
Today, the last name Neebuhr is a rare name in the United States, with the most bearers being found in Pennsylvania and North Dakota. It is a popular name in Germany, however, and is also common in Holland, Australia, and in other English-speaking countries.
In recent years, the Neebuhrs may have gained added fame due to Reinhold Niebuhr, a theologian, author, ethicist, and one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. He was the patriarch of an influential family of theologians, including his daughter, Ursula Niebuhr, and psychotherapist, Elisabeth Sifton.
In sum, the last name Neebuhr is of German origin, and is derived from the Old High German words "niw" and "burg" meaning “new fortification,” and was an occupational surname typically used to identify farmers or those who worked on large farms. It is a popular name in Europe, but quite rare in the United States. It is now associated with the work of Reinhold Niebuhr, an influential thinker of the twentieth century.
Order DNA origin analysisNeebuhr: Where does the name Neebuhr come from?
The last name Neebuhr is most common in Germany in 2020. It is believed to have originated near Munich and the Upper Rhine region during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the German word nehren, which means small stream or river.
In 2020, the last name Neebuhr is the 818th most common surname in Germany and it is also found in many other parts of the world. In the United States, it is currently the 7,619th most common surname. It can be found in larger cities as well as rural parts. The heartland of the United States has the highest concentration of people with the last name Neebuhr.
The Neebuhr family is often closely related to the families of Strauss and Schmidt. Commonly found occupations for those with the last name Neebuhr include government jobs, medical professions, business, teaching, and manufacturing. It is a last name that is full of strong, determined individuals who are unafraid to take risks in order to achieve their goals.
The last name Neebuhr is an excellent example of a name that has not been forgotten over time despite its unlikely origins. As more people with the last name Neebuhr move around the world, it is likely to become an even more common name in the future.
Variations of the surname Neebuhr
The surname Neebuhr has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. They are listed below:
1) Neebuhr – This is the original spelling of the name. It is often found in northern Germany.
2) Nebuhr – This is a variant spelling of the name. It is commonly seen in southern Germany.
3) Neeboer – This is a Dutch variant of the name. It is also found in northern Germany.
4) Niebuhr – This is a variant spelling of the name, which is often used in the United States and Canada.
5) Nibuhr – This is a variant spelling of the name.
6) Neibuhr – This is another variant of the surname.
7) Niibur – This is a rare variant of the name.
8) Nieberg – This is a variant spelling of the name.
9) Neb scare – This is a French variant of the name.
10) Niboehr – This is a rare variant of the name.
11) Neibor – This is another rare variant of the name.
12) Nisbuhr – This is a variant spelling of the name.
13) Niburger – This is a rare variant of the name.
14) Neberg – This is a variant spelling of the name.
15) Niburg – This is a variant spelling of the name.
16) Niborg – This is another variant of the name.
17) Neiberger – This is a rare variant of the name.
18) Niborger – This is another rare variant of the name.
All of the above variant spellings and other alternatives of the surname Neebuhr are derived from the same root, which originally came from the German words "neh" and "burg," meaning 'a new fortification.'
Famous people with the name Neebuhr
- Reinhold Niebuhr: Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) was a Protestant theologian and an influential public intellectual. His work considered humanity’s inclination to self-centeredness and explored how individuals can inhabit a “world of sin” while still embodying moral responsibility.
- Alma Niebuhr: Alma Niebuhr (1882–1965) was a teacher and wife of Reinhold Niebuhr. She was an influential figure in her own right, working with various organizations to advance the cause of social justice.
- H. Richard Niebuhr: H. Richard Niebuhr (1894–1962) was a Christian theologian and brother of Reinhold. He is well-known for his 1951 book Christ and Culture, which proposed the idea that Christianity has five culturally-defined “views,” ranging from “Christ transforming culture” to “Christ against culture.”
- Dorothee Soelle: Dorothee Soelle (1929–2003) was a German liberation theologian and feminist, first cousin to Reinhold Niebuhr. She wrote influential texts such as Suffering (1975) and Theology for Skeptics (1978), focusing on themes of suffering, love, and justice.
- William F. Niebuhr: William F. Niebuhr (1918–2004) was an American geographer and brother of Reinhold, H. Richard, and Ursula. He worked primarily with physical and cultural geography, and was known for his work in urban and regional geography.
- Ursula Niebuhr: Ursula Niebuhr (1931–2009) was an American legal historian, civil rights activist, and sister of Reinhold, H. Richard, and William. She wrote Civil Rights and Social Wrongs, which explored how legal system can be used to produce social justice.