Surname Niess - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'N'
Niess: What does the surname Niess mean?
The last name Niess is an occupational surnames derived from the Middle High German word “niessen.” This word referred to the practice of driving unruly herds of cattle through a town. Early records suggest that the Niess family may have been involved in livestock production or trading, or may have worked as drovers of cattle.
In the Middle Ages, the Niess family was found throughout Germany, and the name remains quite common throughout the country today. In some cases, the Niess name may have undergone formative changes in spelling, most commonly to Nies or Niese, as well as Ness, Naess, and other similar variants.
The Niess family coat of arms may have represented the profession of droving. It generally featured a shield divided by a diagonal line. On the upper left, the shield was painted blue, and on the lower right, white. Above the shield was usually an image of a black bull head, with the tip of a horn symbolically broken off. This symbol served to allude to the drover’s procession of cattle and also pays homage to the Niess family profession.
Overall, the Niess surname is a distinguished one with a long and distinguished history. For many centuries, it has been part of the fabric of Germany’s culture and heritage, with members of the Niess family spanning generations and serving the country with distinction.
Order DNA origin analysisNiess: Where does the name Niess come from?
The last name Niess is most commonly found in areas that were historically occupied by ethnic Germans in Europe. In particular, it is found frequently in Germany, particularly in the northern and eastern regions. The name is also common in Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic. However, with the extensive German diaspora over the centuries, it can be found in other European countries as well, including Belgium, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.
Niess is also increasingly becoming more popular in the United States. The 2000 U.S. Census revealed that over 6,000 individuals residing in the country had the last name Niess. This number has likely increased over the years as more immigrants from Europe have come to the U.S. and other parts of the Americas. The name can be found in various states throughout the country, but its highest concentrations are seen in the Midwest, particularly in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
Finally, Niess is common among those of Afrikaner ancestry in South Africa. It is thought that the name was adopted by those of German descent in this region during the 18th century as a form of assimilation into the local culture and to anglicize their surname.
Overall, the last name Niess can be found in many countries around the world, although the highest concentrations are seen in its areas of origin, particularly in Europe and the Americas.
Variations of the surname Niess
The Niess surname is derived from the personal name Nicholas, which is of Greek origin, meaning "victory of the people". Variants of the surname Niess include Nies, Neess, Niess, Nys, Nes, Niese, Neyß, Neyss and Nyss.
The German spelling is Niess or Neyß while the Dutch spelling is Nies.
The name can also take on specific regional spelling variations, such as Nis in Westphalia and Wis in Lower Saxony. Additionally, the Low German spelling of the surname is Nees.
Niess is also an anglicized form of the Irish surname Neeson. It can also be seen evidenced from Scotland as Neeson.
The name Niess is found quite commonly in German speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland, South Tyrol, Lithuania, and Prussia. Despite the name being concentrated in Germany, it also has presence in the United States of America and other countries, such as France, England, Scotland, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Russia, Poland, Finland, Hungary, Ukraine, and Argentina.
The variants of the Niess surname include Ness, Nass, and Neyhss. Nis is also commonly used in Germany and Austria, meaning “son of Nis” or “son of Nicholas”. The spelling Neyß is the closest form found to the original Greek form.
The most common variant of Niess is Nies, which is the most common variant of the name in the United States. The surname Nies is also common in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Prussia, and Lithuania.
Famous people with the name Niess
- Dave Niess: A New York-based actor and film producer, Dave Niess’ work has been featured on television shows such as House Of Cards, Law & Order, and The Good Wife.
- Joseph Niess: A former Mayor of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, Joseph Niess served from 1804 to 1805. He was also a successful attorney and plantation owner.
- Fred Niess: A former NBA player from the early part of the 20th century, Fred Niess played for teams such as the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Hawks, and St. Louis Bombers during his career.
- Arnold Niess: A noted American theologian, Arnold Niess is known for his work in systematic and practical theology as Professor of Theology at the University of Tübingen.
- Elmer Niess: A historian of technology, Elmer Niess was the first to teach it as a field at Purdue University and is considered to be the father of the study of technology in America.
- Geoffrey Niess: A renowned journalist, Geoffrey Niess is noted for his work in the field of religion and culture. He has written for outlets such as Christianity Today and Fox News.
- Charles Niess: A former lacrosse standout, Charles Niess is now an attorney in the city of Baltimore and made his professional debut with the pro-am Baltimore Bayhawks in 2002.
- Bill Niess: An American businessman and former executive at Viacom, Bill Niess is now the CEO of Potestio Corporation, a business technology consulting firm.
- Rudy Niess: A retired soccer player, Rudy Niess is most famous for his stint with the Los Angeles Aztecs of the now-defunct North American Soccer League, where he played from 1980 to 1982.
- Stephen Niess: A former member of the United States National Track and Field Team, Stephen Niess is now a high school track and field coach at a school in Oregon.