Surname van Neuß - Meaning and Origin

van Neuß: What does the surname van Neuß mean?

The last name van Neuß is of German-language origin, derived from the Germanic given name “Neuss”. It was used as a modern surname by both the Dutch and German communities during the 17th and 18th centuries, likely taken from the city of Neuss located in the Lower Rhine region of Germany. It became anglicized as “varnews” and “varnous” by English-speaking populations. The surname van Neuß is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Belgium, but also appears in various countries throughout Europe and South America.

This surname may have been taken by individuals as a signifier of religious or regional affiliation. The city of Neuss has a longstanding history as an important site of pilgrimage and was once part of the Archbishopric of Cologne, one of the largest and oldest dioceses in the Roman Catholic Church. Those of older generations may have adopted the name to signify their association with the historical religious center or the political entity it had once belonged to.

The name van Neuß is also likely derived from the Old Germanic given name “Niewst", meaning “of the newly settled". This was often given to those who had recently moved to a new town or area and later adopted as a surname. Over time, the spelling of the name changed to its current form.

The surnames van Neuß may have been adopted by various people throughout the centuries for different reasons, but its significance as a signifier of migrating populations is of particular note. As it is common throughout Europe, it is likely the result of diverse migrations over time, and is indicative of a long borderless journey through different nations.

van Neuß: Where does the name van Neuß come from?

The van Neuß family is a historically influential family from the region of the Lower Rhine in Germany. They are considered to be one of the oldest prominent families in German history, and their name is still widespread in parts of Germany today.

Van Neuß is a German surname that literally translates to “from the new house.” Various documents from the Middle Ages refer to wolframite found near houses belonging to members of the van Neuß family, which is believed to be the source of their name. Evidence of the family's influence is still visible in Germany, especially in the region of Rheinland-Pfalz, where many places are named after members of the family.

Generally, van Neuß is a regional name – popular in Germany but not as ubiquitous as it once was. It remains quite common in the Rhineland-Palatinate region, where it can be found in many villages and towns near Bonn. There are also van Neuß families in parts of North Rhine-Westphalia, especially in the area near Cologne. Although not as common as in the past, the van Neuß name still has some presence in Germany and serves as a reminder of the family’s long history and influence.

Variations of the surname van Neuß

The surname van Neuß is derived from the Germanic name Nidung, meaning ‘son of Nido’. It originates from the regions of Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and it was mostly found in those countries during the Middle Ages.

Variants and spellings for van Neuß include Niednagel, Niedneuß, Niednuss, Niednüss, Niednyss, Niednyß, Neidnagel, Neisdnagel, Neuß, Niendnagel, Niendnuss, Niendnüss, Niednegel, Niedneggel, Niedneigel, Niednenkel, Niednengelde, Niednensle, Niednexus, Niednüssel, and Niedonz.

Surnames that are related to van Neuß include Neidendorf, Neidengasse, Neidensee, Neidengut, Neidenschient, Neidenshoch, Neidhard, Neidhart, Neidig, Neidlinger, Neidlinger, Neudoroscher, Neufette, Neuhausen, Neukam, Neuman, Neumann, Neumayer, Neundorfer, Neupert, Neuringer, and Neusser.

The van Neuß surname has been adopted by various cultures in different counties, such as in the United States of America and Latin America, and it is sometimes found spelled as Neuss or Neuß in both country.

Famous people with the name van Neuß

• Johannes von Neuss (1700-1751): German philosopher, theologian, and author.
• Julie von Neuss (1820-1890): German linguist, historian, and lexicographer.
• Jakob Seibt von Neuss (1745-1816): German historian and archivist.
• Otto von Neuss (1812-1881): German architect and urban planner.
• Arnold von Neuss (1775-1850): German painter.
• Pieter Abraham van Neuss (1728-1815): Dutch sculptor.
• Lydia van Neuß (1827-1890): German musician and composer.
• Jan van Neuss (patent official and flower painter) (1820-1901).
• Johann Philipp van Neuss (1765-1813): German theologian.
• Peter van Neuss (1815-1888): German lawyer and author.
• Peter van Neus (1801-?): Dutch-German military officer and historian.
• Arthur van Neuss (1882-1960): Dutch archaeologist.
• Liliana van Neuß (born 1957): German singer and musician.
• Franz von Neuss (1891-1932): Austrian actor.
• Diebold van Neuss (1650-1731): German astronomer, mathematician, and physicist.

Other surnames

van Neuhs