Surname Nebuhr - Meaning and Origin
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Nebuhr: What does the surname Nebuhr mean?
The last name Nebuhr is of German origin, and it is derived from the Germanic personal name Nithahar, which means “boldly counsel” or “intelligent one”. In Christianity, Nebuhr can also refer to the Biblical prophet Daniel, whose name is akin to the Germanic name.
Universal Dictionary of Surnames defines Nebuhr as “a name given to a person who was well-advised or willing to give good advice.” Additionally, those who possess the Nebuhr surname often display qualities such as knowledge, wisdom, and courage.
The Nebuhr family is believed to have originated in Germany, and it is still prominent there today. Historically, the Nebuhr family name was associated with local estates and knighthoods, as mentioned in the court military lists of the 1400s.
Nebuhr as a surname is common in many countries, including the United States, Canada, England, and other parts of Europe. Famous individuals with the Nebuhr surname include German theologian and philosopher Reinhold Nebuhr and George Nebuhr, a Union general who fought in the American Civil War.
Overall, the last name Nebuhr is a strong surname with many historical and cultural associations. Those who bear the Nebuhr name are associated with qualities such as intelligence, knowledge, wisdom, and courage.
Order DNA origin analysisNebuhr: Where does the name Nebuhr come from?
The last name Nebuhr is common in Germany today. It is a German surname derived from the German city of Lübeck, located near the Baltic Sea. It is likely that ancestors of families with this last name originally lived in or near this city in northern Germany.
People with the Nebuhr surname can be found in many parts of the world today, but particularly in Germany. According to the last name database Deutschen Namen, as of 2015, the name was most prevalent in the federal states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and Berlin, with a particularly high concentration in the former East Germany.
The origin of the name is most likely an occupational one, deriving from the German word "Neubürger" meaning "new citizen." It was likely given to people who moved somewhere to become a new resident or perhaps to someone who received citizenship or a privilege. Over time, the spelling of the name changed and shortened to Nebuhr.
The Nebuhr surname is still common in Germany today and is occasionally found in other countries, such as the United States. It is a relatively uncommon name however with only about 4,400 people in Germany estimated to bear it in 2020.
Variations of the surname Nebuhr
The variants, spellings and surnames of Nebuhr include Neubauer, Neubaur, Neuber, Neubeyer, Neuberg, Neubiger, Neubig, Neuburger, Neuburs, Neuburzer, Neubyar, Neander, Neuhardt, Neuhard, Neumann, Neuhäuser, Neumayer, Neumahr, Neumehr and Neuwirth.
The surname Nebuhr is derived from the German-language surnames Neuber and Neumann. The origins of Neuber, Neuhard, Neumahr, Neumehr and Neuwirth trace back to the late medieval period, when the German words Neu(b)er, Neu(h)ard, Neu(m)ahr, Neu(m)ehr and Neu(w)irth were common terms used as personal nicknames for people who had recently moved to a new town or location or who had recently been undetaken some kind of new activity or behavior.
The Neumann variation of the name is derived from the Middle German words nehman (to take) and man (man), and is thus likely the surname of families that adopted it as a sign of affiliation with the emerging professional classes during the tumultuous religious events of the Protestant Reformation.
In addition, variant spellings of many of the above surnames, such as Neubauer, Neubaur, Neubeyer, Neuberg, Neubiger, Neubig and Neuburger, also have distinct origins, stemming from the Middle High German neuber (newly-tilled land) and baur or berg (mountain, hill or wood).
To summarize, the surname Nebuhr is related to many distinct German-language surnames, each of which is likely to have had its own unique origin or meaning. While some of these surnames may have originated as nicknames, others are likely to have been adopted by families at different times as a symbolic gesture of allegiance and solidarity during the religious turmoil of the Protestant Reformation.
Famous people with the name Nebuhr
- Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971): Known as one of the most influential American theologians of the 20th century, Niebuhr was an ordained minister who defended Christianity and argued against extreme pragmatism. He was known for his writing, involvement in the anti-Nazi pastorate and promotion of civil rights.
- Ursula M. Niebuhr (1891–1955): Reinhold’s wife, Ursula was a sociologist and educator who focused on issues of the family and of the developing world. She was a prominent speaker during her time and wrote a number of works related to Christian Social Ethics.
- Gustav Niebuhr (born 1968): Gustav is a religion journalist and is currently a professor at Syracuse University. He has written a number of books on religion and culture, as well as a book about his grandfather, Reinhold Niebuhr.
- Elisabeth Sifton (1930-2018): Elisabeth was the daughter of Reinhold Niebuhr and an award-winning editor and publisher. She worked at a number of publishing houses across the United States and wrote books on a range of topics, from contemporary politics to Anne Frank’s diary.
- Christoph Niebuhr (1733-1815): A German explorer and geographer, Christoph journeyed to many parts of Africa. His pioneering research sparked the 19th century’s fascination with African culture and made a lasting impact on the way the continent was studied.
- Su Cruickshank (1947-2008): Su was the great-granddaughter of Reinhold Niebuhr. She had a successful career as an actor, television producer and director, most notably in the UK. She was known for her advocacy for social justice and for the rights of disabled children.