Surname Neifeld - Meaning and Origin

Neifeld: What does the surname Neifeld mean?

The last name Neifeld is of Jewish/Ashkenazi origin, and derives from the German word “Neifeld” which means “unclear field” or “mystery field”. Since the family name dates back to the 1800s, it is likely that the mystery field originated in Europe sometime in ancient times. During this period, fields were often designated as either Neifeld (unclear) or GuteFeld (clear) based on whether they were idle and uncultivated or farmed and cultivated.

The name Neifeld has traveled with Jewish people as they dispersed across the world, which explains why there is a presence of Neifelds in countries outside of Israel and Europe. In 1901, there was a listing of Niefelds living in the town of Koscieliski, Poland. Today, there are Neifelds living in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and Israel.

The Neifelds are very proud of their name and origin, but the exact meaning of the mystery field has been lost over the generations. In many cases, the meaning of the name Neifeld may have been replaced by the experiences of each family regarding how they choose to express their identity and pride.

Neifeld: Where does the name Neifeld come from?

The last name Neifeld is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin and is most commonly found in Eastern Europe. Countries with the highest concentration of Neifeld families include Poland, Belarus, Belarus, Lithuania, and Ukraine. The name can also be found in the larger Jewish diaspora throughout Western Europe, the United States, South America, and Australia.

In Poland, the name is most common in Warsaw and Krakow. In Belarus, the name is concentrated in Minsk, while in Lithuania it is most common in Vilnius (the capital city). In Ukraine, the largest population of Neifelds is found in the capital city of Kyiv (Kiev).

In the United States, the 2000 US Census Bureau data shows the largest number of Neifelds to be concentrated in New York City. The largest number resides in the Manhattan borough, followed by Brooklyn, Queens, New York County and Monroe County. In California, the greatest concentration of Neifelds is in Los Angeles County, with small numbers distributed throughout the state.

The Neifeld name can also be found in Canada, Australia, and parts of South America. The density of the name decreases as one moves away from Eastern Europe. From country to country, the density ranges from very low to moderately low with a maximum of 0.008% of the population carrying the surname.

Variations of the surname Neifeld

Neifeld is the German version of a relatively common Jewish surname meaning “new field.” It is spelled in various ways, with each spelling having its own variants and forms. The most common alternate spellings are Neufeld, Neifelder, Neufelder, Neyfeld, Neyfeeld, Neifeldt, Neufeldt, Nefild, Nifield, and Nydfeld.

Neifeld is also commonly Anglicized to the surnames Nightfield, Nitefield, Nitefeld, Nyfield, Nyefield, Nayfield, and Newfield. In Germany, it is sometimes spelled Neifelder, Nefelt, Neyfeldt, Neyfelt, Nevelter, Nuffer, or Neifelt.

Neuland or Neufeld is a variant of Neifeld, and the surnames Neulander and Neuländer are derived from the name as well. In eastern Europe, it is often spelled as Nejfeld, Nehfeld, Niehl, or Nyepolsky.

In the United States, it has been changed to the surname Neff, and variants of this include Nef, Nafe, Nafey, Naff, Naffe, Naffee, Naffy, Naftaly, and Naftzger. It is also sometimes changed to names such as Nesbit, Newfield, or Newman.

The Jewish variation of Neifeld is Nifel and Nyefel, often seen as Nifla or Nyefla. In Israel, it is sometimes spelled as Natefield, and in Yiddish, it is usually spelled as Neufeld or Nafield.

Overall, there are many variants of Neifeld, both in terms of origin and spelling. Every variation is its own surname, though all retain the same general meaning – “new field” – in one way or another.

Famous people with the name Neifeld

• Matthew Neifeld: Known for being the head of software engineering at Adobe.
• Kyrin Neifeld: American actress appearing in such shows as “The Royals” and “Containment”.
• Nigel Neifeld: British film producer, known for credits such as “Celluloid Dreams” and “Unconditional Love”.
• David Neifeld: Producing the movie “The Hangover Part III” and founder of the production company “Revolution Pictures”.
• David S. Neifeld: Director of photography known for working on “The Night Of” and “The Shawshank Redemption”.
• Tanya Neifeld: Multi-award winning Canadian novelist, screenwriter, and actress.
• Herbie Neifeld: Two-time Emmy award-winning composer and orchestrator.
• Marc Neifeld: Emmy-winning cinematographer and camera operator for “Revolution” and “The West Wing”.
• Mark Neifeld: Two-time Emmy-winning graphics designer for “Good Morning America” and “Late Night with David Letterman”.
• John Neifeld: Award-winning Hollywood editor who worked on “Transformers”, “Titanic”, “Jurassic Park”, and “Avatar”.

Other surnames

NeifeindNeifeldt