Surname Nellessen - Meaning and Origin

Nellessen: What does the surname Nellessen mean?

The last name Nellessen is of German origin and is derived from the first name Nelles. When used as a surname, the meaning of Nellessen is literally "son of Nelles". The first name itself has multiple possible origins—it could come from Middle High German for "horn" or from the personal name Nele, which was popular in medieval Germany and could have been a version of the Irish name Niall.

Nellessen families are thought to have settled in Germany in the Middle Ages, specifically in the regions now comprising the modern states of Lower Saxony, Hesse, Nord Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony-Anhalt. However, many migrated abroad to other countries as part of a larger wave of German emigration in the 17th century. As a result, the Nellessen surname is now found in countries around the world, including the United States, Colombia, India, and France.

Although it is difficult to trace the early ancestry of Nellessen families due to the lack of surviving records, many who bear the name are members of the European-descended American population, or German-Americans. The Nellessen surname is a part of their proud heritage and reflects the story of their ancestors’ courage and strength in the face of adversity.

Nellessen: Where does the name Nellessen come from?

The last name Nellessen is commonly found in the Netherlands and Germany. Nellessen is a patronymic surname which means it is derived from the personal name of a father or ancestor. Records indicate that there are Nellessens living in the Netherlands today who are descendants of ancestral Nellessens who can be traced back to the 18th century.

In Germany, the last name Nellessen is found mostly in the Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, and Baden-Württemberg states. In Kalkar, a small town located in North Rhine-Westphalia, records indicate that there were multiple families with the last name Nellessen living in the 18th century. Today, there are still many families carrying the Nellessen surname in this area.

In the United States, there are small communities of Nellessens in the states of California, New York, and Texas. The 1940 United States Census indicates that there were Nellessens, primarily of German descent, living in California, New York and Texas.

Overall, it appears that the last name Nellessen is still alive today and can be found mainly in the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States.

Variations of the surname Nellessen

The surname Nellessen is an ancient Germanic surname that derives from the German given name Nikolaus, which is composed of the Greek word “nikos”, meaning “victory” and “laus”, meaning “people”. The name Nikolaus, in turn, is believed to be a derivative of the Hebrew name Yehonatan, which translates to “God has given”. The surname has numerous variants and spellings throughout Germany and Europe, due to its immigration into those areas brandishing different colloquialisms and other languages.

The different spellings, relatives, and variants of this surname include:

• Nelezen

• Nielessen

• Nillessen

• Nillesen

• Nellen

• Nelsen

• Nillessen

• Nillessen

• Nilleson

• Nilson

• Nelesen

• Nilsen

• Nilzon

• Nilsonen

• Nillson

• Nilsin

• Nelsohn

• Nilshagen

• Nielson

• Neelson

Surnames of related origin include:

• Neylesen

• Neelen

• Neyelen

• Nelgen

• Nellingsen

• Neylersen

• Neilson

• Nelingen

• Nehlsen

• Nieling

• Nahls

• Nielen

• Neylen

• Nieling

• Neuling

• Neuelsen

• Neulen

• Nehm

• Neyel

• Nehl

The common elements between these surnames—which can be seen written in both the majority of German and English-language sources—are: Nel, Nell, Nils, Nil, Niels, Nele, Neel, Neul, and Neil. It is also possible for some of these surnames to change based on the surrounding region and language.

The surname Nellessen is an ancient, enduring surname that has been used by Germanic clans for centuries. It has since been adapted into several variants and spellings, and has spread to many parts of the world due to immigration.

Famous people with the name Nellessen

• Annika Nellessen: German tennis player
• Sophia Nellessen: German ballet dancer
• Karl Nellessen: German mathematician
• Peter Nellessen: German classical pianist
• Johanna Nellessen: German Olympic gold medalist
• Dieter Nellessen: German composer
• Michael Nellessen: American actor
• Robert Nellessen: Dutch footballer
• Sander Nellessen: Dutch actor
• Michiel Nellessen: Dutch artist

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