Surname Nellisen - Meaning and Origin

Nellisen: What does the surname Nellisen mean?

Nellisen is a surname of Scandinavian origin, primarily found in Finland and Sweden. The name derives from the Scandinavian component of the name "Nilsen", which is a contracted form of Nicholas. In North Germanic countries such as Sweden and Norway, the name was also changed to "Nilsen". The Swedish version "Nellisen" translates as "son of Nils" or "son of Nicholaus".

The surname may have beginnings as early as the fifteenth century, when the Swedish kingdom was founded, although the Swedish Census showed the first recorded instance in the seventeenth century. In the United States, Nellisen as a surname is seen much more commonly than in the Scandinavian countries, as immigrants of Scandinavian descent brought the name with them.

As for any surname, different areas of the world can have different meanings and cultural influences behind them. In different families, the meaning and origin of the name can carry different spiritual, historical, and even attribute values, depending on how it was influenced by a family’s particular migration. In this case, Nellisen is a reminder of the Scandinavian heritage and cultural influence which brought many immigrants to the United States, as well as their perseverance and strength in making a new life in a new place.

Nellisen: Where does the name Nellisen come from?

The last name Nellisen is primarily associated with Scandinavia today, particularly Sweden and Finland, as well as Estonia and Germany. It is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Nelle or Nell, with the -sen suffix, indicating "son of".

In Finland, the distribution of the last name peaks in the Central Ostrobothnia region, which includes the cities of Korsholm, Kalajoki and Ylivieska. It is one of the top 50 most common surnames there. It is also found in the Ostrobothnia and Central Finland regions.

In Sweden, the surname is found primarily in the western regions of the country, particularly in Vasterbotten, Varmland and Vastra Gotaland. It is not among the top 50 most common names in any of those regions.

In Germany, the surname is found mainly in the northwest of the country, particularly in Schleswig-Holstein and Bavaria. There, it is among the top 100 most common names.

Finally, the surname is found in Estonia, mainly in the Central and South regions. It is not among the top 100 most common surnames in the country.

In conclusion, the last name Nellisen is primarily found in Scandinavia, particularly Sweden, Norway and Finland, as well as Germany and Estonia. It is among the top 100 most common names in Germany and Finland, but is not a particularly common name elsewhere.

Variations of the surname Nellisen

The Nellisen surname has its roots in Scandinavia, with its origins dating back to the Middle Ages. Historically, it was spelled in numerous ways, such as: Nilson, Nielsen, Nilsen, Nilsdotter, Nelson, Marxen, and the now far more popular forms of Nellisen.

In Norway there is also Nielsdatter, sometimes written as Nilsdatter, and in Sweden the spelling was Beckelsen and Nellson. Other variants of Nellisen include Neilsener, Nelssen, and Nellesen.

In the United States, the spelling of Nellisen has also been used interchangeably under different surnames such as Nilsen, Nelson, Neilson, and even Jellison. Some families kept the original Norwegian spelling, while others opted for a more English version like Nelse or Nellson.

Nellisen can also be found in Denmark and Finland, as well as other parts of Scandinavia, although the spelling might be slightly different in each country. For instance, in Denmark, Nellisen is commonly spelled as Nielsdotter.

In the United Kingdom, the spelling of Nellisen appeared as Neilsen, Nilson, Neilson, and Nelson. In addition, the surname is also found in places like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

In some cases, the Nellisen surname has been Anglicized over the years and is now spelled differently than its original form. This is particularly true in America, where in the early 1900s most Norwegians anglicized their surnames to more easily assimilate into the United States culture.

Famous people with the name Nellisen

• Bee Nellisen: Bee is a renowned artist and picture book author who has illustrated various publications, as well as writing and illustrating her own books such as Weeds in Bloom and Pia and the Pull of the Moon.
• Colin Nellisen: Colin is a sound engineer, working with many of the music industry’s leading names, including Steve Earle, John Mellencamp, Level 42, and The Psychedelic Furs.
• Peter Nellisen: the Grammy and Emmy award-winning composer and orchestrator behind beloved movie and television scores such as Mrs. Doubtfire, Sleepless in Seattle, Space Jam, and more.
• Sivert Nellisen: Sivert is a Norwegian director and a five-time winner of the Amanda Award for Best Short Film. He is best known for directing the 2014 film Things People Do.
• Carolyn Nellisen: Carolyn is a writer, actress, director, marketer and public speaker. Her work has been featured in NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox television shows, radio and podcasts, magazines, newspapers, and websites across the country.
• Jens Nellisen: Jens is a Norwegian long-distance runner who finished third in the 2009 IAAF World 10K Championships in The Hague. He is the director of Norwegian running/athletics organization Aktivitus, as well as a sports consultant in the Norwegian sports federation NIF.
• Curt Nellisen: Curt is a Swedish composer of classical and jazz music, best known for his recording and production work at the famed Polar Studios in Stockholm. He has worked on releasing and producing music for several renowned music acts such as Björk, Abba, Led Zeppelin, and more.

Other surnames

NellisNellissen