Surname Neuenkirchen - Meaning and Origin
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Neuenkirchen: What does the surname Neuenkirchen mean?
The last name Neuenkirchen is a German toponym or a place-name. It is derived from the words 'neu' (new) and 'Kirche' (church) to make 'New Church'. This hints towards the area of origin of the people who originally bore this name, which is the German municipality of Neuenkirchen, located in the district of Osnabrück in Lower Saxony.
The earliest record of the surname is dated from the 15th century, where a Peter Salomone of Neuenkirchen was a witness in a trial in Pappenheim, Bavaria in 1417. Other families bearing this name would have also originated from this area or other areas of the German or Dutch speaking world called Neuenkirchen.
Today, the name is mainly seen in North America, where Neuenkirchen-derived families have been living since the arrival of German, Dutch and Belgian immigrants in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
It is a surname that has great historic and cultural significance to the people who bear it and is an important part of the heritage of Neuenkirchen.
Order DNA origin analysisNeuenkirchen: Where does the name Neuenkirchen come from?
The last name Neuenkirchen is most commonly found in Germany and certain areas of Holland today. The name is derived from the town of Neuenkirchen, which is located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The Neuenkirchen area was originally settled in the Middle Ages and took on its name - Neuenkirchen - from a nearby Benedictine Abbey. Later, the town of Neuenkirchen was granted 'market rights' and would become one of the most important trading and manufacturing centers in the region. Neuenkirchen's economy was based primarily on the wool industry, which was an important part of the region's export market.
In modern times, individuals with the Neuenkirchen surname have remained mainly within Germany but have spread out to parts of Holland. There is also a trend towards individuals with the Neuenkirchen surname immigrating to other countries, primarily in North America and Australia as well as other European countries. Within Germany, the name Neuenkirchen is most common in the North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Hesse regions, with the largest clusters of Neuenkirchen individuals found around Osnabrück and Bielefeld.
Variations of the surname Neuenkirchen
The surname Neuenkirchen is common in German-speaking countries and is derived from the name of a town in Lower Saxony, Germany called Neuenkirchen. It is also known by a variety of other spellings and surnames.
The most common spellings are Neumannkirchen and Neissenkirchen, although other variations are Neümannkirchen, Neüssenkirchen, Neunenkirchen, Neuen Kirche, Neuen Kirch, Neumann-Kirche, Neuen Kreis, Neumann's Kirche and Neumannkirch.
The surname Neuenkirchen is also known by many variants, such as Neumann, Neuhaus, Neufs, Neyhaus, Neyfs, Neifs, Nümann, Neumanns, Neisses, Neissen, Nimmerskirchen, Neumannskirchen, Neufeld and Neuhof.
The Neuenkirchen name can also be found in other parts of the world, particularly among descendants of German immigrants who settled in the Americas. Variations of this name found in the United States include Neimann, Newmann, Newan, Newenkirch, Neuman, Neuenkirk and Neumark.
In the United Kingdom the name is more commonly spelled as Niaman or Neuman, although variations like Neumark are also common.
As with many surnames in Europe and America, Neuenkirchen has undergone a great deal of evolution over the centuries, leading to a wide variety of variations and meanings. It is likely that the name is derived from the name of the town of Neuenkirchen in Lower Saxony.
Famous people with the name Neuenkirchen
- Friedrich Neuenkirchen (1921-2006), German historian, philosopher, and theologian.
- Hans-Joachim Neuenkirchen (born 1932), German chemical engineer and politician.
- Günter Neuenkirchen (1939-2014), German political scientist and university professor.
- Fritz Neuenkirchen (1945-2013), German amateur astronomer and comet hunter.
- [Annegret Fauser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annegret_Fauser) (born 1955), German musicologist and professor of musicology at the University of Cologne.
- Frederik Neuenkirchen (born 1990), Danish professional footballer.
- Conny Neuenkirchen (born 1971), German former competitive figure skater.
- Johannes Neuenkirchen (born 1988), German sport shooter.
- Uwe Neuenkirchen (born 1964), German Paralympic swimmer and world record holder.
- Paul Neuenkirchen (1809-1878), German author, historian, and journalist.