Surname Niekerken - Meaning and Origin

Niekerken: What does the surname Niekerken mean?

Niekerken is a Dutch surname derived from the Nieuwkerken region in Belgium. The name translates literally to “New Church” in Dutch. It is thought to have originated in the 13th century, when a church built in the Nieuwkerken area by the Counts of Flanders became an important religious center.

The Niekerken family has a long and rich history in Netherlands and northwest Europe. The name has been associated with many large and influential families over the years, including the Niekerks, Van Niekerken, Niekirkens, and Veenhuizens.

Family members often held positions in the government, commerce, and military, and many served in the Dutch East India Company, which established colonies in the East Indies. In more modern times, many Niekerkens have left their marks in fields such as politics, the arts, science, and industry.

Today, the Niekerken surname is considered to be a proud and noble one, with many members of the family still living in the Netherlands, Belgium, and other parts of the world. Many of them still identify with their Dutch roots and cherish their family's heritage and history. The Niekerken name is widely recognized as an old Dutch name associated with powerful and influential people, and as such, is often seen as a symbol of Dutch pride.

Niekerken: Where does the name Niekerken come from?

The last name Niekerken is particularly common in the Netherlands, particularly in the provinces of Zeeland and Noord Holland. It is also possible to find people with the last name living in Germany, Belgium, and other European countries.

In the Netherlands, Niekerken has its origin in Zeeland. This is likely due to the fact that Zeeland is a coastal region and the last name is linked to the sea – nieuw is a dialect word for new, and kerken means church. This makes sense, as many Dutch migrated to Zeeland from different areas in search of work on the ships.

The Netherlands is not the only place where the name is common though. There are people with the last name living in Germany, Belgium, and other European countries.

Today, the name Niekerken is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Germany, although it is also found in Scandinavia, the UK, and the US. This demonstrates the far reach that the Dutch language and culture have had on the world over centuries.

Overall, the last name Niekerken has its roots in Zeeland, Netherlands, and is still relatively common today in both the Netherlands and Germany. It is also present in other European countries, and has spread to the US, UK, and Scandinavia.

Variations of the surname Niekerken

Niekerken is a common surname in Germany, the Netherlands and other countries across Northern Europe. It is an occupational surname referring to the occupation of nickel-extracting. The most common variant of the surname is Nickel, which is Germanic in origin. Other variants include Nickelson, Nickelman, Nickels, Nickelsberg, Nickelmann and Nickleson.

The Dutch spelling of the surname is Niekerken. Alternate spellings of this name include Niekerk, Nykerker, Niekerks, Niekerksen, Niekerkman, Niekerkperson, and Nykerkperson.

In Norway, it is spelled “Nikelkor”, and in Finland “Nikerken”.

In Sweden, the surname is recorded as ‘Nikarlsson’ and ‘Nikarlson’.

In Denmark, a variant of this surname is spelled “Nykærken”. The Icelandic spelling is “Níkolatein”.

Among the many surnames of German origin also related to the Nickel name are Nickelmann, Nickeler, Nikkel, Nikle, Nickelin, Nikkelewitz, Nikkelsdorf, Nicklin, Nickelwitz and Nickman.

In the United Kingdom, the name is recorded as Neukirk and Niekerk, while in America it is also recorded as Nickelman and Nickelson.

The Niekerken surname is also a combination of two words, which is often seen in Germanic surnames. The first word is 'nie' which means 'in the' and the second word is 'Kerken' which probably refers to a church in a certain area.

Famous people with the name Niekerken

• Johan Christoff Niekerken: Dutch physicist and chemist from the 17th century.
• Maria Niekerken Schalkwyk: Dutch journalist and editor.
• Film director, Max Niekerken.
• Dieter Niekerken: 20th century German medical doctor and editor of the BMJ 'The Lancet'.
• Peter Niekerken: Dutch scientist and professor of physiology.
• Willem Niekerken: 18th century Dutch merchant and postmaster.
• Gerard Niekerken: Dutch writer and journalist.
• Elizabeth Niekerken: Dutch journalist and newspaper editor.
• Kim Niekerken: Dutch graphic artist, photographer, and writer.
• Willem-Alexander Niekerken: Dutch historian and author.

Other surnames

Niekerke