Surname Niendorf - Meaning and Origin

Niendorf: What does the surname Niendorf mean?

The surname Niendorf is of German origin and has been used in the area of Germany now known as Lower Saxony since at least the 12th century. The surname is derived from the German words 'niende' and 'dorf', meaning 'ninth village'; the implication being that this village was the ninth settlement to be established in a given area.

The first recorded mention of the name was in 1259 in Northern Germany, when the Hehelde family of the Niendorf locality was mentioned in a local record. Further records of the name appear in subsequent centuries in the same region.

It is thought that the Niendorf surname was established by the family in one of the settlements around the Luhe river, which was the source of many of the original settlers in the area. The family is thought to have taken on the 'Niendorf' designation to distinguish themselves from other families in the region.

Today, those bearing the surname are found mainly in the northern parts of Germany, with a small number in the United States as well. The name is associated with a certain level of wealth and social standing, with many who bear the name having held prominent positions in German society.

Niendorf: Where does the name Niendorf come from?

The surname Niendorf is most commonly found in regions of northern Germany such as Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony, as well as parts of the Netherlands, with varying spellings (Niendorff, Niederf, Niendorp, etc). It is thought to have originally been a locational name derived from Niendorf, a settlement in Schleswig-Holstein which was first recorded in 1369.

In Germany, the name is still very popular today, especially in the cities of Hamburg, Stade, Braunschweig, and Cuxhaven, which are the most common locations for Niendorf residents. The modern meaning of the name has come to represent someone who comes from the city of Niendorf.

Elsewhere, the name has spread to other parts of Europe, with emigrants taking the name into Britain, the Netherlands, Norway, and even the United States. In the US, the Niendorf surname may be found in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.

In conclusion, while Niendorf is not as common a surname today as it used to be, people with the name still live in the parts of Germany (such as Hamburg, Stade, Braunschweig, and Cuxhaven) from which it originated, as well as other countries such as Britain, the Netherlands, Norway, and even the United States.

Variations of the surname Niendorf

The surnames Niendorf and Niendorp are variations of the same name. As an occupational name, it comes from the Old German word, nentervort, which translates to “near the ford”. This surname would have originally indicated a person either lived near a ford or crossed it frequently.

Niendorf is the most common spelling for the name in Germany, where it originated. It is also found in many parts of Europe and in countries which German emigrants settled in. Common variants of Niendorf that can be found in Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia, include Neindorff, Nindorf, Nienorf, Nienendorf, and Nendoerff.

In America, the surname is most often spelled Niendorp. This spelling is a traditional German American spelling, and has been found to be predominant by records in the United States and Canada. Variations of Niendorp that people may find in American records include Nendorp, Nendoorp, Nendorge, Nendorff, and Nendort.

No matter the spelling, Niendorf is a common name in many parts of the world and has been for centuries. Its meaning has been kept alive in its repeated variations and will continue to be used and passed down through future generations.

Famous people with the name Niendorf

• Katja Niendorf: German actress
• Jessica Niendorf: German filmmaker
• Christian Niendorf: German film actor
• Albrecht Niendorf: German faith healer and mystic
• Joan Niendorf: American violinist
• Lotte Niendorf: German opera singer and actress
• Peter Niendorf: German classical guitarist
• Erhard Niendorf: German professor of Christian art
• Johannes Niendorf: German businessman
• Moritz Niendorf: German soccer player

Other surnames

Niendorff