Surname Nigge - Meaning and Origin
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Nigge: What does the surname Nigge mean?
The last name Nigge is of Germanic origin and is thought to be derived from a personal name that is derived from the old Germanic given name, Nikke, which meant "victorious". The surname can also be spelled as Niggwe, Niggw, Nige or Nigge.
Throughout the centuries the Nigge surname has been known by a variety of spellings, although the spelling has tended to remain consistent in certain families throughout different areas and countries. Common variations of the name include Niege, Niegge, Niegeller, Nieger, and Nigger.
The use of the name Nigger was particularly prominent in the US, with enslaved African-Americans being given that surname. This has led the surname to be highly stigmatised over time, with many people shying away from it due to its past association with slavery.
Today, the last name is still relatively common, particularly in Germany where many families retain the original spelling of the name. Outside of Germany, the surname often appears as Nige or Nigge.
Order DNA origin analysisNigge: Where does the name Nigge come from?
The surname Nigge is most commonly found in Germany today. According to records, it is thought to have originated from the border region between Germany and Poland where it could have been derived from the Polish word "niży", which means "low". It was originally used to indicate a person who was of lower social status or who lived in a low place near a riverbank. Further afield, there is evidence that the surname spread to other parts of Europe including parts of France and the Netherlands. Although the origins of the name have been lost, it is believed to have been a patronymic form, so it may have started being used in Germany as early as the 16th century. As of 2018, the current distribution of the Nigge surname across Europe is relatively small, with the vast majority living in Germany and other nearby countries such as Austria, Belgium and Switzerland. The name is also quite rare in North America, although it can be found in small numbers in the United States, Canada and other countries in the Americas.
Variations of the surname Nigge
The surname Nigge is the anglicized spelling of the ancient Germanic family name Nigge that originated in what is now modern-day Switzerland. The original spelling of the name was Nicken, which can still be found as a modern surname. The surname also appears in numerous other variant forms.
The most commonly seen alternative to the spelling of Nigge is Nig, which is considered to be the original root spelling of the name. However, some varieties of the name are seen with an ‘y’ sound added to it, such as Nyge, Nygge, Nygges, and Nyggen. Other variant spellings of the name include Niege, Nieger, Niggen, Niglyn, Nigh, Nimb, and Nickero.
The surnames Neach, Neich, Nich, and Nickels also have the same etymological origin as Nigge and the related spellings. The surnames Nighbours, Nicolls, Nisbett, and Adams have also been seen as variants of the name Nigge.
Many of these surnames have achieved their own, independent meanings since their origination hundreds of years ago and can be found throughout Europe in various forms. For example, the surname Nickels is believed to have come from the German and Dutch word ‘knickle’, meaning wild boar. Likewise, the surname Nisbett is derived from the Gaelic word ‘nise’, meaning a small island.
In addition to the various spellings and surnames, the word ‘Nigge’ also appears in some English placenames, such as Nigg in Scotland, Nigg Bay in Shetland, and Nigg in Cornwall.
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