Surname Nijmeijer - Meaning and Origin
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Nijmeijer: What does the surname Nijmeijer mean?
The surname Nijmeijer is of Dutch origin; it's derived from the city of Nijmegen, which is located in the eastern Netherlands along the Rhine river. The name is derived from the combination of two elements – ‘niem’ for ‘river’ and ‘meer’ for ‘lake’. This suggests that the family had ancestral links to the city of Nijmegen and were likely merchants or farmers along the shores of the Rhine.
Nijmeijer is a common surname with over 4,100 people bearing the name in the Netherlands. It has been suggested that during the 12th and 13th centuries, the city of Nijmegen and the area surrounding it were a popular area among immigrants, and many of the original inhabitants utilized the river and lake nearby for their economic activities. As such, the name Nijmeijer likely began to be used frequently. The surname likely spread to other places as people moved to the Netherlands from elsewhere.
Today, the surname Nijmeijer is a common one throughout the Netherlands and even abroad. It is a reminder of the city of Nijmegen and a reminder of the family's ancestors who worked and lived on the shores of the Rhine. It is also a reminder of the activities that the Nijmeijers family might have been involved with in the past, such as fishing and trading.
Order DNA origin analysisNijmeijer: Where does the name Nijmeijer come from?
Nijmeijer is a Dutch patronymic surname and is very common to this day in the Netherlands. It is an occupational surname derived from the Dutch word nijmeijer, which translates to nail maker or nail smith. It is thought to have originated from the days of the Eighty Years’ War in the Netherlands when nails were needed to construct weapons for the Dutch forces.
The prevalence of the name continues to be highest in the Netherlands, but it has spread to other countries over the centuries, particularly in Europe. In Germany, it is mainly found in the East Friesland region. The Norwegian spelling of the name is Nijmeijer and is found in significant numbers in Ontario, Canada, especially within the Dutch Mennonite communities. It has also spread to the United States, South Africa and South America.
The spelling of the name may fluctuate depending on the region. In Germany, it is sometimes spelt Nijmeiger or Nejmeijer. In the United States, it can also be found as Nimier and Nimeyer.
Though primarily found in the Netherlands, Germany and Canada, the surname's prevalence is global today. Immigration of Dutch expatriates in the twentieth century has helped the spread of the Nijmeijer name around the world.
Variations of the surname Nijmeijer
The surname Nijmeijer is derived from the Dutch place name Nijmegen, which was taken up by those living in the area before surnames became commonplace. As such, variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are derived from this place name.
Common variants of the surname Nijmeijer include: Nijmeijer; Nijmeyer; Nijmeyer; Nijmeijers; Nijmeyers; Nijmeyers; and Nijmeijers.
The anglicised spelling of the surname is Nimmo, which is associated with the Irish surname Ó Nuimhín.
When translated into English, there are alternate spellings of the surname such as Nymeijer, Neimayer and Nymeyer.
In the United States, a variant of the surname is standardised to Nuemeyer which is sometimes spelled as Newmeyer.
In some cases, the surname may be phonetically spelled as Nimmeijer or Nimmeyers.
Commonly used abbreviations of the surname Nijmeijer include: N'mr, Nmr, Nijmeijr or Nijmeyr.
Variants of the surname Nijmeijer that have been adopted as first names include Nijmeijer; Nijmeijer; Nijmejers; Nijmeyers; Nimmo; and Nimmo.
Other related surnames include Nim, Nimie, and Nime.
The surname Nijmeijer has spread to other countries and cultures as well. In South Africa, the surname is known as Nijmeijer or Nemijer; in Germany, it is known as Nimmeijer; in Norway, it is known as Nimmoen; and in Denmark, as Niemoeller.
Famous people with the name Nijmeijer
- Paul Nijmeijer: Paul Nijmeijer is an artist from The Netherlands. He specializes in architectural and graphic design, and has worked on projects for companies such as Citroen, Doreen Fabrics, and Bijvoet.
- Jacob Nijmeijer: Jacob Nijmeijer is a Dutch professional volleyball player who plays for VC Dynamo in the Russian Super League. He has also represented the Netherlands in various international tournaments.
- Arthur Nijmeijer: Arthur Nijmeijer is a Dutch professional basketball player who currently plays for Den Helder Suns in the Dutch Basketball League.
- Carli Nijmeijer: Carli Nijmeijer is an accomplished Dutch photographer who is known for her work with celebrities, such as Dutch actress Carice van Houten.
- Desirée Nijmeijer: Desirée Nijmeijer is a Dutch woman who competed in the Miss Universe pageant in 2000.
- Erik Nijmeijer: Erik Nijmeijer is an acclaimed Dutch jazz musician who has performed and recorded with many notable jazz figures over the course of his career.
- Frank Nijmeijer: Frank Nijmeijer is a Dutch scientist and engineer who specializes in power systems engineering.
- Hugo Nijmeijer: Hugo Nijmeijer is a Dutch aspiring musician who has recently released his debut album, 'Paradise'.