Surname Nijs - Meaning and Origin
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Nijs: What does the surname Nijs mean?
The last name Nijs is of Dutch origin. It is derived from the Old Dutch given name Ni(e)s, a short form of names beginning with Nin- such as Cornelis (Ni(e)ls). The name is a nickname given to a person who was short or small in stature. Alternatively, it could also be derived from the Old Dutch word nis, meaning "corner," indicating a person who lived near a corner or at a crossroads.
The common spelling of Nijs is found in the Netherlands and Belgium. The Dutch Van Nijs is abbreviated as "v. Nijs", or in some cases "van Nys". This was a common practice in the 18th and 19th century, where descriptive nicknames dating back to medieval times were combined with the preposition "van" or "de" (meaning "of" or "from").
The last name Nijs is historically associated with the province of Gelderland, located in the eastern part of the Netherlands. The most common occupation of people with this last name was farming. In later times, many have branched into other fields such as teaching and engineering.
In recent years, the Nijs surname has spread to other parts of the world, in particular to parts of Europe, North and South America, and Australia. People with this last name tend to be proud of their heritage and often pass down a strong sense of identity to their descendants.
Order DNA origin analysisNijs: Where does the name Nijs come from?
The last name Nijs is most common today in the Netherlands. It is estimated that there are more than 900 people in the Netherlands with this last name. Outside the Netherlands, however, it is much less common. It is estimated that there are only a few hundred people with the name in Belgium, Germany, France, and other European countries. Additionally, until recently, the name was only rarely seen outside of Europe; however, thanks to immigration to the United States and other countries, it is possible to find people with the name Nijs in South America, Canada, and other parts of the world.
In the Netherlands, the last name originated in the province of Gelderland. People from this province typically shared a number of common characteristics—such as hard work and service—which were aspects of their shared culture, and this may explain why the name Nijs has survived so long. In addition to this, many Dutch last names are based on locations or physical features; Nijs is derived from the old Dutch word for "riverbank," and so it is likely that this was the source of the name.
No matter where in the world you find it, the last name Nijs is a reminder of the Dutch history and culture that has been carried by so many people. It is a unique piece of a shared heritage, and its presence is a reminder of the importance of keeping our past alive.
Variations of the surname Nijs
Nijs is a Dutch-language surname with a wide variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Common variants of the surname Nijs include Nijsen, Nys, Nijman, Nysen, Nijhuis, Neijs, Neijsen, Niessen, and Nijhoff. A less common spelling is Neys.
Nijs is generally thought to be derived from the personal name Neys, meaning "son of the victorious one," which is derived from elements such as neis (victory) and hari (army). The alternative origin could be the personal name Nannes, derived from Nannis, a diminutive of names such as Nanne or Anna, which mean grace.
The patronymic surnames derived from the Nijs surname include Nijssen, Nijsser, Nijssers, Nijse, and Nijsenacht. Other surnames originating from Nijs include Nijmond, Nijsnaar, Nijstad, Nijskens, and Nijsolter.
Most of the variations of Nijs arose from spelling errors in official documents due to illiteracy and the similarity of the surname to the Dutch word for snow (nis). Other variants of the Nijs surname arose from the dialects of the regions where individuals bearing the surname lived. In some cases, this includes the shortening of the name to more common versions. These variants may also have arisen from movements of branches of the same family to different parts of the country, making spelling variations even more likely.
Famous people with the name Nijs
- Tinne Nijs: Belgian racing cyclist
- Sybren Nijs: Dutch physicist and professor
- Bart Nijs: Belgian academic specializing in health economics
- Madded Nijs: Dutch fashion model
- Maarten Nijs: Dutch politician
- Cathelijne Nijs: Dutch ceramic artist
- Ad Nijs: Dutch writer and singer
- Chris Nijs: Dutch author and IT-consultant
- Steven Nijs: Belgian video game developer
- Stephan Nijs: Dutch journalist and author
- Willem Nijs: Dutch professor in economic geography
- Karl Nijs: Belgian artist
- Toon Nijs: Dutch entrepreneur
- Lia Nijs: Belgian historian
- Monique Nijs: Dutch fashion executive
- Miranda Nijs: Belgian media professional
- Freek Nijs: Dutch painter
- Bart Nijs: Dutch television host
- Bas Nijs: Dutch public affairs
- Tom Nijs: Belgian singer and songwriter