Surname Nilsen - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'N'
Nilsen: What does the surname Nilsen mean?
The last name Nilsen is of Scandinavian origin, derived from the Ancient Norse personal name Níðhǫggr (meaning “malicious” or “destructive one”). The name was also seen as Nilsson, which is an ancient Swedish variant of the name.
It began to appear as a common surname in northern Europe in the Early Modern period. Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland were the main countries where the name could be found. It was probably adopted by settlers who moved between the countries.
The name was likely associated with a person's profession in the Nordic countries as well. It could refer to someone who worked with metal, such as a blacksmith, or someone who worked with wood, such as a carpenter. In some cases, Nilsen was also linked to a religious affiliation, as it was sometimes used to indicate a person who followed the Swedish Lutheran faith.
In modern times, the name Nilsen is still commonly found in Scandinavia as well as other regions of the world, particularly in Australia, North America, and the United Kingdom. It may also be seen as Nilsson, which is the Swedish spelling. The name is now also widely found in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Overall, the last name Nilsen is an ancient Nordic surname that has since spread around the world. It is a popular name that is still admired and used by many people today.
Order DNA origin analysisNilsen: Where does the name Nilsen come from?
The last name Nilsen is most common in Norway today. It is the 31st most common surname in the country, according to the Norwegian Language Council. The Nilsen surname has had a long history in Norway, appearing in records dating back to the Middle Ages.
The number of Nilsen's in Norway has seen an increase over the past century. Much of this can be attributed to the economic development of Norway in the 20th century and its resulting increase in population. Today, an estimated 31,764 people in Norway share the last name Nilsen, making it one of the most common surnames in the country.
Outside of Norway, the name Nilsen is not as common. It is still found in places such as Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, but the number of individuals with the name within these countries is much less compared to Norway. The name Nilsen is also found in other countries worldwide, but at a much lower rate.
In the United States, the last name Nilsen is well-known due to the drummer with the rock band "Cheap Trick," Bun E. Carlos, whose real name is Brad Carlson (he changed it to Bun E. Carlos in 1974). The surname is much less common in the United States than in Norway, with only an estimated 997 people sharing the last name Nilsen in the United States.
Overall, the last name Nilsen is most commonly found in Norway, with its presence in other countries much less significant.
Variations of the surname Nilsen
The surname Nilsen is believed to have Scandinavian origins. There are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin such as Nilson, Nilsson, Nillson, Nillsson, Ness, Nilzén, Nyleson, Nylund, Nyles and even Neilson.
The Nilsen variant of the surname is derived from the Scandinavian personal name Nils, which is a form of the Greek name Nicholas. In the Scandinavian countries, the personal name Nils was often used to outstand various other variant forms such as Nels and Knud.
In the United States, the surname is most commonly spelled Nilsen, although more than 400 alternate spellings are used as well. Many of these alternate spellings are the result of changing the "L" to an "S" in Scandinavian countries, and the "L", "N" and "S" all being often used interchangeably in some other cultures.
The Nilsen surname is also commonly found in England in various forms such as Neilson, Nelson and Neslen. These alternate spellings have been reported to have derived from Scottish Gaelic and Old Norse, and are spelled as such due to various cultural influences and stylistic preferences.
In addition, versions of the surname Nilsen can be found in other countries, such as Germany, where it is spelled as Nilsen, Nilson, Nillson and Nilsson. In the Netherlands, the surname is most commonly spelled as Nilzén. In Spain, the surname is most often found as Neilson, Nyleson, Nylund and Nyles.
Famous people with the name Nilsen
- Martin Nilsen, Norwegian cross-country skier
- Elin Nilsen, Norwegian team handball player
- Trygve Nilsen, former Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry
- Carl August Nilsen, former Norwegian Consul to the United States
- Torje Nilsen, Norwegian cross-country skier
- Egil Nilsen, Norwegian biathlete
- Stig Nilsen, former Norwegian Defence Minister
- Henrik Nilsen, Norwegian Nordic combined skier
- Lars Nilsen, former Norwegian Minister of Energy
- Finn Nilsen, Norwegian film director
- Marius Nilsen, Norwegian javelin thrower
- Jan Erik Nilsen, Norwegian biathlete
- Lars L. Nilsen, former Norwegian Supreme Court Judge
- Adem Nilsen, former Norwegian Prime Minister
- Ivar Nilsen, former Norwegian Minister for Industrial Development
- Odd Nilsen, Norwegian long distance runner
- Odd Runar Nilsen, Norwegian rower
- Peder Nilsen, Norwegian football player
- Martin L. Nilsen, former Norwegian Minister of Finance
- Nils Nilsen, Norwegian diver
- Lars Alexander Nilsen, Norwegian orienteering competitor
- Hilde Nilsen, Norwegian hammer thrower
- Trond Nilsen, Norwegian football manager
- Tone Nilsen, Norwegian cross-country skier
- Andreas Nilsen, Norwegian footballer
- Are Nilsen, Norwegian sports journalist
- Marie Nilsen, Norwegian former handball player
- Jørn Nilsen, Norwegian orienteering competitor
- Heidi Nilsen, Norwegian pair skater
- Svein Nilsen, former Norwegian Minister of Transport