Surname Nilßen - Meaning and Origin
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Nilßen: What does the surname Nilßen mean?
The last name Nilßen (also spelled as Nilssen or Nilson) is of Scandinavian origin and is derived from the personal name Nils (Nicholas). The surname originally denoted a person's father or son and was quite popular in countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. It is believed to have been derived from the Old Norse "Nil" meaning "victorious".
In some countries, including Norway, the surname is also written as Nilson. A variant of the name is Nilsson, which originated from the same personal name and is now found mainly in Sweden and Finland.
Some of the earliest recorded bearers of the Nilßen surname include Andreas Nilssen of Hjelmo, Norway in 1723, Nils Nilssen of Fjellin, Norway in 1731, and Nils Nilssen of Rygj, Norway in 1733.
Today, the Nilßen surname is found across many parts of Northern Europe and Scandinavia, and has even spread to other countries around the world. It is a relatively common surname in most countries, with more than 85,000 people bearing the name in Finland alone. Some variations of the last name are also found in North and South America and parts of the United Kingdom.
The Nilßen surname remains an important part of European culture today, signifying a person's heritage and possible relation to the powerful and accomplished Nils.
Order DNA origin analysisNilßen: Where does the name Nilßen come from?
The last name Nilßen is a rare surname, predominantly found in Northern Europe. It is most commonly found in Germany and Scandinavia, where it is among the commonest of all surnames. It is also found in Estonia, the Netherlands, and other European countries. In the United States, it tends to be concentrated in the upper Midwest region, particularly in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan.
In Germany, Nilßen is one of the most frequent surnames, appearing in the top 200 of all surnames in the country. It is especially prevalent in the states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Hamburg. In Sweden, Nilßen is also among the most common surnames, appearing among the top 100. It is especially widespread in Gotland Island, although it can also be found around the capital city of Stockholm. In Norway, Nilßen is among the top 150 surnames, being particularly popular in the rural areas of Telemark, Østfold, and Akershus.
Lastly, there is evidence of the surname being used in Estonia, the Netherlands, France, and other European countries. In the United States, Nilßen is most common in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. The surname is also evident throughout Canada, although its prevalence is considered to be relatively low.
Variations of the surname Nilßen
Nilßen is a German surname derived from the given name Nikolaus. It is most common in northern Germany, especially in the regions of East Frisia and Lower Saxony. Alternate spellings and variants of the name include Nielson, Nielsen, Nilsen, Nilson, Neilson, Neilsson, and Nelsen.
The two most common variations are Nielsen and Nilsen. Nielsen (or the more archaic spelling Nielson) is the most common spelling in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries, and Nilsen is the most common in Norway. In some non-Germanic countries, both spellings are used interchangeably and people with these names may have ancestry from both Germany as well as the surrounding countries.
The surname Nilßen is sometimes found in records with a double-s character, or "ß". This is a German ligature and is commonly found in German surnames, though it is sometimes replaced by two "s" characters, e.g. Niessen or Nilsen.
In Germany, the surname is associated primarily with the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. It is particularly common in the region near Emden, where Nikolaus is a fairly common given name. It is also found in other northern regions which historically belonged to the German Empire, such as the Netherlands and Sweden and in other countries which received large number of German immigrants like Argentina, Brazil, and the United States.
In the United States, Nilßen is the 4,335th most common surname, and Nielsen and Nilsen rank higher at 1,413th and 1,631st, respectively. Additionally, Nilsson, Neilson, Neilsson, and Nelsen rank 20622th, 51,442nd, 54,191st, and 119,838th, respectively.
Famous people with the name Nilßen
- Rebecca Nillson: Swedish pop-artist, songwriter and record producer
- Peer Nilssen-Love: Norwegian jazz drummer and composer
- Jan Carlsson Nilsson: Swedish businessperson and founder of Nilfisk-Advance
- Roger Nilsson: Swedish football manager
- Hans Nilsson: Swedish economist and politician
- Olle Nilsson: Swedish actor
- Thure Wilhelm Nilsson: Swedish journalist and politician
- Ingrid Nilson: Norwegian singer
- Patrik Nilsson: Swedish ice hockey player
- Karl Nilsson: Swedish actor
- Louice Nilsson: Swedish author
- Sven Nilsson: Swedish zoologist
- Eva Nilsson: Swedish television presenter
- Agneta Nilsson: Swedish actress
- Jan Osvald Nilsson: Swedish church historian
- Johan Nilsson: Swedish singer
- Affe Nilsson: Swedish musical artist
- Dick Nilsson: Swedish golf player
- Karin Nilsson: Swedish chef
- Christer Nilsson: Swedish cyclist
- Göran Nilsson: Swedish curler
- Henrik Nilsson: Swedish footballer
- Ola Nilsson: Swedish journalist
- Per Eric Nilsson: Swedish footballer
- Peter Nilsson: Swedish shooter
- Peter Skov-Nielsen: Danish actor