Surname Nitze - Meaning and Origin
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Nitze: What does the surname Nitze mean?
The last name Nitze is of German origin, and was likely derived from the personal name Nitz. Nitz was originally an diminutive form of Nikolaus, an old German personal name, meaning “victory of the people.” Nikolaus is derived from the Greek words “nike” meaning “victory" and “laos” meaning “people.”
The first recorded use of the surname Nitze was in 1690 when Heinrich Nitz, the son of Martin Nitz, was baptized in Berlin. The Nitze family held a seat in the area in what is now modern day Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany.
The name Nitze is common throughout Europe. It is estimated that there are approximately 10,000 bearers of this surname throughout Germany, and is also found in France, Spain, and Scandinavia.
Since the 17th century, descendants of the Nitze family have migrated to other parts of the world, but are most common in the United States and Australia.
Today, Nitze is a middle to upper-class surname. The name conveys a sense of wealth and success, as the Nitze family has a long history of entrepreneurialism. Nitze individuals are known to be hardworking, intelligent, and driven, and their success is often attributed to their focus and determination.
Order DNA origin analysisNitze: Where does the name Nitze come from?
The Nitze surname is rare around the world, but is most common in Germany and Austria. In Germany, the Nitze surname can be found in the states of Hesse, Lower Saxony, Bavaria, Berlin and Thuringia. It is most concentrated in Berlin, where it is the 784th most common surname out of the approximate 6.9 million surnames in the country.
In Austria, the Nitze surname is most common in the state of Lower Austria, where it is the 314th most common surname nationally. It is less common in other parts of Austria, and the surname can also be found in small numbers in the Czech Republic, Russia, and Denmark.
Outside Europe, the Nitze surname is much rarer. It can be found in the United States, most likely among German immigrants, but it is not in the top 1,000 surnames in the country. It is much less common in other parts of the world, though small numbers of Nitze families can be found in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Nitze
The Nitze surname has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of these variants include Nitz, Nitsche, Nitzsch, Nitzke, Nitsche, Nitzki, Nitzel, Nitschel, Nitzl, and Nitssch.
The Nitze surname originates from the Germanic personal name "Niketzo." This name was derived from the Old High German roots "nikan" meaning "to regain possession" or "to take back" and "tsi" meaning "people" or "progeny". It could be interpreted as meaning "regaining the people."
Though the name originated in Germany, it can also be found in many other locations. In Scandinavian countries, the Nitze surname appears as Nitz or Nitsche. In Eastern Europe, the spelling is Nitzsch. These variants are often found in Prussia, Hungary, and Silesia. The American spelling is often seen as Nitzke or Nitzel.
In some cases, the Nitze surname may be found in the form of a hyphenated name. A variation of this form includes Nitsche-Nitze, which originated from a union of two families with the Nitze surname. In some cases, the Nitze surname may have French roots, and can be found as the surname Nitze-Nire.
The Nitze surname is also found as part of surnames derived from other languages, such as Nitssch-Weinmann or Nitzi-Bachmann. All of these surnames can be traced back to their Germanic roots and the personal name Niketzo.
Famous people with the name Nitze
- Paul H. Nitze: (1907-2004), U.S. diplomat and statesman.
- William A. Nitze: (1909-2004), investment banker and philanthropist.
- Steven C. Nitze: (1931-2008), ambassador and assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
- Alfred B. Nitze: (1883-1962), diplomat and educator.
- Jin Li Nitze: (1955-), author and scholar.
- David Nitze: (1947-), founder and director of the chemical weapons elimination program at the Pentagon.
- Ann Nitze: (1960-), children’s book author.
- John F. Nitze: (1919-2017), U.S. Navy officer and banker.
- Adm. Kenneth L. Nitze: (1930-2015), former commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
- Blaine Steinberger Nitze: (1899-1944), WWI aviator and municipal airport founder.