Surname Noyer - Meaning and Origin

Noyer: What does the surname Noyer mean?

Noyer is a French surname that translates to "Walnut" in English. Traditionally, it is an occupational or topographic surname. As an occupational surname, it could have been used for a person who cultivated or sold walnuts. As a topographic name, it might have been given to someone who lived near a walnut tree or a walnut farm. Surnames often originated from professions, geographical locations, or personal characteristics in the middle ages when the practice of adopting hereditary family names was prevalent. The pronunciation and spelling of such names can often change over time and vary in different regions.

Noyer: Where does the name Noyer come from?

The last name Noyer is common in Western, Central, and Southern Europe. Historically, the highest concentrations of Noyer can be found in France, Switzerland, Germany, and Belgium.

In France, the last name is most prominent in the Midi-Pyrenees region, which includes the departments of Ariege, Haute-Garonne, Lot, and Tarn-et-Garonne. In Switzerland, the Noyer family is most common in Neuchâtel, Vaud, and Valais, while in Germany it is primarily found in Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and North Rhine-Westphalia.

In Belgium, the last name is particularly common in Flemish-speaking regions. However, some families with the last name Noyer can be found in all parts of the country. The same holds true for Luxembourg, where the Noyer family can be found in many of its municipalities.

Outside of continental Europe, the last name is common in North America, particularly in Canada and the United States. It is estimated that there are more than 1,000 individuals living in Canada with the last name Noyer, and that the United States has between 5,000 and 10,000 with the surname.

In summary, the last name Noyer is most common in Western, Central, and Southern Europe, particularly in France, Switzerland, Germany, and Belgium. It is also widely found in Canada and the United States, as well as Luxembourg.

Variations of the surname Noyer

The surname Noyer is referenced to be of French origin from the Old French word "noier" meaning "walnut tree". Variant spellings of the name Noyer may include Noyes, Noyer, Noier, Nieur, and Noe.

As a French surname, Noyer is most commonly found in northeastern France, particularly in the areas of Auvergne, Bourgogne, Champagne, and Lorraine. It has also been found in Canada, with some early immigrants coming from the area of France.

In French, Noyer is traditionally a descriptive name derived from the Old French word noier meaning "walnut". Alternate surnames with the same origin include Noisetier, meaning the Hazeltree, and Fayot, meaning a small walnut tree or small walnut.

Noyer may also be a variation of the Italian surname "Neri" (formerly spelled Nieri). The surname Neri is derived from the given name Leone which comes from the Latin leo meaning "lion". Thus, the surname Neri is equivalent to the English name Lion, and its variations such as Lyons and Leon.

The surname Noyer is also found with spellings of Noire, Noireau, Noirel, and Noiret in French, and Niero, Niere, Niereau and Niero in Italian. Additionally, the Dutch surname Nijer and Belgian surname Neyer may also be variations of the surname Noyer. Other Dutch surnames with the same origin are Nijenhuis (House of the Noyer) and Nijs (Grove of Noyers).

Famous people with the name Noyer

• Marie-Gabrielle Noyer (1764-1798), French poet
• Tony Noyer (born 1982), American football player
• Tim Noyer (born 1988), American politician
• Paul Noyer (1888-1962), American federal judge
• Claude Noyer (1780-1841), French classical scholar
• Robert Noyer (1922-2016), French actor
• Jacob Noyer (1782-1853), Swiss landscape painter
• Frédéric Noyer (born 1970), French-Brazilian professor of economics
• Charles Noyer (1834-1885), French organist and composer
• Mike Noyer (born 1964), American author and former CEO of Sensient Technologies

Other surnames

Noye