Surname Nurse - Meaning and Origin
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Nurse: What does the surname Nurse mean?
The last name Nurse is of English origin and is an occupational surname. It has derived from the Middle English term "nurice" or "nurse", and was commonly used to refer to someone who worked as a nurse by profession. Occupational surnames often were based on people's jobs or trades during medieval times. In some instances, the last name Nurse could be used to refer metaphorically to someone who was nurturing or caring, reflecting values perceived to be at the heart of the nursing profession. However, it is important to note that the nurse profession during medieval times was very different from the highly skilled healthcare role of modern times. The occupational surnames are often handed down generations and may not represent the working role of the individuals today.
Order DNA origin analysisNurse: Where does the name Nurse come from?
The last name Nurse is most commonly found in Anglophone countries, particularly in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is typically of English origin, with records indicating it originated in the region of Kent in the 12th century. The surname Nurse first began to appear in records in the UK in 1316, with John Nurse, a witness in the Exchequer Court.
In New South Wales, Australia, there is a town near Tamworth named Nundle, whose main industry is gold mining. There is a rich history of gold mining in the area, and the Nurse family were among the first miners to settle there. Many of the Nurse descendants in the area today can trace their ancestry back to the first gold miners to settle in Nundle.
In the United States, the Nurse family is spread throughout many states, especially in the east. Census records from the late 1800s show the distribution of the surname Nurse across each state. In 1880, for example, the highest number of people with the surname Nurse lived in Massachusetts, followed by New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Ohio.
Today, it is estimated that there are over 1,000 Nurse households living in the UK, with many more around the world. Despite its English origin, the Nurse surname can now be found in various countries as either a complete family name or an offshoot of other surnames such as Newson, Newbury, and Newsome.
Variations of the surname Nurse
The surname Nurse has a range of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants and spellings include Nourse, Nours, Newrs, Noars, Noursse, and Nures. These variants can be found in British, Irish, German, Dutch, and French families.
The surname Nurse was derived from the Old English word næss, which refers to a promontory or headland. In the Middle Ages, it was used as an occupational surname to denote a person who lived by or near a promontory. It is also possible that the name was derived from the Middle English word nurris, which meant a female wet nurse. Today, the surname is also used to refer to people employed as a nurse.
Other surnames derived from the same root include Nourse, Nourssey, Nursey, Norsing, Norson, Newrs, Norrice, Noare, Noarce, Norley, Norlish, Neprass, and Nauras. These surnames can mostly be found among families in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, France, and Germany.
The surname Nurse has appeared as early as the 12th century in records kept in Yorkshire, England. In Scotland, records of the surname date back to 1496, when William Nurse was noted as a witness to a charter. The surname Newrs was on record in Norfolk, England in 1340. In France, the spelling was Noursse, and was recorded in Dijon in 1191.
All of these surnames are derived from the Old English word næss, ultimately referring to a person who lived by or near a headland or promontory. The variant spellings can be found among the descendants of families located in various countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Nurse
- Florence Nightingale: Regarded as the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale was an English nurse who revolutionised the profession. She was also a pioneer in healthcare and public health reform.
- Mary Seacole: A Jamaican-born British nurse, Mary Seacole served as an army nurse during the Crimean War, where she earned praise for her medical work.
- Susan B. Anthony: A women's rights activist and leader in the early women's movement, Susan B. Anthony assisted wounded soldiers during the Civil War as a field nurse.
- Clara Barton: Known as the 'Angel of the Battlefield,' Clara Barton was a nursing pioneer, famous for her work during the American Civil War. She later founded the American Red Cross.
- Sojourner Truth: An African-American woman and anti-slavery activist, Sojourner Truth worked as a nurse during the Civil War. She was also a minister and a public speaker.
- Ella M. G. Baker: A civil rights and human rights activist, Ella M. G. Baker was a nurse by profession. She served during World War II in California and Ogden, Utah, where she received many awards for her service.
- Charles Woodruff Nurse: Charles Woodruff Nurse was an education administrator and a former Headmaster of Claver College, Nigeria, from 1959 to 1969.
- Daisy Nurse: An Aboriginal Australian Elder, Daisy Nurse was a leader in health justice and advocacy. She was also a public speaker and a community leader.
- Lucy Maud Nurse: Lucy Maud Nurse was an Australian nurse, known for her role in the military and in nursing, particularly in the remote areas of Victoria during World War I.
- Joseph Nurse: Joseph Nurse was an American fishing boat captain and an active participant in the fishing industry in the late 19th century.