Surname Nearhood - Meaning and Origin

Nearhood: What does the surname Nearhood mean?

The surname Nearhood doesn't appear to have a universally recognized meaning in historical or genealogical records. It's likely of English origin, quite possibly a derivative of another surname or a localized name given to someone based on their residence or occupation. Like many surnames, its meaning could have evolved over time or been altered due to geographical or cultural shifts. It's important to note that surnames often held significant meaning in their original context, referring to a person's trade, family ancestry, or even physical characteristics. The meaning of the surname Nearhood can be discovered through personal family history research or through a professional genealogist.

Nearhood: Where does the name Nearhood come from?

The Nearhood last name is believed to originate from Northumbria in northern England, but is now common throughout the United Kingdom. It is also present in smaller concentrations in countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Due to the proliferation of English as a global language and the ease of digital communication, the Nearhood surname can now be found in various locations around the world. It is both an uncommon name, as well as a name found in unlikely places, with records of Nearhood's existing in Mexico, Scotland, Ecuador, and even South Africa.

The name seems to have originated in Northumberland, an English county on the northern border of England and Scotland, during the Middle Ages. The Nearhood family has been living in that area since at least the 14th century.

As for contemporary concentrations of the Nearhood surname, research suggests that the United Kingdom has the highest concentration of the Nearhood surname outside of Northumberland. Scotland, England, and Wales are all home to significant amounts of the Nearhood’s, with a very large presence also present in nearby Northern Ireland.

On a global scale, the United States and Australia both see a large number of Nearhood's living and working. Many of these families can trace their roots back to Northumberland. Despite the wide geographical spread, the legacy of the Nearhood family lives on around the world.

Variations of the surname Nearhood

The surname Nearhood is mainly of English origin, and is derived from the Old English word 'nederhode' which means 'low, nestling, or sheltered valley'. It is believed to have originated in different areas of England during the 11th and 12th century, and is now found mainly in England, Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Australia.

There are several variants of the surname Nearhood, including Nearohood, Nearhoof, Naerhood, Nirhoof, Narhoof, Narhood, and Nerhude.

The Nearhood spelling has also been recorded under a variety of spellings, including Neyerholder, Nihove, Niurehode, Niurhode, Nerehood, Nerhole, Nerhode, Nererhoud, Nererude, Nerehood, Nerode, and Neerhood.

The Nearhood surname also has several other related surnames which have emerged from family branches over time. Some of these include Nearhough, Nargh, Neerhough, Nairehough, Neercey, Neerchy, and Nearchy.

Overall, while the Nearhood surname is derived from a common English root, it has spawned a variety of derivatives, spellings, and surnames. This demonstrates the dynamic nature of surnames over generations, with each family branch giving rise to a new variant of their original name.

Famous people with the name Nearhood

• Richard Nearhood: American former basketball player best known for his college career at Ohio State University.
• Steve Nearhood: American former professional football center who played in the National Football League (NFL) for two seasons with the Miami Dolphins (1985–1986).
• Christian Nearhood: American filmmaker, director, and writer.
• Mark Nearhood: retired United States Army Lieutenant Colonel, who was the campaign manager for Gordon Humphrey during his unsuccessful U.S. Senate bid.
• Judson Nearhood: Republican American politician from Belmont County, Ohio, who served as mayor of Barnesville, Ohio.
• Jennifer Nearhood: athlete and model who competed in the 1989 Miss USA pageant representing her home state of New York.
• Owen Nearhood: retired professional soccer winger who played his entire career from 1988–1998 with Major League Soccer club the San Jose Clash.
• Chris Nearhood: American drag racer who competed on the NHRA Mello Yello Series tour from 1982 to 2015.
• Faith Nearhood: American film screenwriter, storyteller, and story editor best known for her work on the Disney Channel series Liv and Maddie.
• Anna Nearhood: British visual and art practitioner specialized in photography, film, and video art.

Other surnames

NearhoffNearhoof