Surname Niesslein - Meaning and Origin

Niesslein: What does the surname Niesslein mean?

The last name Niesslein is of German origin and is believed to have derived from the German word ‘niess’, which means ‘nest’ or ‘nook’. It is thought that the word ‘niesslein’ was originally used as a descriptive surname in which the person was referred to as someone from a ‘nest’ or ‘nook’ of some sort. As surnames evolved, it was used to refer to a person’s geographic origin, with Niesslein then being used to refer to someone from a particular place.

Nest or nook can also speak to the cozy comforts of home, and in this context, Niesslein can represent someone from a comfortable or safe home. Alternatively, the name Niesslein can refer to someone who is from a location long associated with family, such as a family farm, a location that has been in the family for many generations. Notably, the Niesslein surname is found predominantly in the area of southern Germany, pointing to its age and origin in the region.

The Niesslein surname is commonly found in German records and has been in existence since the 1700s. It is found most commonly in records relating to the German government, as the families bearing this name were influential within the region. In addition to this, the name is also present on records associated with emigration from the area to other, distant countries such as the United States. Historical records show that Niesslein families were bravely exploring the world in search of new opportunities for themselves and their families.

Niesslein: Where does the name Niesslein come from?

The last name Niesslein is relatively uncommon today, and is most likely to be found in Germany and other German-speaking countries. It is believed to be an occupational surname, derived from the Middle High German “nesse”, meaning “servant”, or “niuweise”, meaning “newcomer”.

Due to the limited records, it is difficult to gauge exactly where or how common the surname is today. It may have spread more widely in medieval times, but that is difficult to say with certainty. However, internet searches reveal that there are still a number of Niessleins living in Germany, as well as other countries with a German-speaking population. Records show that there are also people with the name in the USA, Israel, and Australia.

The number of people who share this uncommon last name is likely very small. A search on the USA site Whitepages reveals that there are only 79 people who share this surname in that country alone. This certainly suggests that not many people share the name these days, although it can still be found in different parts of the world.

Therefore, although it is an uncommon last name, Niesslein is still found today in different countries, particularly those with German-speaking populations.

Variations of the surname Niesslein

The Pavian-Italian surname Niesslein is derived from the personal name ‘Nesslo’ or ‘Nessloino’. This in itself is derived from the Latin form of the name ‘Nestorius’ which means 'homecoming'. The surname Niesslein is believed to have originated in the 11th century in the Po Valley of Italy. Variants of this name include Neitzlein, Nesslein, Nieslein, Nieslin, Niesslein, Nieslün, Niesling and Nessling.

The surname has also been documented by several spelling variations. The earliest records of the surname in the region yielded bearers of the name as Neyson in 1674; and Neisslin in 1717. The next found records indicate it as Niesslin in 1748 in Vigevano, Heinrich Niesslein in 1837 in Oedheim, and Jakob Neißlein in 1863 in Bruchsal.

Furthermore, the spelling variations included Neitzlin, Nisslein, Niles, Niels, Nils and Nilsson. The pre 17th century spellings for the surname Niesslein can be found to be Niesle (1406 Oberammergau), Nießlein (1463 Gerolstesheim), Nesselin (1633 Merklingen), and Nesseler (1635 Ellhofen).

The surname Niesslein may appear in records as Neitzlin, Nesseler, Nesseli, Nisseler, Nisselli, Nisselin and Nieslein. Other spelling forms closely related to the Niesslein surname include Neyslein, Neyslin, Neislein, Neisslin, Nislein, Nislen, Nizelen, Nieslen, Nekyslen and Nekyslin. The surname is also related to the names Neisler, Nixon, Nesbit and Nash.

This suggests that the same original surname has been changed and adopted in many ways over time, with all the variants and surnames being closely related to one another. Some of these variants may have even been adopted as a result of migration to different countries.

Famous people with the name Niesslein

• Franz Niesslein: German World War II fighter ace who was credited with shooting down 63 enemy aircraft during his career.
• Michael Niesslein: German actor who has appeared in numerous television shows and films.
• Arthur Niesslein: German entomologist who worked on the fields of behavior, morphology and genetics of insects.
• Hermann Niesslein: German theologian and philosopher, professor at the University of Freiburg.
• Robert Niesslein: German philosopher and theologian whose works focus on the neo-Kantian and Hegelian currents of thought.
• Karl Niesslein: German evolutionary biologist and professor at the University of Basel.
• David Niesslein: German physicist and applied mathematician who worked with holography and imaging and detection systems.
• Maximilian Niesslein: German-American art collector and entrepreneur who was a major donor to the Smithsonian Institution.
• Albert Friedrich Niesslein: German botanist and professor of clothing technology at the University of Stuttgart.
• Fritz Niesslein: German professor of geography and cartography at the University of Berlin.

Other surnames

Niessler