Nijboer/Nyboer/Nieboer
I know it's Dutch and boer means farmer. But I've no clue what nij/ny/nie would refer to. Anyone know?TIA, Laurel

This message was edited 7/25/2007, 1:38 PM

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I, too, think, the "new farmer" meaning is correct.
However another interpretation should also be considered: "neighbor'"I checked a German version of the name and found some evidence:
http://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts/fact.aspx?fid=10&ln=Niebuhr
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I'm pretty sure it means new.
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I think so too, the Nij- part anyway, so "new farmer"? Nieuwboer and Nieuweboer are also Dutch surnames.
The Family Names Databank at www.meertens.knaw.nl describes Nijboer as both occupational and as a habitation name (? adresnaam). So maybe there's a farm somewhere called Nijboer; Nij does occur as a component in place names, and there's a place in Holland called "Boer" so maybe a Nijboer too.
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Thanks very much!I couldn't get the website to work, so thanks for that info too.

This message was edited 7/30/2007, 7:39 PM

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