Type Surname (from location)
Pronounced Pron. NAS-ahr(American English) NAS-awr(British English) NAS-ow(German, British English) [key]
Other Forms FormsNassow, Nasau, Naso, Nasso, Nassokin, von Nassau
Meaning & History
From the name of the town of Nassau in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany (formerly the seat of an independent duchy in the 19th century), derived from Old High German naz meaning "damp, wet" and ouwa meaning "water meadow". This is also the name of the capital city of The Bahamas, though the etymology is unrelated.