Submitted Surnames Starting with N

usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Newcomer English (American)
Nickname for a person who was new to a town or location, from Old English niwe meaning "new" and cumen meaning "to come".
Newey English
Topographic name for someone who lived at a "new enclosure", from Middle English newe "new" and haga "enclousire".
Newham English
Habitational name from any of the various places, for example in Northumbria and North Yorkshire, so named from Old English neowe "new" and ham "homestead".
Newhouse English
Either a habitational name for someone who lived at a "new house" (from Middle English niwe "new" and hus "new house") or a habitational name from any of various minor places so called especially perhaps Newhouses in Horton Yorkshire near the border with Lancashire... [more]
Newitt English
Possibly derived from Middle English newete "newt", or perhaps from the Dutch personal name Nout.
Newlin English, Irish
An Irish surname meaning "By the the spring"
Newquist English
Americansized form of Swedish Nyquist.
Newtown English, French (Americanized)
Variant of Newton. In some cases, it can be a literal translation of the French surname Villeneuve.
Ney German, English
A dialectal form of the common German word neu "new".... [more]
Neyama Japanese
Ne means "root" and yama means "mountain, hill".
Nez Navajo
Nez = Tall. One of the most prevalent family names on the Navajo reservation.
Neziri Albanian
Derived from the given name Nezir.
Neztsosie Navajo
From nééz, “tall” in Navajo and tsʼósí, “slim” in Navajo
Ngai Chinese (Cantonese)
Cantonese romanization of Wei.
Ngai Chinese (Cantonese)
Cantonese romanization of Ni.
Ngamnaimuang Thai
The surname "งามในเมือง" is used after the place they was born Nai Muang District in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand.
Ngeoncharoen Thai
Thaification of the Chinese surname Wu.
Nghiêm Vietnamese
Vietnamese form of Yan, from Sino-Vietnamese 嚴 (nghiêm).
Nghiem Vietnamese
Simplified variant of Nghiêm.
Ngọ Vietnamese
Vietnamese form of Wu, from Sino-Vietnamese 午 (ngọ).
Ngoy Central African
Means "lion" in Baluba cultures, identifying someone from a warrior or hunting family.
Ngozi Igbo
From the given name Ngozi.
Ngumba Kongo
From Kongo meaning "mountain".
Nguon Khmer
Meaning uncertain, possibly of Chinese origin.
Ngurakahayo Fuliru (Modern, Rare)
An ancenstor's Fuliru name, the meaning of the name is powerful, champion, done , finish, end.
Ngụy Vietnamese
Vietnamese form of Wei, from Sino-Vietnamese 魏 (ngụy).
Nhâm Vietnamese
Vietnamese form of Ren, from Sino-Vietnamese 任 (nhâm).
Nhan Vietnamese
Vietnamese form of Yan, from Sino-Vietnamese 顏 (nhan).
Nhek Khmer
Means "close, together, often, frequently" in Khmer. It may also be from a short form of Chinese 涅槃 (nièpán) meaning "nirvana".
Nhim Khmer
Meaning uncertain.
Nhoek Khmer
Means "often; frequent" in Khmer.
Nhữ Vietnamese
Vietnamese form of Ru, from Sino-Vietnamese 汝 (nhữ).
Ni Chinese
From Chinese 倪 (ní) referring to the ancient territory of Ni, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now the Shandong province.
Niang Western African, Wolof
Refers to a member of the Deme, a Wolof clan whose symbol is the donkey.
Niaz Urdu, Pashto
Derived from the given name Niyaz.
Niazai Pashto
Most likely from Persian نیاز (niyaz) meaning "need, necessity, desire, wish" (see Niaz or Niyaz) combined with Pashto زوی (zoy) meaning "son (of)"... [more]
Nibbe German
Nickname meaning ‘beak’, or from a short form of a Germanic personal name Nippo, composed of Old High German nit ‘hostility’, ‘eagerness’ + boto ‘messenger’.
Nibe Japanese
Variant transcription or reading of Japanese Kanji 新部 (see Niibe).
Ní Bhriain f Irish
Feminine form of Ó Briain.
Nibo Circassian
Of unknown meaning.
Nic Mayan
From Mayan ‘nik’ meaning “flower”.
Nicasio Italian, Spanish
From the given name Nicasio.
Niccoli Italian
Patronymic form of the given name Nicola 1.
Nice English
From the English word 'nice', meaning "kind".
Nice French
From Nice, in France.
Nichter German, Yiddish
Possibly means "negator, negate" from Middle High German nicht meaning "not", or "sober", from Middle High German nüchter. Perhaps it originally denoted a person who was a philosopher, judge, or bartender.
Nickal German
Variant of Nickel
Nickel German, Dutch
From the given name Nickel, a medieval short form of Nikolaus. Compare Nichols.
Nickerson English
Means "son of Nicholas".
Nickowicz Polish
Patronymic of the personal name Nicholas.
Nicks English, German
From the nickname of Nicholas.
Nickson English
Variant of Nixon, patronymic from the given name Nicholas.
Nicodemou Greek (Cypriot)
Variant transcription of Νικοδήμου (see Nikodimou), a patronymic from the genitive form of Nikodimos... [more]
Nicolae Romanian
From the given name Nicolae.
Nicolaides Greek (Cypriot)
Alternate transcription of Greek Νικολαΐδης (see Nikolaidis) chiefly used in Cyprus.
Nicolás Spanish
From the given name Nicolás.
Nicolàs Catalan
From the given name Nicolàs.
Nicolau Portuguese, Galician, Catalan
From the given name Nicolau.
Nicolay German, French, Romansh
From the given name Nicolay, a form of Nicholas through Russian Nikolay... [more]
Nicoletti Italian
From the given name Nicola 1.
Nicolin French
From the given name Nicolas.
Nicolini Italian
patronymic from Nicolino, a pet form of Nicola
Nicotero Italian
Likely derived from the first name Niccolò
Nie Chinese
From Chinese 聂 (niè) referring to either of two ancient fiefs named Nie. One existed in the state of Wei (Wey) in what is now Henan province, while the other was part of the state of Qi in what is now Shandong province.
Nieboer Dutch
Dutch cognate for Neubauer. epithet for a farmer who was new to an area from nie "new" and bur "farmer".
Nied Upper German
South German: habitational name from Nied in Hesse.
Niedbała Polish
Nickname from niedbały meaning "negligent", "careless", "untidy".
Niederhäuser German, Swiss
Habitational name from any of numerous places named Niederhaus or Niederhausen, denoting the lower of two dwellings or settlements or one in a low-lying position.
Niedermeier German, German (Austrian)
Occupational name for a farmer who had a farm lower than the neighboring one(s). This surname and its variant spellings are common to Austria and the state of Bavaria in Germany.
Niedermeyer German
Means "lower farmer", a distinguishing name for a farmer who worked further south or in a low-lying location.
Niedfeldt German
Topographic name for a person who lived by a lower area of open land, derived from Middle Low German nider meaning "lower" and feld meaning "open country".
Nieh Chinese
Alternate transcription of Chinese 聂 (see Nie).
Niehaus German
North German: topographic name from Middle Low German nie ‘new’ + hus ‘house’; or a habitational name from a common North German and Westphalian farm name with the same meaning.
Nieman Dutch
Means "new man", a cognate of German Neumann. Can also derive from Middle Dutch nieman "no one, nobody", a byname for an unknown or otherwise nameless person... [more]
Niemann North Frisian
North German form of Neumann, from Middle Low German nie + man.
Niemeyer Low German
North German nickname for a newly arrived steward or tenant farmer, from Middle Low German nie ‘new’ + Meyer.
Niemiec Polish
Means "German" in Polish.
Niemiecki Polish
Means "german" in Polish.
Niemitalo Finnish
Finnish surname derived from the words "Niemi" meaning "peninsula,cape" and "talo" meaning "house"
Nies German
German: from a reduced form of the personal name Dionys (see Dennis), which was stressed on the last syllable; this was a popular personal name as a result of the influence of the French Saint Denis... [more]
Niesen Dutch, German
Means "son of Nies", a reduced form of the personal names Dennis or Agnes.
Niessen German, Dutch
Variant form of Niesen.
Nietzsche German, German (Silesian)
Derived from a Silesian diminutive of the given name Nikolaus. A notable bearer was Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900), a German philosopher.
Nieuwenhuis Dutch
Means "new house" in Dutch. Indicated that the bearer lived in a new house or lived in a village of the same name
Nieuwenhuizen Dutch
Habitational name meaning "new houses".
Nieuwman Dutch
Dutch cognate of Neumann.
Nievo Italian
From nievo "grandchild, grandson; nephew", probably used to differentiate between relatives of the same name.
Niewinski Polish
Habitational name for someone from Niewino in Białystok voivodeship.
Niezabitowski Polish
This indicates familial origin within either of 2 Lesser Polish villages: Niezabitów or Niezabitów-Kolonia.
Nigg Upper German, German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from a short form of the given name Niklaus.
Niggeman English
Meaning unknown. Possibly means "new man"
Niggli German (Swiss), Romansh
Variant of Nigg in combination with the diminutive suffix -li.
Nigh English
Variant of Nye.
Nighswander German (Swiss)
An Americanized form of the Swiss German Neuenschwander or its variant Neuschwander.
Night English
Variant of Knight.
Nightingale English
Nickname for someone with a good voice from Middle English nightegale "nightingale" (Old English nihtegale, ultimately from niht "night" and galan "to sing").
Nightshade Literature
Meaning unknown. Possibly derived from the English word night or just a combination of night and shade. A notable fictional bearer is Enid Nightshade from Jill Murphy's books, The Worst Witch, as well as the television adaptations.
Nighy English
Pet form of Nigh.
Nigmatullin Tatar, Bashkir
From the given name Nigmatullah.
Nigul Estonian
Nigul is an Estonian surname (and masculine given name); from the given name "Nigul/Nigulas", a variant of "Nicholas".
Nihon Japanese (Rare)
Means "Japan" in Japanese, though originally from 日本 (nihon), a clipping of 日本晴れ (nihombare) meaning "no clouds in the sky". It is a reference to an event in the Edo Period, of a weather forecaster who was asked for the weather and answered 日本晴れ... [more]
Nihon'yagi Japanese
Variant reading of Japanese Kanji 二本柳 (see Nihon'yanagi).
Nihonyagi Japanese
Variant transcription of Japanese Kanji 二本柳 (see Nihon'yagi).
Nihon'yanagi Japanese
Means "2 salix trees", from Japanese 二本 (nihon) meaning "2 (cylindrical objects)" and 柳 (yanagi) meaning "salix". This is the name of a few places in Japan (in the city of Goshogawara and the city of Gonohe).
Nihonyanagi Japanese
Variant transcription of Japanese Kanji 二本柳 (see Nihon'yanagi).
Nii Japanese
From 新 (nii) meaning "new".
Niib Estonian
Niib is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "nii" meaning "so", "thus", and "like that".
Niibe Japanese
From Japanese 新 (nii) meaning "new" and 部 (be) meaning "department, division; part".
Niida Japanese
From 新 (ni) meaning "new" or 仁 (ni) meaning "benevolence", combined with 井 (i) meaning "well", and 田 (da) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Niidas Estonian
Niidas is an Estonian surname derived from "niide" meaning "hay harvest", "mowing" and "hay crop".
Niidera Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 新 (nii-) meaning "temple" and 寺 (dera), the joining form of 寺 (tera) meaning "temple".
Niidre Estonian
Niidre is an Estonian surname relating to "niide" (hay harvest).
Niihara Japanese
Nii means "new" and hara means "plain, field".
Niikura Japanese
From the Japanese 新 (nii) "new" and 倉 or 蔵 (kura) "storehouse" or 鞍 (kura) "saddle."
Niimi Japanese
Nii means "new" and mi means "see, outlook, viewpoint".
Niin Estonian
Niin is an Estonian surname meaning "bast" and "phloem" (the fibrous material from the phloem of a plant, used as fiber in matting, cord, etc.)
Niine Estonian
Niine is an Estonian surname meaning "linden" and "bast".
Niinelaid Estonian
Niinelaid is an Estonian surname meaning "linden islet".
Niinemäe Estonian
Niinemäe is an Estonian surname meaning "linden hill/mountain".
Niinemets Estonian
Niinemets is an Estonian surname meaning "linden forest".
Niinepuu Estonian
Niinepuu is an Estonian surname meaning "bast tree/wood".
Niinesalu Estonian
Niinesalu is an Estonian surname meaning linden/lime grove".
Niinistö Finnish
Combination of Finnish niini "bast fibre" and the suffix -stö.
Niit Estonian
Niit is an Estonian surname meaning "meadow".
Niitsoo Estonian
Niitsoo is an Estonian surname meaning "meadow swamp".
Nijboer Dutch
Means "new farmer".
Nijhof Dutch
From a place name derived from nij "new" and hof "court, yard, farmstead".
Nijhuis Dutch
Topographic name meaning "new house".
Nijibayashi Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 虹 (Niji) meaning "Rainbow" and 林 (Bayashi) meaning "Forest". A notable bearer of this surname was academic author Kei Nijibayashi.
Nijine Japanese (Rare)
Niji means "rainbow" and ne means "root".
Nijino Japanese
Made up of the kanji , meaning "rainbow", and ,meaning "of"。... [more]
Nijio Japanese
Niji means "rainbow" and o means "tail".
Nijvelt Dutch
From a place name derived from Middle Dutch nij "new" and velt "field".
Nikaido Japanese (Rare, ?)
From japanese kanji 二 (ni) meaning "two", 階 (kai) meaning "floor, storey" combined with 堂 (dō) meaning "temple". The last name is a name of a clan of Japanese samurai that ruled the Iwase District of Mutsu Province during the Sengoku period during the Kamakura era... [more]
Nikaido Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 二階堂 (see Nikaidō).
Nikaidō Japanese
From Japanese 二 (ni) meaning "two", 階 (kai) meaning "floor, storey" and 堂 (dō) meaning "temple, shrine".
Nikashin Russian
Derived from a diminutive form Nikasha of various Russian given names.
Nikbakht Persian
From Persian نیک (nik) meaning "good" and بخت (bakht) meaning "fortune, happiness".
Nikbin Persian
In Farsi (Persian) 'nik-' means good, and 'bin' means 'seeing'. ... [more]
Nikiforov Russian
Means "son of Nikifor".
Nikitov Russian
Means "son of Nikita 1".
Nikitović Serbian
Means "son of Nikita 1".
Nikittsev Russian
Derived from a diminutive of the Russian given name Nikita 1.
Nikkel German, Dutch
From a short form of the personal name Nicholas.
Nikkilä Finnish
Origins remain unknown
Niknam Persian
From Persian نیک (nik) meaning "good" and نام (nam) meaning "name".
Nikolaiev Russian
Means "son of Nikolay."
Nikolaishvili Georgian, Jewish
Means "son of Nikoloz" in Georgian.
Nikolas English, Greek
From the given name Nikolas.
Nikolaychuk Russian
From the given name Nikolay.
Nikolopoulos Greek
Means "son of Nikolaos".
Nikolopoulou Greek
Feminine transcription of Greek Νικολόπουλος (see Nikolopoulos).
Nikoloska f Macedonian
Feminine form of Nikoloski.
Nikoloski m Macedonian
Means "son of Nikola 1".
Nikonov Russian
Patronymic from the given name Nikon.
Nikoyan Armenian
Means "son of Niko" in Armenian.
Nikpour Persian
From Persian نیک‌ (nik) meaning "good" and پور (pour) meaning "son, descendant".
Nikulin Russian
From the given name Nikolay.
Nilsiam Thai
From Thai นิล (nin) meaning "very deep black" and สยาม (Sayam) meaning "Siam".
Nimaev m Buryat (Russified)
Means "son of Nima".
Nimaeva f Buryat (Russified)
Feminine form of Nimaev.
Nimanbegu Albanian
Nimanbegu or Nimani , given "beg" from Turks in Ottoman Empire
Nimitz German
Derived from Russian немчин (nemchin) meaning "German", of Slavic origin. This surname was borne by Chester W. Nimitz (1885-1966), a fleet admiral of the United States Navy during World War II.
Nimr Arabic
Means "leopard" or "tiger" in Arabic.
Nimura Japanese
From Japanese 二 (ni) meaning "two" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
Ninberg Jewish
1 Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Feinberg .... [more]
Nine English (American)
Americanized spelling of German Nein or Neun, from Middle High German niun meaning "nine".
Ning Chinese
From Chinese 宁 (níng) meaning "peaceful, tranquil", also referring to the ancient county of Ningyi, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Henan province.
Ninh Vietnamese
Vietnamese form of Ning, from Sino-Vietnamese 寧 (ninh).
Ninka Albanian (Modern)
First recognized in the early 1800s as a surname in and around Albania and the Balkans, and due to migration it has spread to a few different places across the world. Very little is known about this surname as there are very few records of it.
Niño Spanish
Nickname from Spanish niño meaning "child", "boy". This was often given to a first-born son as a familiar name.
Nino Italian
From the given name Nino 1.
Ninomiya Japanese
二 (Nino) means "two, second" and 宮 (miya) means "shrine".... [more]
Ninomiya Japanese
From Japanese 二 (ni) meaning "two", ノ (no), a possessive marker, and 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace".
Nio Chinese (Hokkien), Chinese (Teochew)
Hokkien and Teochew romanization of Liang.
Niohuru Manchu, Chinese
Means ‘wolf’ in Manchu.
Nioka Japanese
From Japanese 二 (ni) meaning "two" and 岡 (oka) meaning "hill, ridge".
Nip Chinese (Cantonese)
Cantonese romanization of Nie.
Nipper German
1. habitational name for someone from Nippe in Hesse. ... [more]
Nippon Japanese (Rare)
Variant reading of Nihon.
Nirehara Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 楡原 (Nirehara), an variant reading of 楡原 (Nirebara) meaning "Nirebara", a former large village in the district of Koshi in the former Japanese province of Echigo in parts of present-day Niigata, Japan or an area in the same place, in the city of Nagaoka in the prefecture of Niigata in Japan.
Nirk Estonian
Nirk is an Estonian surname meaning "stoat".
Niro Italian
From Neapolitan niro "black", cognate to Neri.
Nischan Sorbian
Germanized spelling of the Sorbian given name Nišan.
Nishant Indian
Derived from the Sanskrit name for dawn or the end of night. In Sanskrit Nisha (निशा) means 'Night' and Ant (अन्त) means 'End', which can be alliterated as the end of night or the first ray of the morning sun.
Nishantha Sinhalese
From the given name Nishantha.
Nishat Arabic, Bengali
Derived from the given name Nishat.