Surname Niehoff - Meaning and Origin

Voyage into DNA: The Profound Influence of iGENEA Test on My Perception of Niehoff Legacy

A journey back in time through the lens of iGENEA's DNA testing provided a riveting glimpse into my genetic heritage, illuminating my lineage’s roots stretching back to the Viking-era Scandinavia. The discoveries have profoundly reshaped my understanding of my surname, Niehoff, and the ancestral legacy that it carries.

D. Niehoff

Niehoff: What does the surname Niehoff mean?

The last name Niehoff is of German origin. It translates to "new court," a reference to a newly established court or landholding. The surname could have originated from a person or family who had been granted land from a lord or nobleman.

The surname Niehoff was likely found in northern German regions such as Lower Saxony, Berlin, and the North Rhine-Westphalia area. It was also common in the Netherlands. This suggests the name was brought to the area by immigrants from German or Dutch-speaking regions.

The earliest records of the name date back to the 12th century and it is likely the name originated with a few key figures. These figures could have been farmers, craftsmen, or even soldiers.

In modern times, the surname Niehoff is still used throughout Germany, Holland, and the surrounding countries. It may also be found in some parts of the United States, as immigrants over the centuries have carried the surname with them to their new homes.

The name “Niehoff” can be seen as symbolic of the drive of a people to create something new and lasting. It can represent a person or family's journey as they look to carve out a better life for themselves or their loved ones.

Niehoff: Where does the name Niehoff come from?

The surname Niehoff is most commonly found in Germany today. According to the Comprehensive Database for German Surnames, it is the 5,815th most common last name in Germany, placing it among the top 6,000 most common surnames in the country.

The surname also originates in the Netherlands and is quite widespread throughout the Netherlands as well, though less common than in Germany. According to the Meertens Institute's database for Dutch surnames, Niehoff ranks as the 4,755th most common surname in the Netherlands.

Niehoff is also found in the United States; according to the US Census, approximately 4,400 people living in the US have the surname. The city with the highest number of people with the last name is Williamston, Michigan, where 515 people bear the name.

Outside of Europe, Niehoff is still a relatively common name in countries such as Canada and Australia, where the surname is generally spread out over different cities.

In general, Niehoff is still a fairly widespread surname with origins in western Europe, notably Germany and the Netherlands. However, the surname is now found in many countries around the world, ranging from the United States to Canada to Australia.

Variations of the surname Niehoff

The surname Niehoff has multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Niefeld, Neefeld, Neff, Nief, Nieff, Nieffan, Niefield, Niehoffe, Niehoffer, Niehoffmann, Niehof, Nieholz, Niehaus, Niehues, Nienfeld, Nienhoffer, Nienkerken, Nisbet, Nies, Niese, Nietsche, Nieten, Niethammer, Nietzke, Niemann, Niemeyer, Niemueller, Niessen, Nietzer, Nieswand, Nussbaum and Nyhof.

Niehoff is a German surname derived from the Middle Low German word “nig” which means “son” or “man.” It is likely derived from a personal name composed of the elements “nie” meaning “new” and “hove” meaning “someone in command.” Alternately, the name may have derived from the nickname “ni(e)hoff,” meaning “little honor” or “humble.” It is also possible that the surname may have been derived from the place name (Niefeld, Nief, and Nietzer; see Niethof).

Niefeld is a German variant of Niehoff, derived from a place name or derived from the Middle German or Low German “nig” meaning “son”. The place name comes from the Middle Low German word “nige” meaning “new” and “velt” meaning “field” or “open ground.”

Neefeld is another German variant of Niehoff, derived from the Middle Low German word “nig” meaning “son” and the Middle High German suffix “feld” meaning “field.”

Niff, Nief, Nieff and Nieffan are variants of the Middle Low German term “nig” meaning “son” or “man.”

Niefield, Niefelder, Niehoffe, Niehoffer, Niehoffmann, Nieholz, Niehaus and Niehues are variants of the Middle Low German term “nig” meaning “son” and “hove” meaning “someone in command.”

Nienfeld, Nienhoffer, Nienkerken, Nisbet, Nies, Niese, Nietsche, Nieten, Niethammer, Nietzke, Niemann, Niemeyer, Niemueller, Niessen, Nietzer, Nieswand, Nussbaum and Nyhof are all derived from Niehoff and have various different spellings or descendants.

Famous people with the name Niehoff

• Peter Niehoff: German lawyer, mediator, and professor of civil law and Roman law
• Michael Niehoff: German philosopher and teacher
• Melissa Niehoff: American businesswoman
• Reinhard Niehoff: German musician and composer
• Christian Niehoff: German television presenter
• Lüder Niehoff: German painter and graphic artist
• Danny Niehoff: German diasporic artist, educator, and poet
• Enno Niehoff: German animator and music video director
• Ernst Niehoff: German film director
• Helmut Niehoff: German basketball player
• Hermann Niehoff: German sailor and Olympic gold medalist
• Jan Niehoff: German modern pentathlete
• Katrin Niehoff: German long-distance runner
• Klara Niehoff: German actress
• Siegfried Niehoff: German football player and manager 16.Xaver Niehoff: German painter 17.Max Niehoff: German field hockey player 18.Benedikt Niehoff: German handball player 19.Johannes Niehoff-Panagiotidis: German theologian 20.Hildegard Niehoff-Georgi: German physician 21.Michael Niehoff: German theologian 22.Nicolas Niehoff-Panagiotidis: German mathematician 23.Bianca Niehoff-Raines: American film producer 24.Max Niehoff: German fencer.

Other surnames

Niehof