Surname Ninaber - Meaning and Origin
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Ninaber: What does the surname Ninaber mean?
The last name Ninaber is a Dutch surname. It is believed to originate from the Dutch word 'nijnebere' meaning 'near the heath', as this was an often-used family name in the northern Netherlands, which is a heath-rich area. The Ninaber family Coat of Arms features a silver and black shield with three oak leaves, and two blue stripes, referring to the original Dutch words for near the heath.
The name Ninaber is also found in Germany, but it is much rarer there. According to German records, the Ninaber family was originally found in the Rhine region of Germany and in Bavaria. It is believed that the Ninaber family moved to the Netherlands in the 17th Century and they subsequently adopted the name as their permanent surname.
The name Ninaber has been used to represent a variety of different occupations, such as stonemason, farmer and blacksmith, and even a few members of the aristocracy. Today, the Ninaber surname is still relatively common in the Netherlands, with records showing that there are a number of active Ninaber families living in the country. The Ninaber family have maintained a strong tradition of Dutch culture and heritage, which continues to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisNinaber: Where does the name Ninaber come from?
The last name Ninaber (or Nijnaber) is most common in the Netherlands today. It is found throughout the country, though concentrations of it may be higher in some areas than in others. According to the Central Bureau of Genealogy, the name is particularly prevalent in the provinces of South Holland, North Holland, Friesland and Gelderland.
The surname first appeared in records in the 1300s in the Netherlands, though its origin story is not known for certain. Some suggest that it comes from a Dutch phrase meaning “nine towers,” likely referring to the nine towers of an old fortress near a village called Nijenhuis in the Overijssel province. This theory is supported by the fact that one of the earliest recorded individuals with the name, Heynric Ninaber, was a resident of Nijenhuis. Another theory is that it is derived from an old Germanic personal name, Ningeber.
As Dutch emigrants have left the Netherlands in recent centuries, the surname Ninaber has spread to many countries around the world. In the United States, Ninabers are likely to be found in Dutch-American communities, particularly in the Midwest where many emigrants initially settled. Netherlands-based records show that the highest concentration of individuals with the name is still in Holland, though.
Variations of the surname Ninaber
The surname Ninaber (Ninaaber, Ninaabar) is of Dutch origin. The surname originated in the province of Holland, now located in the Netherlands. It is derived from the middle Dutch name Ninaber, meaning ‘from Ninaber’, which was a place near Utrecht.
Variants of Ninaber include Ninabar, Ninabur, Nienaber, Ninebar, Ninaberg and Ninabol. Spellings may vary as spelling rules were not standardised in the Middle Ages, with names being spelled as they sounded, so variations of Ninaber may include Nienaber, Nineabar, Nineabur, Neenaber and Nineberg.
In the Netherlands, the surnames Nineaber, Ninebar, Nineabar, Neenaber, Ninabar, Ninaberg and Ninaboel are all modern forms of Ninaber. It is probable that Ninaber is a patronymic name derived from the personal name ‘Nin’ and the Dutch suffix ‘-aber’ signifying ‘son of’ or ‘descendant of Nin’.
In the United States, the surname Ninaber has been Americanised to Ninebar or Nienaber and has also been spelled as Ninoble and Niner.
In conclusion, the surname Ninaber has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin in different countries. Variants in the Netherlands include Nineaber, Ninebar, Nineabar, Neenaber, Ninabar, Ninaberg and Ninaboel, while variants in the United States include Ninebar, Nienaber, Ninoble and Niner.
Famous people with the name Ninaber
- Willem Ninaber van Eyben: Dutch lawyer, politician and writer.
- Pieter Ninaber van Eyben: Dutch pediatrician and politician.
- Tjerk Ninaber van Eyben: Dutch classical music composer.
- Coba Ninaber van Eyben: Dutch architect, artist and industrial designer.
- Ab Ninaber van Eyben: Dutch actor, writer and director.
- Jan Ninaber: Dutch film producer.
- Hendrik Ninaber: Dutch painter and graphic artist.
- Roel Ninaber: Dutch artist and founder of art club ‘De Welevaten’.
- Bart Ninaber: Dutch illustrator and storyteller.
- Marten Ninaber: Dutch professor of Engineering Acoustics
- Henk Ninaber: Dutch farmer, politician and author.