Surname Ney - Meaning and Origin

iGENEA DNA Test: A Personal Odyssey toward a Deeper Understanding of Family Heritage and the Last Name Ney

My journey with iGENEA was an emotional roller coaster of anticipation, exhilaration, and self-discovery. The results confirmed my lineage, connected me to my ancestors and instilled me with an enlarged sense of family heritage. Discovering the history and resilience of my family surname, Ney, has imbued me with a newfound sense of identity and pride.

C. Ney

Ney: What does the surname Ney mean?

The surname Ney is of German origin and is primarily traced back to the Middle High German word "Nagen," meaning to gnaw. It was initially used as a nickname for individuals who had a characteristic of persistent chewing or nibbling. Over time, it evolved into a surname. Additionally, in Middle Low German, "Ney" translates to "new" and was often used as a nickname for someone new in a place or someone who just took up a new occupation.

Moreover, it can also be a topographic name from Middle High German "nag", a term for a wet, swampy field or for a river abounding in reeds. In the case of the French variation of Ney, it is often connected with Marshal Michel Ney, one of Napoleon Bonaparte's well-known Marshals, lending it a historical significance.

As with many surnames, Ney can have multiple roots with nuanced meanings based on regional language differences.

Ney: Where does the name Ney come from?

The last name Ney is of French origin, and is more commonly found in countries with a French influence or heritage. Most commonly, it can be found in France, where it is among the top 250 last names, as well as in Belgium, Canada, Algeria, Brazil, and Switzerland. In the United States, there are estimated to be at least 4,213 people with the last name Ney, making it the 1,967th most common last name in the country. Its greatest concentration can be found in the state of Minnesota, where it is the 685th most popular surname overall. The name is also relatively common throughout Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Outside of Europe and North America, Ney can be found throughout various parts of the Middle East and in other former French colonies or regions such as Morocco, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire, Lebanon and Vietnam. It is also somewhat common on islands that are renowned for their French heritage, such as Haiti, Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin and Martinique. In the United Kingdom, it is significantly less common with only around 629 people with the name, making it the 4,551st most common last name.

Variations of the surname Ney

The surname Ney is found in most European countries and can vary in spelling depending on the country and language of origin. The most common variant of the surname Ney is Ney, which is a German and Yiddish surname. The surname can also be found in France as Née, or Neé, as well as Nei in Italy and Nej in parts of Spain. In East European countries, such as Lithuania and the Ukraine, the surname Ney can be spelled Neȳ, Neij, Naej, or Nej.

In English-speaking countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, the surname Ney is often spelled Nye, or Knee. Similarly, in Scandinavian countries the surname Ney may be spelled as Nei. In the Netherlands, the spelling Ney can be Ny.

Variations in spelling of the surname Ney over the centuries may have been caused by a lack of standard spelling in various languages and dialects. Additionally, intentional spelling modifications due to religious or political affiliations might have occurred.

The surname Ney has been found to have derived from a location or toponym, or from a nickname, originally a personal name. Those living near or in yew wood, such as on the farm or village whose name was derived from the word "neh", would be called Neil, Nele, Nehle, or Ney.

The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Ney are Née, Neé, Nei, Nej, Neȳ, Naej, Knee, Nei, Ny, Neil, Nele, Nehle, and Ney.

Famous people with the name Ney

• Neymar: Brazilian professional footballer
• Rachel Ney: American journalist, businesswoman, and political activist
• Kurt Ney: German-American actor
• Lucas Ney: Brazilian street artist
• Alexander Ney: Russian-American sculptor
• Rebecca Ney: American fiction and cooking writer
• Edward Ney: American businessman
• Johan Ney: Swedish musician
• Julian Ney: French tennis player
• Jack Ney: British bass and mandolin player

Other surnames

NeybeckerNeyeNeyerNeyersNeygenfindNeyjahrNeymanNeymannNeymeyerNeymeyrNeynaber