Surname Nie - Meaning and Origin
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Nie: What does the surname Nie mean?
The last name "Nie" is of Chinese origin and it is quite common in China. The exact meaning of the name Nie can vary based on the specific character used to write it in Chinese, as many Chinese characters can share the same pronunciation but have different meanings. The most common character for "Nie" (聂) is associated with "whisper" or "unfamiliar". It can also relate to the historical state of Zeng (曾). The Nie(s) were descendants of the noble families in the State of Zeng. There are legendary and historical figures in Chinese history with the "Nie" surname, contributing to its popularity. However, as with most Chinese surnames, the exact meaning behind a particular "Nie" surname would be deeply rooted in family history and specific characters used.
Order DNA origin analysisNie: Where does the name Nie come from?
The last name Nie is quite a common surname among Chinese and Korean people today. It is especially common among the Chinese Han population and is ranked as the 133th most common surname throughout China. In Korea, the surname Nie is also quite popular and is ranked as the 78th most common surname by population.
The origin of the Nie surname has various possible explanations. In Chinese, the name Nie is derived from the word “niè” which means “envy”; other sources point out an ancient character which was used to indicate a high scholar or educated person. In Korean, Nie is derived from “nye” and originally belonged to a respected clan in the 8th century.
The Nie is a common family name in both China and Korea, as it is estimated to encompass more than one million people throughout China and at least one million people in Korea today. It has spread to countries such as Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia, and is considered to be one of the most popular family names in East and Southeast Asia.
Variations of the surname Nie
The surname Nie is a common Chinese surname that originated from various provinces of China. The most common variants and spellings of this surname include: Nee, Nei, Ne, Nai, Ney, Nej, and Ni.
Nee is a variant that is derived from other Chinese surnames, such as Ni and Niu, and is commonly found throughout southern and eastern China. It is highly likely that some of these surnames, such as Nee, were changed to Nie by colonists during the expansion of the Chinese territory into northern and western regions.
Nei is an alternate spelling of Nee, which may indicate a slight change of pronunciation due to the regional dialects of China. Nei is more commonly found in the northern part of China.
Nai is a variant found in several southern Chinese provinces, such as Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi. The spelling of Nai may indicate that the familial origins of this surname are from the classical Chinese drifts in which the “a” sound followed after the “n” sound.
Ney is another variant of the surname, which may indicate a shift of pronunciation among certain Chinese dialects. This spelling is most commonly found in the southwestern provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan.
Nej and Ni are two more common variants of the Nie surname. Both of these spellings are found mainly in the southern part of China.
Overall, the surname Nie is a common surname in China that has undergone several slight variations due to different regional dialects. All of the variants discussed above appear to have come from a common ancestor or root surname. While they may have originated from different places and at different times, they all share a similar pronunciation and meaning.
Famous people with the name Nie
- Gao Nie: Chinese astronomer and professor at Nanjing University.
- Zhang Nie: Chinese contemporary artist and renowned professor of ceramics.
- Hu Nie: Chinese landscape painter.
- Choo Nie: Activist, political commentator and founder of YouthLEAD, a youth leadership development platform.
- Liang Nie: Chinese writer, best known for his novel "The Sound of the Wind".
- John Nie: American entrepreneur and the former CEO of the Asiana Airlines.
- Richard Nie: American professor of education and author of “Non-Market Education”.
- Hao Nie: Chinese actor, best known for his role in the TV series Mulan.
- Ji Nie: Chinese Olympic swimming champion.
- Yan Nie: Chinese MC and actress, best known for her role in the popular TV series "The Story of Yanxi Palace".