Surname Nieboer - Meaning and Origin
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Nieboer: What does the surname Nieboer mean?
The last name Nieboer is a toponymic surname derived from the Dutch language. Meaning “from the new farm” in Dutch, Nieboer originates from a place where the family used to live. This type of last name was once very common in the Netherlands and other nearby countries, as it was a way for people to recognize a family’s heritage. The surname Nieboer may refer to those who lived on a newly created farm, or those who had just moved to an area and started a farm.
Although the origin of the name is Dutch, the surname Nieboer is present with many different spellings throughout Europe. Variations of the surname Nieboer includes Neiber, Nieber, Nei(e)bauer, Nibauer, and Neeboer.
Nieboer families from the Netherlands dispersed all over the world during the 15th to 17th centuries. As a result, it is not difficult to trace the Nieboer ancestors due to their wide spread in many different countries.
In today’s world, it is clear to see how prominent the family name Nieboer is. The Netherlands alone has over 8500 people with the last name, while more than 13,000 people across the world are bearing the surname. The worldwide spread of the Nieboer family continues to this day, making for an impressive family history!
Order DNA origin analysisNieboer: Where does the name Nieboer come from?
The last name Nieboer is a common Dutch name and is particularly widespread in the Netherlands and Dutch-speaking regions of the world. It can also be found in other countries, mainly those with a significant Dutch population or those with a shared history of colonization by the Dutch.
In the Netherlands, the last name Nieboer is most commonly found in the province of Drenthe, where it ranks in the top 5 among Dutch last names, following the most common Dutch names (including De Jong, De Boer, and Janssen). Outside the Netherlands, Nieboer is primarily found in South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. In all three countries, it is amongst the 100 most common names and is especially popular in South Africa.
The United States also has a significant population of Nieboer descendants but the name is not quite as popular. Most Nieboer descendants in the US can trace their family roots to Europeans who moved to the country in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
In Canada, the name Nieboer is slightly less common than in the US, since the Dutch immigration to Canada was much more limited. Nevertheless, it can still be found in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Alberta, as well as in the large metropolitan centers of Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto.
Altogether, the last name Nieboer is a common Dutch surname with a reach that extends far beyond the Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking regions of the world.
Variations of the surname Nieboer
Nieboer is a Dutch surname of patronymic origin, derived from the personal name Nibbo. It is common in the Netherlands, especially in the Frisian-speaking provinces of Friesland and Groningen.
The Dutch spelling is traditional and most common. Variants, spellings, and other forms of the surname are found in other countries. In Afrikaans speaking countries such as South Africa, Namibia, and Zambia, this surname is spelled as Niebuhr. Conversely, in Germany and Denmark the spelling is often Neubauer, Neveu, Neubacher, or Neuvoer. In France it can be spelled Nouboer, Neveux,or Niveaux. In the United States and United Kingdom the spelling is usually Neiber or Neibert, while in Scandinavia it appears as Nieberger, Nielsen, Nyberg, Niʋhr, Niebuhr, or Neiberg.
Other surnames which can be derived from the same origin include Nibourg, Nibou, Nibbe, Nibco, Nibbur, Nibor, and Nibauer.
In some cases, surnames derived from Nieboer may be confused with others of similar spelling, such as Neufer, Niesen, and Niblock.
Famous people with the name Nieboer
- Michel Nieboer: Dutch goalkeeper, between 1976 and 1991
- Joop Nieboer: Dutch table tennis player, Olympic bronze medalist
- Marco Nieboer: Dutch footballer, played for FC Utrecht from 1998-2004
- Marco Nieboer: Dutch former professional racing cyclist
- Geert Nieboer: Dutch bodybuilder and powerlifter, multiple-time Dutch natural bodybuilding champion
- Derk Nieboer: Dutch former professional football striker, scored 180 Eredivisie goals
- Luc Nieboer: Dutch hockey player, won gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Judy Nieboer: Dutch professional cyclist, competed in the women's individual road race at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Tania Nieboer: Dutch fashion model, has appeared in Italian Vogue and in various campaigns for Giorgio Armani
- Koert Nieboer: Dutch former professional water polo player, won gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics