Surname Niedenfür - Meaning and Origin
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Niedenfür: What does the surname Niedenfür mean?
The last name Niedenfür is a German surname derived from the Middle High German words "niede" meaning low and "für" meaning ford. It is most likely an occupational name referring to someone who crossed over a low ford or marshland.
Historically, those with the last name Niedenfür may have worked as ferryman, fishermen, or traders. The name is also associated with members of the knightly nobility class, which was not uncommon in early German history. Those with the last name were likely landowners or citizens of some importance.
Niedenfür families can be found mostly in West and North Germany. The earliest recorded use of the surname was by a knight named Gero von Niedenfür in the 13th century who served as a vassal of the archbishop of Cologne. The family was among the oldest and most distinguished knightly families of the region.
Today, the last name Niedenfür is still found in Germany, as well as in some parts of the United States. It is not a particularly common surname, but those who share it are often related through common ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisNiedenfür: Where does the name Niedenfür come from?
The last name Niedenfür is most commonly found today in the countries of Germany and Austria, although it is present in many other countries around the world. In German-speaking countries, the surname is believed to have originated in Middle High German, where it was originally spelled as "neidenfuor". It would have originated as a surname given to someone who lived near a "neid", or narrow stream.
In Germany, the surname is primarily found in the northern state of Bavaria, with an increasing number of families carrying it being found in the Baden-Württemberg region. In Austria, the surname is to be found in Vienna and other major cities, but also in smaller rural villages.
In the United States, the surname is far less common, but there are still a few hundred families who keep it alive today. It is found mainly in the states of Kansas, North Carolina, and Arkansas. In Canada, the last name is also present, with the majority of these families having settled in Ontario.
Overall, the surname Niedenfür is relatively rare, with the total population bearing it estimated to be fewer than 5,000 people. Despite this small number of individuals, however, the name is still going strong, and is likely to continue to appear in German-speaking countries for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Niedenfür
The surname Niedenfür is an old Germanic name, derived from the words niut- and furi. The earliest known records of the surname in Germany date back to the 13th century. The name has appeared as Nienfür, Niefür, Niefer, Niefoe, Neiffer, Niefoer, Nieferle, Niefeler, Niefel, Nortnenfer, Niedenfür, Nioedeper, and Nyiodeper.
The English variants of the name include Niefur, Neyfur, Niefer, Naiffer, Niefeld, Neifield, Niefoeld, Niefeldt, Niuffur, Niuffar, Knoffer, Knafer, Naffur, Nevfur, Neffard, Neifferd, and Neifferth.
In some cases, the last name could be spelt with a “Y” instead of an “I”, resulting in the additional spellings of Nyeffur, Nyeffer, Nyeffard, Nyefard, Nyefer, Nyefur, Nyefeld, and Nyeffeld.
Other possible surnames of the same origin could include Naef, Naf, Nwerner, Nyan, Neff, Neuf, Norf, Nerf, Nauer, Nauerth, Noer, Noerth, Noert, and Nohr.
The name is fairly common in the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as in the United States and Canada. It’s also found in smaller numbers in other countries with German-speaking populations.
In some cases, the spelling of the name can be changed depending on the region or language. For example, in some German-speaking regions of Austria, Switzerland, and Germany, the name can be spelled Neidfuer or Neidenfür. In other parts of Europe, the spelling can be changed to Nidenfuer or Neydenfür.
In the United States, the English versions of the name, such as Nyeffur, Nyeffer, Nyeffard, Nyefard, Nyefer, Nyefur, Nyefeld, and Nyeffeld, have become the standard.
Famous people with the name Niedenfür
1.Jerry Niedenfuer: American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. 2.Stefan Niedenfuhr: German footballer, who currently plays as a left back for Viktoria Köln. 3.Klaus Niedenfuhr: German Nazi Minister of Propaganda. 4.Dietrich Niedenfuhr: German actor, known for his leading roles in the television series “Der Fall Seiffert” and “Haben und Geben”. 5.Reinhold Niedenfuhr: German journalist and author, known for his autobiographical portraits of German and American cities. 6.Magnus Niedenfuhr: Swedish paralympic swimmer, who has won medals at both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. 7.Klaus-Heiner Niedenfuhr: German businessman, chairman of the board of directors of an international company in the telecommunications industry. 8.Anja Niedenfuss: German high jumper and former German champion in the event. 9.Alexander Niedenfuhr: German retired footballer who played as a striker and midfielder. 10.Johann Niedenfur: German author, known for writing the biography of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.