Surname Neels - Meaning and Origin

Neels: What does the surname Neels mean?

The last name Neels is of Dutch origin and dates back to the 1400s. It is derived from the ancient Dutch word "niel," which means "new." In fact, people bearing the Neels surname are believed to have originally migrated to other countries, such as England, from the Netherlands.

The name Neel, or Neels, is a significant name to many Dutch families. It became popular among wealthy Dutch landowners and merchants during the 16th and 17th centuries. Common alternative spellings include Nele, Neele, and Neelsz.

This surname later spread to parts of Germany and France, and eventually to the United States of America. Today, the Neels name is fairly common throughout the US, especially in the midwestern and southeastern states. People with this surname tend to be of Dutch Protestant decent.

The Neels name also marks a unique type of Dutch boat. Known as a Neels schip, this was a small vessel used for fishing in shallow waters during the 17th century.

In conclusion, the last name Neels is of Dutch origin and marks a unique type of shallow-water fishing boat. It was popular among Dutch landowners in the 16th and 17th centuries, and is now common in the United States. People with this surname tend to be of Dutch Protestant decent.

Neels: Where does the name Neels come from?

The last name Neels is most commonly found in Belgium and Germany, though it can also be found in other European countries and regions. In Belgium, the name is most often found in the Flemish-speaking regions of East-Flanders and West-Flanders. In Germany, it is most common in the north and east of the country, especially in the areas near the Belgian border. It is also found in other countries in Europe, such as Holland, France, and Austria, as well as in some parts of the United States.

The spelling of the name varies somewhat from region to region. In Belgium, it is most often written as ‘Neels’, while in Germany, ‘Nel’ or ‘Nell’ is the more common spelling. The Dutch and French variants of the name are ‘Neele’ and ‘Nel’ respectively.

The Neels name can be traced back to a medieval root name that is derived from the Germanic Nelli – a popular first name. It appears to have been in use as a surname in Belgium as early as the 14th century. The name is found in other countries’ records in the 16th and 17th centuries, and has continued to be passed down through the generations until the present day.

The Neels family name carries a certain amount of prestige and respect across Europe, and there are even a number of civil and government organisations with the Neels name attached to them. This is indicative of its importance and its long-standing history in many of these countries. As such, the last name Neels can still be found today in many parts of Europe and beyond.

Variations of the surname Neels

The Neels surname has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames that are believed to have the same origin. These include Neale, Neele, Niels, Neilson, Neal, and Nilsson.

Neale is believed to be derived from the old English personal name Neil or Niel, which is of Gaelic origin and means“cloud”. It was most commonly found in Ireland and Scotland. Neele is a Middle English variant of the Neale spelling. Neils is a Danish form of the Neil spelling, and Nilsson is a Swedish version. Neilson is derived from the Scottish and Irish name meaning “son of Neil”, and Neal is an Anglicized form of the surname.

In Scotland, the Neels surname is thought to have been originally of the Clan Chattan, which is a confederation of several small clans whose origins go back to Medieval Scotland. The Clan Chattan is believed to be descended from the ancient Celtic god Gille Chattan, who was allied to the powerful Clan MacKintosh.

Particular branches of the Neels family can be traced back to the parish of Dailly in Ayrshire, Scotland. Records from the early 16th century show that the Neels family may have also moved to England, most notably to the Lancashire and the Yorkshire areas. The early 19th century saw a number of Neels immigrants to North America, with many settling in the United States and Canada.

In conclusion, the Neels surname has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames all believed to have originated in Scotland. Over time the name has spread and can now be found in other countries, such as England, Canada, and the United States.

Famous people with the name Neels

• Maarten Neels: The Belgian actor and film director was born in 1967 and rose to fame with his work in Mama is Boos and De Kus.
• Jan Neels: A Dutch painter, he specialised in landscapes, portraits and figure paintings.
• Tom Neels: A Belgian composer, multi-instrumentalist and music producer, he composed many soundtracks for film and television.
• Jan Keen Neels: A photographer from Brussels, Belgium, he presented at Venice Biennale in 2013 with his work.
• J.H. Neels: A Dutch writer, his novel Snowed Under in the Dutch dialect Sallands was adapted for a television series in 1990 by the name of De Zomer Voorbij.
• Marc Neels: Born in Belgium in 1950, this saxophone player is also an arranger, composer, conductor and producer.
• Max Neels: A sculptor from Amsterdam, he has worked with various materials from bronze to wood, stone and ceramic.
• Lilly Neels: The American novelist from North Carolina was known for titles such as Winter's Last Stand, Dream of the Bluegill, and Appalachia’s Answers.
• Nick Neels: A game writer, this Belgian was the head writer at Gingersoft: a tabletop game publishing company.
• William Neels: The American drummer specialised in Latin jazz, having played with multiple big names over the last two decades.

Other surnames

NeelNeelandNeeleNeeleyNeellNeellyNeelsenNeelssenNeely