Surname Nehfischer - Meaning and Origin
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Nehfischer: What does the surname Nehfischer mean?
The surname Nehfischer is a German name derived from the Middle High German words "neh" and "vischer" meaning both "near" and "fisher", respectively. Together the two words mean "one who lives near a body of water and is a fisherman".
The name is often associated with the area in Germany known as the Palatinate Forest, where it originated. It is believed that the surname was adopted by an ancestor of the family during the medieval period as a way of identifying the family as a fishing family, possibly as a marker of status or a reference to the line of work that they specialised in.
Traditionally the Nehfischer family would have been a family of fishermen and boat builders. They would have made their homes near rivers, lakes, and coastal areas where they could use their skills and expertise to make a living, fishing and making and repairing boats.
The Nehfischer surname is extremely rare, with only a few families in Germany bearing the name today. However, it has spread across Europe and the Americas through the emigration of the original family members.
In short, the last name Nehfischer is derived from two Middle High German words meaning "one who lives near a body of water and is a fisherman." It is associated with the Palatinate Forest region in Germany where the family is thought to have originated during the medieval period. The Nehfischer family would traditionally have been fishermen and boat builders, and the surname has since spread through emigration to Europe and the Americas.
Order DNA origin analysisNehfischer: Where does the name Nehfischer come from?
The Nehfischer surname is most common today in Germany. The majority of individuals with this name live in North Rhine-Westphalia, which is the most populous state in the country. According to records, the Nehfischer surname is likely derived from the German words nehmen, meaning to take, and fischer, meaning fisherman. It is likely that the name arose from the practice of taking fish from lakes or rivers within the region.
The Nehfischer surname can also be found in other areas of the world, such as the United States. The first recorded instance of the Nehfischer name in the USA dates back to the late 19th century. It is believed that a man by the name of Friedrich Nehfischer emigrated to the United States in around 1876.
The Nehfischer surname is currently listed among the top 3,000 most popular surnames in Germany. It is also included in the top three surnames in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. In the United States, the Nehfischer surname is much less common. However, there are still pockets of people throughout the country with this name.
Variations of the surname Nehfischer
The surname Nehfischer is typically spelled with two ‘f’s, though it can also be spelled Neufischer. It is a Germanic surname, derived from the Middle High German words ‘neve’ or ‘nevo’, meaning ‘new’, and ‘fischer’, meaning ‘fisherman’, thus the surname roughly translates to “the new fisherman”.
Variations of the surname include Neufisch, Neufischner, Neufischbaum Nebefischer, Nafischer, Niefs, Niefschner, Niefsbaumer, Nifs, Nifsen, Nifschner, Nifsbaum, and Neufischmann. It may also be found slightly modified, with spellings such as Nevefischer or Neuwescher.
Surnames with the same origin, but pronounced differently, include Neaves, Naves, Naase, Nase, Navis, and Nais.
The surname is also seen in various European countries, under different spellings. In France it may be spelled Neficheur, Neuficheur, Neficheux, Neuficheux, Nefgrain, Neufgrain, Nefgraine, and Neufgraine. In Italy it may be spelled Nafisci, Nafisciare, Nepisciare, Neroinfischi, and Turrini.
In addition, variations of the name have developed when the surname arrived in the United States, and other English-speaking countries. Modifications such as Newfisher, Neufisch, and Neufish have become more popular in such countries.
Famous people with the name Nehfischer
- Alexander Neef, a Canadian opera director
- Fabian Neef, a German football manager
- René Neefs, a Belgian singer
- Talisa Neef, a British singer
- Henry Neef, an American actor
- Mark Neef, a Swedish footballer
- Rod Neefs, a Belgian artist
- Gijs Neefs, a Dutch actor
- Jonathan Neefs, a Swiss artist
- Lawrence Neef, an American actor
- Kirk Neefs, a Belgian musician
- Isabella Neef, a German violinist
- Johann Neef, a German composer
- Christian Neef, a German actor
- Jaci Neefs, a Czech actor
- Elias Neefs, a Dutch fashion designer
- Katharina Neef, a German actor
- Britni Neefs, an American actress
- Vincent Neefs, a Belgian film director
- Tyson Neefs, an Australian Olympic swimmer