Surname Nitsch - Meaning and Origin
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Nitsch: What does the surname Nitsch mean?
The last name Nitsch is of German origin, derived from the Old German personal name Nitzo, a diminutive of the name Conrad or Nicholas. Meaning “son of Nicholas”, the name can also be derived from Middle High German nitsche, referring to a knot of hair.
Nitsch is an uncommonly used surname in Germany, though the name is found widely dispersed across Europe. Those with the surname are believed to be largely concentrated in parts of Germany, Austria and Poland, as well as the former Austrian regions of Bohemia and Moravia.
In the United States, the surname Nitsch can be found in Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York, among other states. It is believed that the surname was brought to America by German settlers who arrived in the kept early 1800s as part of a mass immigration of Europeans.
Today, the Nitsch family continues to thrive as a proud German American clan. The family’s coat of arms is representative of the family's long and proud heritage. It features a blue crossed shield with a white Chief and three silver stars at the top. The crest atop the shield is shaped like a German castle and has a black eagle perched upon it, a symbol of strength and loyalty.
Order DNA origin analysisNitsch: Where does the name Nitsch come from?
The last name Nitsch is likely to be encountered primarily in Europe today. It is most commonly found in Germany, Austria and Hungary, though it is found in other parts of Europe as well. It is most likely derived from the Germanic personal name Nitz or kniz, which is a derivative of nikuss meaning ‘victory’ or ‘win’. Many different spelling variations have developed over the years, such as Nitsche, Nitschek, Nitschke, and Nitsh.
The surname Nitsch is primarily found in Germany’s North-Rhine Westphalia region, which is the most populous federal state of Germany. It may also be found in Lower Saxony and Bavaria. It is estimated that there are between 8,000 and 10,000 people with this surname in Germany.
Austria is the country with the second highest population of individuals with this name. It is mainly found in the states of Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Styria. There are about 2,000 individuals with the name Nitsch living in Austria.
Hungary is the third largest population center of people with surname Nitsch, with an estimated 1,000 individuals.
The surname Nitsch is also encountered in Switzerland, Poland and Czech Republic, though in much smaller numbers.
In other parts of the world, the last name Nitsch is much rarer and is likely to be the result of immigration from the countries listed above.
Variations of the surname Nitsch
The surname Nitsch is an old Germanic surname with several variants and spellings. It is said to be derived from the old Germanic personal name, Nyczlo, which is composed of the elements ‘ni’ or ‘nico’, meaning “accomplishment” and ‘slavic’ meaning “fame”.
The variants and spellings of the surname are Neitsch, Nitsche, Nichols, Nietschke, Nicecko, Nietzke, Nitche, Nitsche and Niczko.
In some cases, the original spelling of the surname Nitsch has been changed over time. For example, in some cases it has been shortened to Nits.
The surnames of similar origin include Neicher, Neitcher and Neitzel. These surnames are derived from the German given name Neicho, which is thought to be derived from the Old German ‘nic’, meaning ‘accomplishment’ or 'victory'.
Nitsch is also found in the United States and is commonly spelled as Nitch. It is believed to be derived from the Germanic personal name Nitsch, which is a form of the name ‘nitz’, meaning ‘strong’ or ‘heroic’.
The surnames Nietsch and Nietzsch are also similar to the surname Nitsch and are derived from the Old German 'nig', meaning 'victory'. In some cases, this spelling of the surname has been changed to Neitzsch.
Overall, the surname Nitsch has a number of variants and spellings, with slight variations in origin and meaning. However, all of them share a common root: the old Germanic personal name ‘Nyczlo’, meaning ‘accomplishment’ and ‘fame’.
Famous people with the name Nitsch
- Gerhard Nitsch: Gerhard Nitsch is an Austrian actor and director well known for the movies Hotel, Europa, Europa, and The Counterfeiters.
- Brian Nitsch: Brian Nitsch is an American professional golfer who has competed on many mini tours.
- Wolfram Nitsch: Wolfram Nitsch is a former German professional football player. He was an attacking midfielder.
- Richard Nitsch: Richard Nitsch is a renowned German illustrator, known for his work in movies, video games and comic books.
- Michael Nitsch: Michael Nitsch is an Austrian-born German composer and improviser.
- Gunther Nitsch: Gunther Nitsch was a German footballer who played in the Bundesliga.
- Moe Nitsch: Moe Nitsch is an American ski racer and former world champion.
- Diane Nitsch: Diane Nitsch is an American athlete and marathon runner.
- Jeffrey Nitsch: Jeffrey Nitsch is a former American basketball player who has played with both the New York Knicks and Nets.
- Édouard Nitsch: Édouard Nitsch is a French-German artist and sculptor.