Nass History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
England
Germany

Early Origins of the Nass family

The surname Nass was first found in Sussex where the Pipe Rolls of 1185 list as a forename, Nest de Barri. The same rolls list as a surname, Adam Nest in Dorset. Years later, the name Nesta was found in the Assize Rolls for Worcester in 1221 and the Curia Regis Rolls for Oxfordshire in 1222. Nesta de Broketon was found in the Feet of Fines for Warwickshire in 1254 and Richard Neste was in the Subsidy Rolls for Essex in 1327. The name may be a Welsh diminutive of the name Agnes as James Nest occurs in the Registrar-General's List of Names. 1

Yorkshire records revealed William Neste as holding lands there in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 2

The Nestor and Nester variants are generally thought to be Irish, having derived from the the Gaelic Mac Girr an Adhastair, meaning son of the short man of the bridle. The surname is most common in County Galway and County Clare. 3

Early History of the Nass family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nass research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Nass History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nass Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Nass include Ness, Nest, Nessi, Nas, Nassi, Nesti, Nass, Noss, Nestor and many more.

Early Notables of the Nass family

More information is included under the topic Early Nass Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nass migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Nass Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Nass, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 4
Matheas Nass, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 4
Philip Jacob Nass, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 4
Peter Nass, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 4

Nass Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Salome Nass went to Baltimore in 1832 at the age of 46
Christliebe Nass, aged 60, who landed in America in 1843 4
Dorothea Sophie Nass, who arrived in America in 1843 4
Dorothea C Nass, aged 48, who landed in America in 1845 4
Peter Nass went to Pennsylvania in 1851
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Nass Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Gustav Nass, who landed in Alabama in 1928 4

Nass migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nass Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Christoff Nass, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757

Contemporary Notables of the name Nass (post 1700) +

Jacob Nass, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Bronx County 4th District, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1942 5
Connie Kay Nass, American Republican politician, Indiana State Auditor, 1998-2006 5
Carl W. Nass, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Illinois 15th District, 1920 5

Citations +

Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html