Nelsen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Nelsen has a rich and ancient history. It is an Anglo-Saxon name that was originally derived from a patronymic name created from the given name "Nell," or for the Irish, "Niall." The name is also listed as a baptismal name "the son of Eleanor" from the nickname "Nell."

Early Origins of the Nelsen family

The surname Nelsen was first found in Lancashire (located in northwest England and dates back to 1180), where records show many instances of the name in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where Adam Nel was listed. Most are from Lancashire, but there is another from Cambridge: John filius Nel. William Neleson was listed in the Rolls of Parliament. 1

"The Banastres of Maudsley adopted the name of Maudesley, and bore the cross sable of Banastre. In 1377 Richard Nelson (Fitz-Nigel) of Maudsley (a branch of the Maudsleys), whose descendants bore the arms of Maudsley (with a bend), granted lands at Maudsley with remainder to George, son of Robert Nelson. In 1405 Robert Nelson of Maudsley conveyed lands to Peter Banastre and Edward Maudesley, and sealed with the above arms." 2

"Nelson is a name found in Cumberland and Westmoreland, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Lincoln, and Norfolk. The naval hero of the name was son of a Norfolk rector. Nelson is a Lancashire town. The Fairhurst Nelsons, who owned Fairhurst Hall, Eccleston, during the last and in the present century, belong to an ancient family, a branch of which held lands in Mawdesley as far back as the reign of Richard II. " 3

Early History of the Nelsen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nelsen research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1350, 1638, 1654, 1656, 1686, 1715, 1734, 1758, 1766, 1805 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Nelsen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nelsen 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 Nelsen include Nelson, Nellson, Nelsan, Nelston, Neleson and others.

Early Notables of the Nelsen family

Notables of the family at this time include Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte KB (1758-1805) the British flag officer in the Royal Navy, widely regarded as one of the greatest naval commanders in history.John Nalson (1638?-1686), was an English clergyman, historian and early Tory pamphleteer; Robert Nelson (1656-1715)...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Nelsen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nelsen Ranking

In the United States, the name Nelsen is the 5,944^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Nelsen family to Ireland

Some of the Nelsen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 111 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nelsen 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:

Nelsen Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Cornelius Nelsen, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 5

Nelsen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Nicholas Nelsen, aged 27, who arrived in Missouri in 1849 5
Bengta Nelsen, aged 3, who landed in New York in 1868 5
Hanna Nelsen, aged 41, who arrived in New York in 1868 5
Mans Nelsen, aged 35, who arrived in New York in 1868 5
Neils J Nelsen, who landed in New York in 1868 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Nelsen (post 1700) +

Silas E. Nelsen (1894-1987), American architect
Ancher Nelsen (1904-1992), American politician, 34th Lieutenant Governor of the state of Minnesota
William Keith Nelsen (b. 1941), American NFL football player who played with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns
Jeff Nelsen (b. 1969), Canadian French horn player
Ryan William Nelsen ONZM (b. 1977), New Zealand footballer

Historic Events for the Nelsen family +

USS Arizona

Mr. George Nelsen, American Ship's Cook Second Class from Washington, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 6

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html