Nia History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Nia is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived near a river. Nia is a local surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. There are a variety of types of local surnames, some of which include: topographic surnames, which could be given to a person who lived beside any physical feature, such as a hill, stream, church or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. This surname comes from the Old English phrase, atten (e)ye, which means "at the island." [1] This surname was first found in England in the county of Essex.

Early Origins of the Nia family

The surname Nia was first found in Essex, where they were established early in the medieval period. [2]

Kirby's Quest listed Thoma atte Nye, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) [3]

Early History of the Nia family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nia research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1207, 1269, 1276, 1315, 1648 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Nia History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nia Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Nia are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Nia include: Nye, Nie, Nay, Ney and others.

Early Notables of the Nia family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Nia Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nia migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Nia or a variant listed above:

Nia Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Georges Nia, aged 36, German settler who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "La Gascogne" [4]
Mrs. Maria Nia, aged 34, German settler who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "La Gascogne" [5]
Miss Elise Nia, aged 6, German settler who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "La Gascogne" [6]
Mr. Francois Nia, aged 23, German settler who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "La Gascogne" [7]
Miss Maria Nia, Jr., aged 18, German settler who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "La Gascogne" [8]

Contemporary Notables of the name Nia (post 1700) +

Nia Gwynne, English actress, known for Shadow Dancer (2012), Pride (2014) and Resistance (2011)
Nia H. Gill (b. 1948), American Democratic Party politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly 27th District, 1994-2001; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 2000, 2004, 2008 [9]

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Germans to America retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from Glazier, Ira. A., and Filby, P. William. Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports. Vol. 62, Scholarly Resources Inc, 2017
Germans to America retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from Glazier, Ira. A., and Filby, P. William. Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports. Vol. 62, Scholarly Resources Inc, 2018
Germans to America retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from Glazier, Ira. A., and Filby, P. William. Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports. Vol. 62, Scholarly Resources Inc, 2019
Germans to America retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from Glazier, Ira. A., and Filby, P. William. Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports. Vol. 62, Scholarly Resources Inc, 2020
Germans to America retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from Glazier, Ira. A., and Filby, P. William. Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports. Vol. 62, Scholarly Resources Inc, 2021
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html