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Nielsen History Spelling Variations World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Nielsen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Denmark
Germany
Norway
Scotland
Sweden

The surname Nielsen is derived from the Scandinavian personal name Njáll. This name is in turn derived from the Gaelic name Niall, which was adopted by Scandinavian settlers in Ireland. The Gaelic Niall is thought to mean “champion.” Over time, the forms Niels and Nils developed. The patronymic surname Nielsen was formed when the suffix "sen," or "son," meaning “son of” was added to a personal name. The name comes from the same root as the English name Neil.

Nielsen Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Nielson, Nielssen, Niellsen, Nilsen, Nilson, Nilssen and many more.

Nielsen World Ranking

In the United States, the name Nielsen is the 910^th most popular surname with an estimated 32,331 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Nielsen is ranked the 623^rd most popular surname with an estimated 8,270 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Nielsen is the 576^th popular surname with an estimated 6,707 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Nielsen as 604^th with 1,193 people. 4

Nielsen migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nielsen Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jonas Nielsen, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1743 5
Lorenz Nielsen, who arrived in New York, NY in 1754 5

Nielsen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

N Nielsen, aged 12, who landed in New York, NY in 1837 5
Neils Tobias Nielsen, aged 7, who landed in New York, NY in 1837 5
Oele Nielsen, aged 13, who landed in New York, NY in 1837 5
P Nielsen, aged 5, who landed in New York, NY in 1837 5
Enig Nielsen, aged 9, who landed in New York, NY in 1837 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Nielsen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Niels Christian Nielsen, who arrived in Colorado in 1906 5
Halger Dines Harald Nielsen, who arrived in Alabama in 1925 5

Nielsen migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nielsen Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Niels Ingrord Nielsen, who landed in Halifax or New York in 1883

Nielsen migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Nielsen Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. P. L. Nielsen, (b. 1825), aged 33, Scandinavian saddler from Denmark travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 6
Mrs. Anna Maria Nielsen, (b. 1829), aged 29, Scandinavian settler from Denmark travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 6
Miss Frederica Maria Nielsen, (b. 1855), aged 3, Scandinavian settler from Denmark travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 6
Miss Christina (Allsetina W.) Nielsen, (b. 1856), aged 2, Scandinavian settler from Denmark travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 6
Hans Nielsen, aged 33, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1870 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Nielsen (post 1700) +

Arthur Charles Nielsen Sr. (1897-1980), American market analyst, founder of ACNielsen company in 1923, known for the eponymous Nielsen ratings, audience measurement systems
Kirstjen Michele Nielsen (b. 1972), American attorney and national security expert, 6th United States Secretary of Homeland Security (2017-)
Kai Nielsen (1926-2021), American professor, latterly emeritus, of philosophy at the University of Calgary
Lonnie Dean Nielsen (1953-2021), American professional PGA golfer who had 2 tour championships and 35 career wins
Norm Nielsen (1934-2020), American magician and business owner from Kenosha, Wisconsin
Dr. Jerri Lin Nielsen (1952-2009), American physician, Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station doctor in 1998
Alice Nielsen (1870-1943), American Broadway performer and operatic soprano
Iener W. Nielsen, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1948, 1952 8
Harry Nielsen, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Iowa State House of Representatives from Monona County; Elected 1950 8
Hans Christian Nielsen (b. 1850), American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Hartlepool, 1897-99; West Hartlepool, 1899-1911 8
... (Another 39 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Nielsen family +

Hindenburg LZ-129

Mr. Christian Nielsen (1910-1937), German Navigator from Sylt, Germany, who worked on board the Hindenburg LZ-129 and survived the Airship Fire 9

USS Arizona

Mr. Floyd Theadore Nielsen, American Carpenter's Mate Third Class from Utah, 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 10

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Hindenburg Disaster Passenger List | Airships.net. (Retrieved 2014, April 11) . Retrieved from http://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/hindenburg-passenger-list/
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html