Neff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
Germany

Etymology of Neff

What does the name Neff mean?

The Dutch Neff surname was originally a habitational name, taken on from any of various places in Friesland called Nes, or similar names. These place names come from the word "nes," which meant a "spit of land."

Alternatively, the name Neffcould have been a Dutch local name as in 'the dweller at-the-ash' from residence beside an ash tree. The preposition 'van' is found especially with habitation names.

Early Origins of the Neff family

The surname Neff was first found in Holland, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. The name was first recorded in South Holland, a province of Holland, the most crowded province of the Netherlands. The principal cities are Rotterdam, Leyden and Shiedam. Noted is the famed castle of Teilengen where Jacqueline of Bavaria is buried. In their later history the surname became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family.

A long standing family in America, Albert and Grietje van Nes were listed as a residents of Amerfoort and then moved to Breuckelen (Brooklyn) to be near the ferry to Manhattan in 1653.

Early History of the Neff family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Neff research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1626, 1645, 1655, 1667, 1693, 1771 and 1841 are included under the topic Early Neff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Neff Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ness, Nes, Neser, Nesse, Nessen, Nessel, Nest, Nesh, Neste, Netz, Nas, Nass, Nos, Noss and many more.

Early Notables of the Neff family

Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Neff Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Neff Ranking

the United States, the name Neff is the 1,749^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Neff is ranked the 5,814^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2

Neff migration to the United States +

Neff Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Balt. Neff, who arrived in America in 1709
Frantz Neff, who landed in New York in 1709-1710 3
Fred'ch Neff, aged 34, who landed in New York in 1710 3
Barbara Ebin Neff, who settled in Pennsylvania sometime between 1710 and 1799
Johan Neff, aged 8, who landed in New York in 1710 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Neff Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Johannes Neff, who arrived in America in 1840 3
Katharina Neff, who landed in America in 1843 3
Peter Neff, aged 28, who landed in America in 1853 3
Gg Neff, aged 27, who landed in America in 1854 3
Joh Wimar Neff, aged 17, who landed in America in 1883 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Neff (post 1700) +

Thomas Lee Neff (1943-2024), American physicist, born in Lake Oswego, Oregon, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Pat Morris Neff (1871-1952), American politician from Texas, Governor of Texas 1921–25
Marcus Neff (1826-1896), American settler in Oregon, respondent in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Pennoyer v. Neff
Jay H. Neff (1854-1915), American newspaper publisher, Mayor of Kansas City 1904–05
Jacob H. Neff (1830-1909), American politician, Lieutenant Governor of California 1899–1903
John Neff, American investment manager
Garrett Neff (b. 1984), American fashion model
Wallace Neff (1895-1982), American architect
Tom Neff (b. 1953), American film executive, director, and producer
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Neff family +

Bismarck

Josef Neff (1921-1941), German Matrose II who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 4

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details