Nias History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Nias

What does the name Nias mean?

The name Nias is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived near a river. Nias 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 Nias family

The surname Nias 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 Nias family

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

Nias 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 Nias 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 Nias include: Nye, Nie, Nay, Ney and others.

Early Notables of the Nias family

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

Nias 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 Nias or a variant listed above:

Nias Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Caroline Nias, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
George Nias, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 4

Nias migration to Australia +

Nias Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Joseph Somerset Nias, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "planter" in 1839 5
Richard Nias, aged 12, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Victoria Regia"

Sources +

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.
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PLANTER 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Planter.htm