Show ContentsNesse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Nesse

What does the name Nesse mean?

The Dutch Nesse 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 Nessecould 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 Nesse family

The surname Nesse 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 Nesse family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nesse 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 Nesse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nesse 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 Nesse family

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


Nesse migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nesse Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Nesse, who arrived in Virginia in 1635
  • William Nesse, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 1
  • William Nesse, who landed in Virginia in 1637 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Nesse (post 1700) +

  • Randolph M. Nesse (b. 1948), American physician and evolutionary biologist
  • Åse-Marie Nesse (1934-2001), Norwegian philologist, translator and poet
  • Johannes Jeremias "Johs." Nesse (1891-1948), Norwegian newspaper editor, Chairman of the Norwegian Press Association (1936–1937)
  • Nesse Godin (1928-2024), (Galperin), a Lithuanian American Holocaust survivor who has dedicated her life to informing and teaching others about the Holocaust


  1. 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)


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