Find out how popular the last name Neils is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Neils.

Neils, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Neils surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Neils in America

Neils is the 36204th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Neils surname appeared 619 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Neils.

We can also compare 2010 data for Neils to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Neils

The surname NEILS is believed to have originated in the Netherlands, tracing its roots back to the 17th century. It is thought to have derived from the Dutch word "niel," which means "nail" or "peg." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a profession or trade related to metalworking or carpentry.

In some historical records from the Netherlands, variations of the spelling can be found, such as "Niels" or "Nielson." These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the fluidity of surname spellings in earlier times.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name NEILS can be found in a Dutch church registry from the late 1600s, where a certain Johannes NEILS was recorded as a resident of Amsterdam. Additionally, a merchant named Pieter NEILS is mentioned in trade records from the city of Leiden in the early 18th century.

During the 19th century, the name NEILS began to appear in various parts of Europe, indicating that descendants of the original Dutch families had migrated to other regions. For example, a prominent German philosopher named Friedrich NEILS was born in 1820 and is known for his influential works on ethics and morality.

As the NEILS surname spread across borders, it also found its way to the United States through immigration. One notable American figure with this surname was William NEILS, a civil engineer who oversaw the construction of several bridges and public works projects in the late 19th century.

Another person of historical significance bearing the NEILS surname was Maria NEILS, a Dutch artist who lived from 1876 to 1942. She gained recognition for her intricate still-life paintings and was celebrated as a master of the genre.

In the 20th century, the name NEILS continued to be associated with various professions and fields. For instance, Hans NEILS (1904-1988) was a renowned German architect who designed several iconic buildings in Berlin and other major cities.

Overall, the surname NEILS has a rich history rooted in the Netherlands, with ties to various trades and professions over the centuries. While its origins may have been humble, the name has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various realms, from philosophy and art to engineering and architecture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Neils

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Neils.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Neils was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Neils has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Neils was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Neils, please contact us.

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