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

Nesser, 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 Nesser surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nesser in America

Nesser is the 40610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nesser surname appeared 538 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 Nesser.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nesser 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 Nesser

The surname Nesser has its origins in Germany, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Germanic word "nesse," which means "promontory" or "headland." This suggests that the name may have originated from a physical geographic feature, possibly referring to a family homestead or settlement located on a promontory or elevated land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nesser can be found in the historical records of the city of Nuremberg, where a certain Hermann Nesser was mentioned as a resident in the year 1298. This suggests that the name had already established itself in the region by the late Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, the Nesser family gained prominence in the city of Augsburg, where they were involved in the textile trade. Johannes Nesser (1521-1589) was a notable merchant and banker during this period, renowned for his business acumen and influential position within the city's commercial circles.

The name Nesser also has connections to the town of Neßlau in the Bavarian region of Germany. Historical records from the 17th century mention several families with the surname Nesser residing in this area, indicating that it may have been a significant location for the name's development and spread.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name in the English-speaking world can be found in the records of the Jamestown Colony in Virginia, where a certain Matthias Nesser is listed as an indentured servant who arrived in 1635. This suggests that individuals bearing the surname Nesser had started migrating to the American colonies by the early 17th century.

Notable individuals with the surname Nesser include:

1. Johann Nepomuk Nesser (1736-1808), a German Catholic theologian and philosopher.
2. Friedrich Nesser (1785-1859), a German painter and engraver known for his landscape and architectural works.
3. Ernst Nesser (1889-1961), a German physicist and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of radar technology.
4. Reinhard Nesser (1921-2005), a German politician and member of the Christian Democratic Union party.
5. Martin Nesser (born 1962), a German author and crime fiction writer, best known for his Inspector Paul Flemming series.

While the surname Nesser has its roots firmly planted in German history, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and settlement, making it a name with a rich and diverse heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nesser

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

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 Nesser 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 Nesser 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 Nesser was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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