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

Nigh, 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 Nigh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nigh in America

Nigh is the 15328th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nigh surname appeared 1,913 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Nigh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nigh 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 Nigh

The surname NIGH is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "neah" or "neh," meaning "near" or "close by." It is believed to have originated as a locational surname, given to individuals who lived near a prominent geographical feature or landmark.

The earliest recorded use of the surname NIGH dates back to the late 12th century in the county of Oxfordshire, England. In the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1196, there is a mention of a man named Robert Negh, which is likely an early spelling variation of the surname.

During the medieval period, the surname NIGH was often associated with place names that incorporated the word "nigh" or its variations. For example, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a William de la Nyghe, likely referring to someone from a place called "La Nyghe" or a similar name.

One notable early bearer of the surname was John Nigh, a merchant and cloth trader who lived in the city of London during the 15th century. Records from 1487 indicate that he was involved in trading with the Netherlands and other parts of Europe.

In the 16th century, the surname NIGH appeared in various church records and legal documents across England. One example is William Nigh, who was born in the village of Stratford-upon-Avon in 1542, the birthplace of the renowned playwright William Shakespeare.

Another notable figure was Sir Hugh Nigh, a military commander who served in the English Civil War during the 17th century. He fought for the Royalist forces and was knighted by King Charles I in 1643 for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

During the 18th century, the surname NIGH spread to other parts of the British Isles and the American colonies. One prominent individual was Thomas Nigh, a Quaker minister from Pennsylvania who was born in 1718. He played a significant role in the early settlement and religious life of the region.

In the 19th century, the surname NIGH was borne by several notable figures, including James Nigh, a British writer and poet who was born in London in 1821. He published several collections of poetry and was known for his works exploring themes of nature and spirituality.

Overall, the surname NIGH has a rich history rooted in the English language and culture, with its origins dating back to the medieval period. While it may have originated as a locational name, it has since been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, military leaders, religious figures, and literary figures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nigh

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

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

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

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