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

Nissley, 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 Nissley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nissley in America

Nissley is the 18529th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nissley surname appeared 1,489 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 Nissley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nissley 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 Nissley

The surname Nissley is believed to have originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, likely in the areas that are now part of modern-day Germany or Switzerland. The name is thought to have its roots in the Old German word "nid," which means "down" or "below," and the suffix "-ley," which is derived from the Old English word "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a German manuscript from the 16th century, where it was spelled as "Nidsli." This suggests that the name may have been associated with a place or location situated in a valley or lower-lying area.

In the late 17th century, several families bearing the name Nissley emigrated from Germany and settled in the Pennsylvania Dutch region of the United States. One of the earliest known Nissleys in America was Hans Nissley, who was born in 1682 and settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Nissley name became well-established in various parts of Pennsylvania, particularly in the counties of Lancaster, Dauphin, and Lebanon. Notable individuals with this surname during this time period include Jacob Nissley (1756-1836), a prominent farmer and landowner in Lancaster County, and David Nissley (1811-1892), a respected educator and author from Lebanon County.

In the late 19th century, several members of the Nissley family made significant contributions to various fields. One such individual was John Nissley (1847-1927), a Civil War veteran and successful businessman from Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Another notable figure was Samuel Nissley (1868-1941), a renowned architect who designed numerous buildings in the Lancaster area.

As the Nissley family spread across different regions of the United States, the name continued to be associated with various professions and achievements. For example, Charles Nissley (1906-1986) was a celebrated painter and educator from Indiana, while Robert Nissley (1924-2012) was a renowned scientist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

While the origins of the surname Nissley can be traced back to the German-speaking regions of Europe, it has become well-established in various parts of the United States, particularly in the state of Pennsylvania. The name has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, contributing to its rich historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nissley

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

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

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

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