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

Nyo, 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 Nyo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nyo in America

Nyo is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nyo surname appeared 121 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 Nyo.

The history of the last name Nyo

The surname Nyo is believed to have originated in Scotland during the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "niadh," meaning "champion" or "warrior," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who excelled in battle or displayed exceptional bravery.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Nyo de Ayr," referring to an individual from the town of Ayr in southwestern Scotland.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Fergus Nyo was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. These records indicate that Fergus was a landowner in the county of Fife and held significant influence in the region.

During the 16th century, the Nyo surname gained prominence in the Scottish Highlands. A renowned warrior named Alasdair Nyo (1520-1582) was celebrated for his exploits in the Battle of Largs, where he reportedly slew several enemy soldiers single-handedly.

Another individual of note was Robert Nyo (1640-1718), a Scottish clergyman and scholar who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. He was highly regarded for his theological writings and his efforts in promoting education in the Highlands.

In the 18th century, the Nyo surname spread to other parts of the British Isles, including England and Ireland. One notable bearer of the name was William Nyo (1735-1809), an English poet and playwright whose works were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

As the surname evolved over the centuries, variations in spelling emerged, including Niyo, Nyoe, and Nyoh. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and variations in pronunciation.

Historically, the Nyo surname has been associated with a strong warrior tradition and a sense of pride in Scottish heritage. While not as prevalent as some other Scottish surnames, it has left a lasting mark on the annals of history, with numerous individuals bearing the name making significant contributions in various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nyo

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

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 Nyo 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!