Nieman
A surname of German origin, usually understood as a reduced form of Neumann, meaning “new man” or “newcomer.”
The #6,857 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 62,919 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The name is generally linked to German Neumann, built from neu meaning “new” and Mann meaning “man.” In surname use, this would have referred to a newcomer, settler, or someone newly established in a community. The spelling Nieman reflects a shortened or regional form found in German and related surname traditions.
History
The historical sources supplied here treat Nieman as a German-related surname and place it alongside forms such as Niemann and Neumann. The spelling has also been influenced by migration and anglicization, especially in English-speaking countries, where short forms like Nieman could stabilize as fixed family names. In the United States, it is present but relatively uncommon.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same “new man” root appears in several European surname families, so names like Nieman, Niemann, and Neumann are closely related cousins rather than unrelated names.
From the historical record
“Niker. See Nicker Nimmo. Dch. Nimmo, Niemer (Nieman) ; p.n. See Newman Nince. From Ninnes, Ninnis ; loc. n., Cornw. Or G. Nintz ; a p.n. Nipper. FI. Nepper; a p.n. See”
— British Family Names: their origin and meaning (2nd ed.)