447 Last Names Beginning With N

Are you looking for a comprehensive list of last names beginning with “N”?

We’ve used the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census to compile 447 surnames that start with the letter N and have at least one thousand bearers of the name.

In the table below, you’ll see the total number of bearers for the name in each census.

Can’t Find A Surname That You Know?

If you don’t find a name that you’re interested in, then use our surname ranking tool which doesn’t have the 1,000 threshold that we’ve imposed on this list.

It will show you where your last name ranks in the U.S. census.You can learn more in our tutorial on how to check how popular or uncommon your last name is.

Meanings Of Popular Last Names Starting With N

Here are the top ten most common last names beginning with N in the 2010 U.S. census.

They are in descending order of how common they are.

SurnameBearersOriginsMeaning
Nguyen437,645VietnameseChinese instrument
Nelson424,958EnglishUnclear
Nichols145,584EnglishVersion of Nicholas
Nunez125,350HispanicUnclear
Newman101,931EnglishNewcomer to the area
Navarro99,807HispanicKnights of Navarre
Neal91,694EnglishBlack-haired
Norris89,796EnglishNortherner
Newton74,092EnglishFrom the new town
Norman67,704English, Irishfrom Normandy

The meanings given above are short summaries. Some names have several meanings depending on the region. We give more details later in this article.

Famous People With N Surnames

Horatio Nelson

Here is an assorted collection of ten famous people with a family name starting with N.

Famous PersonOccupationBest Known For
Horatio NelsonEnglish AdmiralBattle of Trafalgar
Frank SinatraAmerican singerI Did It My Way
Isaac NewtonEnglish scientistDiscovered gravity
Jack NicholsonAmerican actorThe Shining
Florence NightingaleEnglish nursePreventive medicine
NeroRoman EmperorFiddled as Rome burned
Alfred NobelSwedish inventorInvented dynamite
Stevie NicksAmerican singerFleetwod Mac
Richard NixonAmerican PresidentWatergate
Jawaharlal NehruIndian Prime MinisterFirst Prime Minster after independence

Last Names Starting With N

Many of the most common names in this list are Hispanic. We’ve covered their meaning and origins in our separate list of Hispanic names starting with N.

In this article, we’ll look at the origins of other names.

Let’s start with names from Naas to Nakano.

Nagy had over fifteen thousand bearers in the 2010 U.S. census. The origins are Hungarian. The meaning comes from the word for big and was conferred as a nickname on larger men.

Last Name2000 Census2010 Census
Naas1,0151,032
Naber2,1922,571
Nabors5,6505,718
Naccarato1,4671,439
Nace2,9583,235
Nadal1,1861,211
Nadeau11,93112,236
Nadel1,4471,513
Nader2,3092,833
Nadler2,9673,034
Nadolny1,0961,084
Naegele1,1691,216
Nafziger1,0871,133
Nagata1,3821,461
Nagel14,27014,545
Nagle10,65010,963
Nagy15,54515,497
Naik1,8223,047
Nail5,3167,133
Nair3,7287,513
Najar2,6453,296
Najarian1,0891,154
Najarro1,0141,331
Najera12,27018,340
Najjar1,4541,587
Nakagawa2,4492,431
Nakai1,1281,205
Nakamoto1,6961,770
Nakamura7,8217,658
Nakano2,1242,232

From Nakashima to Nardone

Nance is the most common name in this section with about twenty-five thousand bearers in 2010.

It’s a variant of Nantz, which is a German name. The meaning comes from the word for a daring person.

Last Name2000 Census2010 Census
Nakashima1,6751,674
Nakasone1,0851,142
Nakata1,5791,826
Nakayama1,5381,465
Nale1,9601,912
Nall8,2007,966
Nalley4,3855,134
Nalls2,1652,648
Nally2,6452,824
Nam4,4126,244
Nance22,90024,018
Nanez1,7851,839
Nanney2,2652,279
Nantz1,7052,251
Napier18,72619,182
Naples2,2112,463
Napoleon2,1612,624
Napoles1,9862,784
Napoli4,9585,127
Napolitano7,0347,153
Napper2,7232,819
Nappi2,4032,292
Naquin4,2884,617
Naranjo11,94615,658
Narayan1,7622,614
Narayanan1,0872,188
Narciso1,4481,949
Narcisse2,2502,774
Nardi2,9543,147
Nardone2,9653,180

From Narron to Naumann

Nash is the most common name in this section with over fifty-eight thousand bearers in 2010.

The English origin relates to the ash tree. The early bearers likely lived by a wood of ash trees.

Last Name2000 Census2010 Census
Narron1,0821,255
Narvaez7,86510,579
Nascimento1,8652,829
Nash51,02158,714
Nasir1,2542,185
Nason4,9406,040
Nass1,7902,060
Nassar2,5413,377
Nasser3,1314,673
Nassif1,0091,232
Nastasi1,2051,260
Natal2,2573,190
Natale5,3585,529
Nath1,8662,570
Nathan7,3698,300
Nathaniel1,6391,859
Nathanson1,9501,936
Nation6,8807,125
Nations3,4783,610
Natividad3,2444,198
Natoli2,0482,046
Nau2,6763,020
Naughton5,0815,264
Naugle3,3513,420
Nault2,7052,941
Nauman3,1773,497
Naumann3,3043,356

From Nava to Necaise

Neal is a common name in this section with over ninety thousand bearers in 2010.

The English name was brought to the country by the Normans. The name was a form of Nigellus, which was the Latin diminutive for the word for black.

It was conferred upon people with dark hair.

Last Name2000 Census2010 Census
Nava26,46339,670
Navarette1,4411,558
Navarra1,6811,842
Navarre2,8433,030
Navarrete16,01024,259
Navarrette3,1593,489
Navarro73,97099,807
Navas3,3554,953
Nave4,7004,946
Navin1,1691,186
Nawrocki2,4992,551
Nay3,3374,826
Naylor15,93016,745
Nazarian1,6672,004
Nazario5,1276,636
Nazzaro1,1781,227
Neace2,5152,901
Neagle1,2781,298
Neal83,84991,694
Neale3,8343,828
Nealey1,2291,689
Nealon2,0022,153
Nealy3,8564,485
Near1,6471,762
Neary4,8064,844
Nease2,0902,259
Neathery1,0571,108
Nebeker1,1481,307
Nebel1,9992,272
Neblett1,5761,646
Necaise1,4181,570

From Ned to Nellis

Neff had about twenty-two thousand bearers in the 2010 census.

The name is of Germanic origins. The meaning comes from the word for a nephew.

It was likely conferred upon the nephew or cousin of a more wealthy or powerful person.

Last Name2000 Census2010 Census
Ned1,2431,187
Nedd1,2341,330
Nee2,8573,000
Neece1,7752,087
Needham10,80910,983
Neel7,0077,209
Neeley8,8579,288
Neely23,30823,843
Neer2,1192,398
Nees1,4201,476
Neese5,1565,335
Neff22,50922,764
Negley1,1341,049
Negrete11,18815,245
Negri1,5991,575
Negron15,09018,413
Neher1,9212,114
Nehls1,5381,534
Nehring2,1402,248
Neidig1,2921,336
Neighbors4,7834,814
Neil9,20910,228
Neill8,9469,404
Neilsen1,4921,577
Neilson6,2976,553
Neiman3,4263,766
Neira1,5202,125
Neis1,0901,155
Neitzel1,8092,052
Nell2,5652,079
Nelligan1,1471,231
Nellis2,8103,020

From Nelms to Neunsch

Nelson is by far the most common name in this section with over 424 thousand bearers in 2010. This makes it one of the most common names in America.

The name is of English origins. It means “son of Nel”, but where did Nel come from? There isn’t clear agreement about that.

So, I’ll look at another name. Ness is one of those names that have different origins depending on the region.

The Scottish version comes from an old personal name that may have derived from the Gaelic word for a weasel.

The Norwegian version comes from the Old Norse word for a cliff or headland. The early bearers resided near such places.

Last Name2000 Census2010 Census
Nelms6,4777,303
Nelsen6,3526,825
Nelson412,236424,958
Nemec3,1803,199
Nemecek1,2011,223
Nemeth8,1508,362
Nemitz1,3321,381
Nephew1,2211,231
Neptune1,5281,668
Neri6,2808,094
Nero3,8854,259
Nesbit4,5654,765
Nesbitt12,87813,248
Nesmith6,8987,097
Ness11,05811,037
Nester5,5195,847
Nestor5,2385,723
Neth1,0791,266
Netherton1,8481,972
Nethery1,2811,285
Neto1,1961,645
Nett1,3651,454
Netter1,1091,254
Nettles10,71111,302
Nettleton2,0982,090
Neu3,7344,170
Neubauer5,9085,911
Neuberger1,4921,519
Neubert2,2912,492
Neuenschwander1,6031,856

Neufeld to Newcome

Newcomb is an interesting name in this section along with its variants of Newcombe and Newcomer.

The last of those variants is the giveaway as to the origins.

The meaning of these English names comes from the Middle English words for a new arrival to a place. In other words, a newcomer!

Last Name2000 Census2010 Census
Neufeld2,9573,344
Neugebauer1,5321,576
Neuhaus2,2632,324
Neuman8,5648,982
Neumann16,69717,484
Neumeyer1,2361,266
Neuner1,0871,075
Nevarez12,97916,607
Neve1,2761,260
Nevels3,0783,335
Nevers1,1781,252
Neves4,2074,997
Neville11,25811,739
Nevin2,8213,101
Nevins4,9275,052
Nevitt1,6201,682
Nevius1,0411,090
New11,53311,903
Newberg1,9612,030
Newbern1,6031,722
Newberry13,23313,482
Newbill1,7041,725
Newbold3,2023,384
Newborn1,8621,733
Newburn1,3101,503
Newbury1,9891,997
Newby11,07911,483
Newcomb14,23014,292
Newcombe1,5501,589
Newcomer5,2015,263

Newell to Nickson

Nguyen is the most common name in this section with about 437 thousand bearers in 2010.

The name is of Vietnamese origins. It derives from the word for a Chinese type of lute with four strings that are plucked. It’s called a Ruan.

A Ruan
Last Name2000 Census2010 Census
Newell31,31732,909
Newhall1,4081,495
Newhart1,4451,441
Newhouse6,3996,471
Newkirk10,16510,620
Newland7,2687,491
Newlin4,1634,175
Newlon1,7191,734
Newman100,491101,931
Newmark1,0181,035
Newport4,2254,235
Newsom10,93011,218
Newsome22,80323,958
Newson4,2994,693
Newswanger1,0761,426
Newton72,32874,092
Ney3,3913,285
Neyman1,0761,128
Nez4,4214,827
Ng27,53731,210
Ngai1,3851,623
Ngo23,98033,005
Nguy1,0051,223
Nguyen310,125437,645
Nhan1,0321,212
Ni2,4184,624
Niblett1,4621,515
Nicastro2,1072,144
Niccum1,3051,385
Nice3,3613,595
Nicely4,6354,789
Nichol3,4183,323
Nicholas26,62827,922
Nicholes1,5491,675
Nicholls5,3445,722
Nichols141,936145,584
Nicholson55,98658,151
Nick3,1363,590
Nickel8,1678,292
Nickell5,5645,855
Nickels4,5904,949
Nickelson2,9093,664
Nickens2,8763,246
Nickerson15,40915,970
Nicklas1,8461,968
Nickle1,9612,185
Nickles3,9314,634
Nickols1,3791,361
Nicks4,0293,775
Nickson1,8112,285

Nicodemus to Nitz

Nielsen is the most common name in this section with over forty-two thousand bearers in 2010.

There are plenty of spelling variants of this name of Scandinavian origins. And like other names, it is a version of Nicholas.

The ultimate origins of Nicholas are from the Latin words that mean a conqueror of people.

The name spread in the Middle Ages due to the popularity of a bishop of that name in what is now a region of Turkey.

bishop
Last Name2000 Census2010 Census
Nicodemus1,9802,108
Nicol4,8505,012
Nicola1,8371,971
Nicolai2,0422,017
Nicolas5,7839,006
Nicoletti2,8522,981
Nicoll2,2332,503
Nicolosi2,0662,098
Nicosia2,7962,894
Nida1,3131,363
Niebuhr1,1211,153
Niedzwiecki1,2031,201
Niehaus3,3623,493
Niehoff1,1101,126
Nielsen41,00742,773
Nielson10,41011,511
Nieman4,9544,907
Niemann3,9984,184
Niemeier1,0371,138
Niemeyer4,2214,332
Niemi4,2534,272
Niemiec2,2712,293
Nies2,1252,321
Niesen1,5091,374
Nieto18,81725,701
Nieves28,01134,896
Nigh1,8571,913
Nightingale3,9944,596
Nigro4,7944,773
Niles7,99310,173
Nilles1,3221,697
Nilsen3,8604,158
Nilson3,46210,010
Nilsson3,0793,223
Nimmo2,5652,594
Nimmons1,1371,234
Nims1,7071,770
Nino8,02311,202
Nipper3,9824,157
Nisbet2,0091,982
Nishida1,0821,130
Nishimoto1,2971,267
Nishimura2,5512,424
Nissen5,0184,964
Nissley1,3311,489
Niswonger1,3341,361
Nitschke1,2781,293
Nitta1,0121,439
Nitz2,4632,667

Niven to Nordin

Nixon has over thirty-eight thousand bearers in the 2010 census.

It originates in the personal name of Nicholas, which we explained in the previous section. It became prevalent in Scotland.

Last Name2000 Census2010 Census
Niven1,3011,334
Nivens1,7791,870
Nix22,81424,786
Nixon36,03738,147
No1,7041,349
Noack2,5402,563
Noah4,9235,332
Noakes1,5581,633
Nobile1,3411,370
Noble40,21741,667
Nobles12,14912,965
Noblitt1,5391,637
Nocera1,5531,645
Nock2,0182,191
Noda1,2551,377
Noe10,78911,182
Noel28,40131,768
Noell1,7131,862
Noffsinger1,8141,847
Noga1,7011,727
Noggle1,4471,512
Nogueira1,4301,957
Noguera1,6242,237
Noh1,4272,427
Nokes1,8431,918
Nolan44,42146,054
Noland8,9649,386
Nolasco6,72011,609
Nold1,5021,503
Nolen10,02110,820
Noles3,2263,183
Nolin2,4502,500
Noll10,03010,374
Nolley1,3081,492
Nolt2,8123,634
Nolte6,1766,180
Nolting1,4441,446
Nomura1,4571,453
Noon3,0073,433
Noonan12,64113,286
Noone2,5632,820
Noor1,2042,555
Nora1,2031,142
Norberg2,8292,819
Norby2,2712,299
Norcross2,9452,992
Nord4,6234,635
Nordberg1,2641,311
Nordby1,3991,573
Norden1,9422,074
Nordin2,5322,642

Nordman to Nowicki

Norris is the most common name in this section with nearly ninety thousand bearers in 2010.

This name is of English origins. The meaning comes from the Middle English words for a Northerner or someone who comes from the North.

It would have been bestowed on people who travelled south to arrive in an area.

Last Name2000 Census2010 Census
Nordman1,5131,506
Nordquist2,0872,172
Nordstrom5,4775,498
Nordyke1,1751,173
Noren1,6541,885
Norfleet3,9244,139
Norgaard1,1011,162
Noriega11,08914,559
Norling1,1151,102
Norman65,26967,704
Normand3,0683,246
Normandin1,9511,956
Norred1,2521,254
Norrell1,7601,812
Norris85,21289,796
Norsworthy2,2532,295
North20,23820,343
Northam1,0391,216
Northcutt6,1126,170
Northern3,4963,643
Northington2,2882,245
Northrop3,7273,990
Northrup5,7325,663
Northup2,5862,686
Norton61,80563,722
Norvell3,6593,713
Norville1,4801,527
Norwood21,67822,461
Nosal1,1221,374
Noss1,2991,287
Notaro1,4181,508
Noto3,2693,300
Nott2,1342,585
Nottingham4,0824,165
Nourse1,3491,439
Nova2,1312,928
Novack2,7922,689
Novak35,28235,461
Novelli1,1581,092
Novello1,5581,750
Novick2,7202,695
Novoa3,2634,281
Novotny6,5916,617
Novy1,3921,351
Nowack1,1291,033
Nowacki1,6911,685
Nowak18,51518,891
Nowakowski3,8363,717
Nowell5,2816,112
Nowicki6,0096,056

Nowland to Nystrom

Nugent has nearly sixteen thousand bearers in the 2010 census.

This name was brought to Britain and Ireland by the Normans. There are many places through France with “Nogent” as part of their name.

The early bearers were Normans who hailed from those areas.

Last Name2000 Census2010 Census
Nowland1,0781,133
Nowlin6,4926,692
Nowling1,0701,087
Noyes9,4079,710
Noyola2,8854,279
Nuccio1,2111,366
Nuckolls1,4991,524
Nuckols2,6432,659
Nugent15,59915,977
Null-a7,0727,170
Nunes11,08112,191
Nunez90,208125,350
Nunley8,5029,046
Nunn14,79216,769
Nunnally3,9974,058
Nunnery2,5472,775
Nuno4,8786,506
Nurse2,5012,786
Nusbaum2,6022,716
Nuss3,7233,765
Nussbaum4,1444,321
Nutt7,0987,541
Nuttall3,0563,271
Nutter7,9818,137
Nutting2,3472,349
Nuzum1,4041,475
Nuzzo2,0032,021
Nyberg3,6863,732
Nye11,63212,167
Nygaard2,6292,752
Nygard1,2761,318
Nygren1,7701,755
Nyland1,2451,270
Nyman2,6813,168
Nyquist1,7491,713
Nystrom4,0514,122

Margaret created a family tree on a genealogy website in 2012. She purchased her first DNA kit in 2017. She created this website to share insights and how-to guides on DNA, genealogy, and family research.

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