NameCensus.

UK surname

Nie

Originally an ethnic surname referring to someone from Germany or Austria.

In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Nie surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 121, ranked #27,399, up from #27,447 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maldon, South Hams and Greenwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nie is 121 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 175.0%.

1881 census count

44

Ranked #27,447

Modern count

121

2016, ranked #27,399

Peak year

2016

121 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nie had 44 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,447 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016, ranked #27,399.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 76 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Nie surname distribution map

The map shows where the Nie surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Nie surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nie over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 19 #29,904
1881 historical 44 #27,447
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 76 #25,734
1997 modern 69 #30,712
1998 modern 73 #30,681
1999 modern 77 #30,427
2000 modern 75 #30,668
2001 modern 74 #30,600
2002 modern 82 #30,181
2003 modern 82 #30,206
2004 modern 79 #30,799
2005 modern 89 #29,683
2006 modern 91 #29,725
2007 modern 98 #29,019
2008 modern 98 #29,355
2009 modern 95 #30,393
2010 modern 113 #28,162
2011 modern 107 #28,979
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 113 #28,502
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 117 #27,982
2016 modern 121 #27,399

Geography

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Where Nies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Maldon, South Hams, Greenwich, Tendring and Bexley. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maldon 008 Maldon
2 South Hams 010 South Hams
3 Greenwich 003 Greenwich
4 Tendring 006 Tendring
5 Bexley 004 Bexley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nie

These lists show first names that appear often with the Nie surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nie, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Nie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Nie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Nie is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nie is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nie falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Chinese

This describes the area pattern most associated with Nie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Nie

The surname NIE has its origins in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the old German word "nie," which means "never" or "not at all." This suggests that the name may have originally been a nickname or descriptive name given to someone who was perceived as stubborn or unwilling to comply.

In the late 16th century, the name NIE appears in the records of the town of Nuremberg, Germany. One of the earliest recorded instances is a reference to a Hans Nie in 1587, a merchant who traded in spices and textiles. Around the same time, the name is also found in the village of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where a family of farmers with the surname NIE is mentioned in the local church records.

The NIE surname is also found in several historical documents from the 17th and 18th centuries. For example, a Johann Nie is listed as a soldier in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), which ravaged parts of modern-day Germany and neighboring regions. Additionally, a Katherina Nie is mentioned in the birth records of the town of Aachen in 1723.

Notable individuals with the surname NIE include:

1. Michael Nie (1805-1879), a German philosopher and theologian who authored several works on ethics and moral philosophy. 2. Friedrich Nie (1832-1901), a German painter known for his landscapes and portraits of rural life in Bavaria. 3. Helene Nie (1877-1945), a German writer and activist who campaigned for women's rights and social reform in the early 20th century. 4. Karl Nie (1898-1976), a German architect who designed several landmark buildings in Berlin during the Weimar Republic era. 5. Gerhard Nie (1924-2003), a German military officer who served in World War II and later became a historian, writing extensively on military strategy and tactics.

While the surname NIE is more commonly found in Germany, it has also spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, reflecting the migration patterns of people over time. However, its roots can be traced back to the German language and the cultural traditions of Central Europe.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nie surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 19 Nies recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.91x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 19 5.91x
Essex 12 18.90x
Buckinghamshire 1 5.14x
Sussex 1 1.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 9 Nies recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.92x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 9 49.92x
Bethnal Green London 6 42.95x
Leyton Low 6 465.12x
West Ham 6 42.80x
Bromley London 4 56.50x
Eastbourne 1 40.00x
Weston Turville 1 1111.11x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Alice 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
(James) 1
Cristinah 1
Ellen 1
Lizzie 1
Rosina 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Nie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Henry 3
Arthur 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.James 1
George 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Nie households.

FAQ

Nie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Nie surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016. That gives Nie a modern rank of #27,399.

What does the Nie surname mean?

Originally an ethnic surname referring to someone from Germany or Austria.

What does the Nie map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nie bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.