Explore the Family Name Nye
The meaning of Nye
1. English (southern): from a misdivision of the Middle English phrase atten eye, atten ye ‘at the island’ (Old English ēg, īeg ‘island’), becoming atte nye. The surname may be topographic, for someone who lived on an island or patch of firm ground surrounded by marsh, or habitational, from a place so named, such as Nye in Winscombe, Somerset. 2. English: alternatively, from a misdivision of the Middle English phrase atten eye, atten ee ‘at the river’ (Old English ēa ‘river’), becoming atte nee. The surname may be topographic, for someone who lived near a river, or habitational, from a place so named, such as Neigh Bridge in Somerford Keynes, Wiltshire. 3. Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 聶, see Nie 2.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Nye in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Nye" slightly declined in rank between 2000 and 2010, moving from being the 2,821st most common name to the 2,952nd. However, despite this drop in rank, the actual count of people with the Nye surname increased by 4.6% during the same time period, rising from 11,632 to 12,167. Nevertheless, when considering the increasing U.S. population, the proportion per 100,000 people slightly decreased by 4.41%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,821 | #2,952 | -4.64% |
| Count | 11,632 | 12,167 | 4.6% |
| Proportion per 100k | 4.31 | 4.12 | -4.41% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Nye
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the Nye surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some shifts between 2000 and 2010. The largest percentage increase was within the Hispanic community, which saw a rise of 47.59%, followed by those identifying with two or more races and American Indian and Alaskan Native communities, which grew by 35.14% and 37.21% respectively. The Asian/Pacific Islander and Black communities also saw increases of 18.95% and 11.69%. In contrast, those identifying as White saw a slight decrease of 1.58%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.3% | 93.79% | -1.58% |
| Hispanic | 1.45% | 2.14% | 47.59% |
| Two or More Races | 1.11% | 1.5% | 35.14% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.95% | 1.13% | 18.95% |
| Black | 0.77% | 0.86% | 11.69% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.43% | 0.59% | 37.21% |
Nye ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Nye is British & Irish, which comprises 46.7% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (32.6%) and Scandinavian (5.3%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Italian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Spanish & Portuguese, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 46.7% |
| French & German | 32.6% |
| Scandinavian | 5.3% |
| Other | 15.3% |
Possible origins of the surname Nye
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Nye have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 86.60% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 86.60% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 86.60% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 86.30% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 86.30% |
What Nye haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Nye is R-M405, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-M405 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS241 and J-Z631, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Matlock, Stamper, Wyman, Pringle, Roush, Colton, Northrop, Pulley, Kellum, Stringer.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Nye surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Nye have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Nye" Surname 50.9%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Nye" Surname 29.1%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Nye" Surname 24.7%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Nye" Surname 15.8%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Nye?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Nye are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition