Where does “Nelson” come from?
Nelson derives from the English given name Neil, which comes from Irish Niall, ultimately from Old Irish Níall, of unknown origin.
Nelson (English): A placename
Definitions
- A placename
Ancestry of “Nelson”, step by step
Nelson traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English neil
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | neil | Alternative form of nayl |
| 2 | Middle English | nayl | A nail; The equivalent to a human nail in... |
| 3 | Old English | næġl | nail |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | nagl | nail; nail or peg used for fastening |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | naglaz | nail; nail or peg used for fastening |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃nogʰ- | claw, nail; nail |
via Middle English Nell
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | Nell | — |