Niehaus
A German surname meaning “new house,” originally a name for someone who lived by or came from a newly built house.
The #9,320 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 88,390 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Niehaus is built from German/Low German elements meaning “new” and “house.” It is essentially the same idea as a byname for someone associated with a new dwelling or a place called Neuhaus. In older dialect spellings, the first element can appear as Nie-, Nieu-, or Neu- depending on region and pronunciation.
History
The surname is especially associated with German-speaking regions, including Low German areas where forms like Niehaus and Neuhaus coexist. The historical sources provided treat it alongside other German names with a similar "new house" structure, which fits its broad onomastic pattern. In the United States, it has remained relatively uncommon but recognizable among families of German ancestry.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The name is structurally close to many other German surnames built from everyday landmarks, especially those ending in -haus (“house”).
From the historical record
“FN. \) Backhaus (auch 0^.)\Backhus. Neu- haus — Xeuenhaus (elliptische Dativ- form) ; halbhochd. Niehaus — Xienhaus. Steinhaus. Wirminghaus (0. -hausen Westfal.). Niederd. Brockhus — Broeken- huus, 2) Düsterhues. Grothues. Heidhues;”
— Die deutschen Familiennamen