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Nian Family History

Nian Surname Meaning

Chinese:: Mandarin form of the surname 年 meaning ‘year’ in Chinese: (i) said to be borne by some descendants of Tian He also known as Duke Tai of Tian Qi (died 384 BC) king of the state of Qi during Warring States Period (475– 221 BC). (ii) adopted in place of another Chinese surname Yan (嚴) by descendants of Yan Fu (嚴富) an official during the Ming dynasty (1368– 1644 AD) who changed the original surname to Nian (年) because of mispronunciations influenced by local dialects. (iii) adopted as a Chinese surname by some tribes of the Manchu ethnic group.

Mandarin form of the surname 粘 meaning ‘glutinous’ in Chinese: (i) from the first element of the compound surname Nian Ge (粘合 also written as 粘哥粘割 or 粘葛) a surname from Jurchens ancestors of Manchu ethnic group during the Jin dynasty (1115–1234 AD). (ii) from the first element of Nian Han (粘罕) the name of a famous general during the Jin (or Jurchen) dynasty (1115–1234 AD).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022

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Where is the Nian family from?

You can see how Nian families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nian family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Nian families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1911 there were 8 Nian families living in Ontario. This was about 67% of all the recorded Nian's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Nian families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nian surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

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What Nian family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 292 census records available for the last name Nian. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nian census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 157 immigration records available for the last name Nian. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 13 military records available for the last name Nian. For the veterans among your Nian ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Nian lifespan?

Average Nian life expectancy in 1995 was 48 years. This was lower than the general public life expectancy which was 73.

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