Nieves, the Spanish plural form of nieve (English: snow), is a surname and female given name derived from the title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (Our Lady of the Snows), a reference to the 4th-century Catholic miracle of a summertime snowfall on the Esquiline Hill in Rome.[1] The surname is most prevalent in Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and particularly Puerto Rico, where it is most densely concentrated. Within Spain, it is most common in Andalusia, Madrid, Canary Islands, and Galicia.[2] According to Roser Saurí Colomer and Patrick Hanks of Brandeis University, the Spanish surname Nieves is of Asturian-Leonese origin.[3] The Portuguese variant is Neves, and it is most common in Brazil.[2] There is also a Scottish Nieves surname that originated in Nevay, located in Angus, Scotland, and thus can be found in the United Kingdom.[4]
| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Meaning | snow |
| Region of origin | Spain, Scotland |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Neves |
Notable people with the given name Nieves
edit- Nieves Anula (born 1973), Spanish basketball player
- Nieves Confesor, Filipino politician
- Nieves Herrero (born 1957), Spanish journalist, presenter, and writer
- Nieves Hidalgo (born 1976), Spanish singer
- Nieves Mathews (1917–2003), author of Scottish and Spanish parentage
- Nieves Barragán Mohacho, Spanish chef
- Nieves Navarro (born 1938), Spanish-born Italian actress and fashion model
- Nieves Panadell (born 1956), Spanish swimmer
- Nieves Yankovic (1916–1985), Chilean actress and documentary maker
- Nieves Zuberbühler (born 1987), Argentine journalist
Notable people with the surname Nieves
edit- Antonio Nieves, American professional boxer
- Brian Nieves, American politician
- Christian Nieves, Puerto Rican cuatro player
- Christine Nieves, Puerto Rican climate activist
- Daniela Nieves Venezuelan-American actress
- Javi Nieves, Spanish radio host
- Jorge Nieves (born 1952), Uruguayan football referee
- José Alvarado Nieves, Mexican wrestler
- José Antonio Nieves Conde, Spanish film director and screenplay writer
- José Miguel Nieves, retired Venezuelan baseball player
- Juan Nieves, retired Puerto Rican baseball player
- Lisette Nieves, Puerto Rican-American businesswoman
- Luis López Nieves, Puerto Rican author
- Maikel Nieves, Spanish footballer for Norwegian club Råde
- María Antonieta de las Nieves, Mexican actress
- Melvin Nieves, retired Puerto Rican baseball player
- Nelson Nieves, Venezuelan fencer
- Néstor Nieves, Venezuelan long-distance runner
- Osvaldo Nieves, Puerto Rican track and field athlete
- Roberto González Nieves, Puerto Rican church leader
- Tito Nieves, Puerto Rican singer
- Wil Nieves, Puerto Rican baseball player
See also
edit- As Neves (Spanish Nieves), a municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra
- Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte, a municipality in the Philippines
- Nieva (Spanish group), a rock/electronica band
- Nevis, a Caribbean island with the same etymology
- Blancanieves (Snow White)
- Nieves v. Bartlett a US Supreme Court case
References
edit- ^ "Popularity for the surname Nieves".
- ^ a b "Neves". Forebears. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ Colomer, Roser Saurí; Hanks, Patrick. "Iberian Names in North America: the Case of Asturian" (PDF). Roser Saurí Colomer. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ "Nieves History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms". houseofnames.com. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
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