Family name origins & meanings
- German and Swiss German : from Middle High German neve ‘nephew’ (later rather broader in application, rather like cousin in English), hence probably a distinguishing name for a close relation or familiar of a prominent personage.
- Dutch : variant of Neve, cognate with 1.
- Jewish (Ashkenazic) : from German Neffe ‘nephew’.
- Reduced form of Irish McNeff (see McNiff).