Updated June 9, 2019 Share: Family name origins & meanings Norwegian : habitational name from any of various farmsteads named Noss, from Old Norse nǫs ‘nose’, in reference to any natural feature, such as a crag or mountain peak, that is shaped like a nose.German (of Slavic origin) : see Nosek.German : variant of Notz.English : variant of Ness 1.