I am searching for any info on the origins of the surname Nye.  My ancestry includes Amariah F. Nye born in Ada, Hardin County, Ohio on 11/24/1850.  He married Sarah Ann (Anna) Cunningham (Born 9/19/1856).   They had three children:       George E Nye. Born 6/27/1874  died 10/17/1942  buried Forest Hills Cemetary,     Chattanooga, Tn.       Mabel Alma Nye. Born 11/1/1878  died 1/5/1978 buried Forest Hills Cemetary             Married James William Elder. No children.       Sylvia Vivian Nye. (my Great-grandmother) Born 9/28/1882 died 12/15/1969             buried Forest Hills Cemetary.                   Married Clifford George Hatch.  One son: JAmes Clyde Hatch Any information you have on the origins of this surname will be greatly appreciated.  I am hitting a brick wall with the Nye side of the family. Thanks again, Donna Hatch Smith

NYE (English) topographic name arising from a misdivision of Middle English "atten (e)ye" which means both 'at the river' and 'at the island', from Old English 'ea' river and 'eg' island respectively. (Both have a straight line over the -e-.) Both these words were actually feminine in Old English, and so should have been preceded only Middle English 'atter', but distinctions of gender ceased to be carefully maintained in the Middle English period. Variations: NIE, NEY, NAY. Source: Dictionary of Surnames by Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges. Barbara [email protected] wrote: > I am searching for any info on the origins of the surname Nye. My ancestry > includes Amariah F. Nye born in Ada, Hardin County, Ohio on 11/24/1850. He > married Sarah Ann (Anna) Cunningham (Born 9/19/1856). > > They had three children: > George E Nye. Born 6/27/1874 died 10/17/1942 buried Forest Hills > Cemetary, Chattanooga, Tn. > > Mabel Alma Nye. Born 11/1/1878 died 1/5/1978 buried Forest Hills > Cemetary > Married James William Elder. No children. > > Sylvia Vivian Nye. (my Great-grandmother) Born 9/28/1882 died 12/15/1969 > buried Forest Hills Cemetary. > Married Clifford George Hatch. One son: JAmes Clyde Hatch > > Any information you have on the origins of this surname will be greatly > appreciated. I am hitting a brick wall with the Nye side of the family. > > Thanks again, > Donna Hatch Smith > > ============================== > Shop Ancestry - Everything you need to Discover, Preserve & Celebrate > your heritage! > http://shop.myfamily.com/ancestrycatalog