Nollen

Nollen is a surname of Dutch and German origin that is typically considered to be toponymic, arising from a geographic feature such as a knoll or small hill. The name may have been adopted by families who lived near or managed land on a hillock, with regional spellings reflecting dialect and historical phonetics.

Today, the surname is found in the Netherlands and Belgium and has spread to Germany and to North American countries through migration and diaspora. It also appears in other parts of Europe and among communities abroad, particularly in areas with historical Dutch or German settlement.

Because Nollen is relatively uncommon, there are no widely cited figures who are universally recognized as the bearer of the name in major reference works. Nevertheless, individuals with the surname have contributed across fields such as science, academia, the arts, and sports, reflecting a broad distribution of occupations rather than a single familial tradition.

Variant spellings have emerged over time and across regions, including forms such as Nolens, Nolen, and other orthographic derivatives. These variants illustrate customary changes in spelling due to language contact, emigration, and record-keeping practices in different locales.

See also Nolan, Nolens, and Nolin for related surnames with similar phonetic roots or historical development. The name Nollen may also appear in historical documents under regional spellings that reflect local pronunciation at the time of recording.