This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the ness,' i.e. at the promontory or headland; compare Holderness, Sheerness, Harkness, &c.

William del Ness, of Ness, Norfolk, 10 Richard I: History of Norfolk.

Roger atte Nesse, Kent, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Alicia del Nesse, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Johannes del Nesse, 1379: ibid.

Simon de Ness, of Ness, Norfolk, 20 Edward III: History of Norfolk.

1807. Married — John Alex. Paul MacGregor and James Ness: St. George, Hanover Square.

A current surname, but its connection with the old Gaelic personal name Ness is not certain. Several persons of this name are in record in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, a few of whom may here be noted. (1) Nesse, member of the religious house of Abernethy, c. 1093-1107 (RPSA., p. 116). (2) Nessius flius Willelmi Lineth was sheriff of Perth in the reign of Malcolm IV (Scon, p. 8). Nesus or Nessyus filius Willelmi appears as witness between 1178-1200 (RAA., I, 4; Cambus., 70. The Report on ancient monuments of Fife says he was "apparently of Norman stock"), and as Neis filius Chilu (Chiluni, Chilunus:- errors for Willelmi) he attested a charter by Thor of the church of Tranent to Holyrood, c. 1155 (LSC., p. 11). His daughter Orabilis was married to Robert de Quincy. (3) Ness of Linton witnessed a charter by Robert, bishop of St. Andrews who died in 1158-59 (Genealogist, XVI, p. 132). (4) Nessus de Dalginge, a witness a. 1177 (CMN., p. 6). (5) Nesus de London (perhaps Lundie in Fife) granted half the village of Smeatoun to his cousin Alan in the reign of William the Lion (Genealogist, XVI, p. 132). (6) Nes, the son of John of Lundres, gave the monks of Newbattle some land in Forton in East Lothian (Neubotle, p. 80), and (7) Nesius filius Nesii made them an additional gift (ibid., p. 81-82). (7a) Nesis of Ramsay and Big Peter, his son, witnessed a charter by Malcolm, earl of Fife, 1217 (PSAS., lx, p. 71). (8) Mathew filius Nesse witnessed a quit-claim of the land of Drumkarauch in Fife, 1260 (RPSA., p. 346), and (9) Nessus, medicus domini regis (Alexander II), granted the abbey of Cupar-Angus a charter of the lands of Dunfclenthyn (Cupar-Angus, I, p. 348). (10) Nes Fraser, a relative of no. 6, was juror on inquisition on the lands of Hopkelchoc (now Kailzie), 1259 (APS., I, p. 98 red). Thomas Ness was chaplain of Brechin, 1450 (REB., I, 138), and complaint was made upon Christian Ness in Dysart, 1697 (Dysart, p. 56).

(2) Henry de Nes, a retainer of the Stewards, in 1180 received permission to construct a chapel for the use of his own family (RMP., p. 78). He also witnessed the gift of the church of Pollok to the monastery of Paisley by Peter filius Fulberti, c. 1177-99, and about the same date his brother Adam also appears as a witness (ibid., p. 98,100). About 1202 Henry was one of the perambulators of the boundaries of Moniabroc, and c. 1210 he attested a charter by Malcolm Loccard (ibid.,p. 13, 91).

(Teutonic) 1 Dweller at a Promontory or Headland [Old English nœss = Old Norse nes] 2 Dweller on Low, Marshy Ground [v. under Nesbit and Holderness]

(English, Scottish) Dweller at a promontory or headland, or on low marshy ground.

A promontory.

A cape or promontory.

From the fief of Nas, Normandy. Durand de Naso 1198 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae); John and Thomas de Nes, Engl. c. 1272 (Rotuli Hundredorum).

From the Swedish,; personal name Also a location name in Cheshire, Salop, Yorkshire.