Nieves

Nieves, the Spanish plural form of nieve (English: snow), is a surname and female given name derived from the title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (Our Lady of the Snows), a reference to the 4th-century Catholic miracle of a summertime snowfall on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, where the Basilica Sanctae Mariae ad Nives was built.^[1] According to Roser Saurí Colomer and Patrick Hanks of Brandeis University, the surname is original to northwestern Spain, descending from the Asturleonese language.^[2]

Within Spain, it is most common in Andalusia, Madrid, Canary Islands, and Galicia. In the Americas, it is most prevalent in Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and particularly Puerto Rico, where it is most densely concentrated.^[3] It has also been introduced into the United States from Hispanic America.^[4]

The Portuguese variant of Nieves is Neves, and it is most common in Brazil.^[5] There is also a Nieves surname of Scottish origin that originated in Nevay, located in Angus, Scotland, and thus can be found in the United Kingdom.^[6]

• Nieves Anula (born 1973), Spanish basketball player
• Nieves Confesor, Filipino politician
• Nieves Herrero (born 1957), Spanish journalist, presenter, and writer
• Nieves Hidalgo (born 1976), Spanish singer
• Nieves Mathews (1917–2003), author of Scottish and Spanish parentage
• Nieves Barragán Mohacho, Spanish chef
• Nieves Navarro (born 1938), Spanish-born Italian actress and fashion model
• Nieves Panadell (born 1956), Spanish swimmer
• Nieves Yankovic (1916–1985), Chilean actress and documentary maker
• Nieves Zuberbühler (born 1987), Argentine journalist

• Antonio Nieves, American professional boxer
• Brian Nieves, American politician
• Christian Nieves, Puerto Rican cuatro player
• Christine Nieves, Puerto Rican climate activist
• Daniela Nieves Venezuelan-American actress
• Javi Nieves, Spanish radio host
• José Alvarado Nieves, Mexican wrestler
• José Antonio Nieves Conde, Spanish film director and screenplay writer
• José Miguel Nieves, retired Venezuelan baseball player
• Juan Nieves, retired Puerto Rican baseball player
• Lisette Nieves, Puerto Rican-American businesswoman
• Luis López Nieves, Puerto Rican author
• Maikel Nieves, Spanish footballer for Norwegian club Råde
• María Antonieta de las Nieves, Mexican actress
• Melvin Nieves, retired Puerto Rican baseball player
• Nelson Nieves, Venezuelan fencer
• Néstor Nieves, Venezuelan long-distance runner
• Osvaldo Nieves, Puerto Rican track and field athlete
• Roberto González Nieves, Puerto Rican church leader
• Tito Nieves, Puerto Rican singer
• Wil Nieves, Puerto Rican baseball player

• As Neves (Spanish Nieves), a municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra
• Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte, a municipality in the Philippines
• Nieva (Spanish group), a rock/electronica band
• Nevis, a Caribbean island with the same etymology
• Blancanieves (Snow White)
• Nieves v. Bartlett a US Supreme Court case