Nygaard (also spelled Nygård or Nygard) is a surname of Scandinavian origin, derived from the compound of Old Norse words ny 'new' and garðr (modern gård or gaard 'farm', 'yard', or 'enclosure'. The name originated as a toponymic or habitational surname referring to someone who lived on or near a newly established farmstead.
Etymology and variants The components ny and gård together denote 'new farm' or 'new homestead'. This compound is found across Scandinavian languages; Danish, Norwegian and Swedish as Nygaard (often anglicized) or Nygård (retaining the letter å), and occasionally simplified as Nygard in English-speaking contexts. The variant forms also appear in genealogical databases as Nyegard, Nigaard, and others.
People with the surname Agnes Nygaard Haug (born 1933), Norwegian judge Alfons Nygaard (born 2002), Swedish footballer Andreas Nygaard (1878–1963), Norwegian politician Anne-Pia Nygård (born 1977), Norwegian writer Arne Nygaard (born 1957), Norwegian organizational theorist Arne Nygård-Nilssen (1899–1958), Norwegian art historian, publicist, and magazine editor Åse Nygård Pedersen (fl. 1978–1984), Norwegian handball player Bob Nygaard (fl. from 2008), American private investigator Camilla Martin Nygaard (born 1974), Danish badminton player Christoffer Nygaard (born 1986), Danish auto racing driver Damien Nygaard (born 1945), Australian football player Eldon Nygaard (born 1946), American politician Eline Nygaard Riisnæs (1913–2011), Norwegian pianist and musicologist Finn Nygaard (born 1955), graphic designer from Denmark Gulborg Nygaard (1902–1991), Norwegian politician Gunhild Nygaard (born 1965), Norwegian fashion designer Gunnar Nygaard (disambiguation) Herluf Nygaard (1916–2001), Norwegian military officer Hermund Nygård (born 1979), Norwegian jazz musician Hjalmar Nygaard (disambiguation) Rain (gamer) (Håvard Nygaard, born 1994), Norwegian Counter-Strike player Jeff Nygaard (born 1972), American beach volleyball player Jens Nygaard (1931–2001), American orchestra conductor Jens Nygård (born 1978), Finnish footballer Jens Nygård (sport shooter) (1934–2005), Norwegian sports shooter Joakim Nygård (born 1993), Swedish ice hockey forward Jon Nygaard (born 1946), Norwegian Ibsen scholar Jon-Ivar Nygård (born 1973), Norwegian politician Jorun Askersrud Nygaard (1929–2012, Norwegian cross country skier and athlete Karl Emil Nygard (1906–1984), American communist politician Kristen Nygaard (1926–2002), Norwegian computer programmer and politician Kristen Nygaard (footballer) (born 1949), Danish footballer Marc Nygaard (born 1976), Danish footballer Margaret Nygard (1925–1995), British-American environmentalist and conservationist Marius Nygaard (disambiguation) Mathias Nygård, or Warlord Nygård, vocalist of Finnish folk metal band Turisas Nils Nygaard (1932–2015), Norwegian law professor Oddvar Nygaard (1919–1985), Norwegian accordionist and composer Olaf Nygaard (1894–1978), Norwegian cyclist Olav Nygard (1884–1924), Norwegian poet Olivia Lykke Nygaard (born 2001), Norwegian handball player Peter Nygård (born 1941), Finnish-Canadian fashion executive Petri Nygård (born 1974), Finnish rap artist Ragnhild Nygaard (born 1944), Norwegian actress Rainer Nygård, Finnish guitar player of Diablo Rikke Nygard (born 2000), Norwegian footballer Roger Nygard (born 1962), American film director and producer Richard Lowell Nygaard (born 1940), American judge Safiya Nygaard (born 1992), American YouTuber Trygve Nygaard (born 1975), Norwegian footballer Vanessa Nygaard (born 1975), American basketball player and coach William Nygaard (born 1943), Norwegian publisher, head of Aschehoug William Martin Nygaard (1865–1952), Norwegian publisher and politician, head of Aschehoug
Fictional characters Lester Nygaard, in TV series Fargo
See also
Johan Nygaardsvold, Norwegian politician
References