nee

Everyday

1. Née (often written nee) is used before a woman's family name from birth, to show what her surname was before she married: «Mrs Jane Smith, née Brown». tree →
2. It comes from French, where «née» means «born». tree →

In the lessons

It is a formal, written word found in family trees, history books, old newspapers and death notices; children meet it in family history projects. It tells the reader the woman's maiden name (surname before marriage). A related form «né» is sometimes used for a man's earlier name.

Examples

• Mary Wilson, née Taylor, was my great-grandmother. tree →
• The notice read «Ann Kelly (nee O'Brien)». tree →
• In our family tree, Nan is listed as Mrs Jones, née Evans. tree →
• Née shows the surname someone had when she was born. tree →
• The queen's mother was born with another surname, so books write «née» before it. tree →

Note

Formal and written; rare in speech. Pronounced «nay». Not an English word in origin: it is French for «born». Do not confuse with «nay» (an old word for «no») or «neigh» (a horse's sound), which sound the same.