'near' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'nēah' (also spelled 'neah'), where the root meant 'close' or 'near'.

'near' changed from Old English 'nēah' to Middle English forms such as 'nere' or 'neer', and eventually became the modern English word 'near'.

Initially, it meant 'close' or 'near' in both space and time; over time it has retained that core sense while also developing extended uses (for example, 'near' as 'almost').