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

'near' changed from Old English 'neah' to Middle English forms such as 'ner(e)' and eventually became the modern English word 'near'.

Initially, it meant 'close in space or time', and over time this core meaning has been largely preserved into modern usage.