Macnicol
From the Scottish Gaelic "Mac Nicòil" meaning "son of Nicholas".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Macnicol. That puts it at #115,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Macnicol surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#115,639
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
151
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 151 bearers of the surname Macnicol in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 115639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Macnicol, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.3%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Macnicol
The surname MACNICOL is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Scottish Gaelic "Mac Nicail" meaning "son of Nicholas." The name has its roots in the Hebrides islands off the west coast of Scotland, particularly on the Isle of Skye, where it was first recorded in the 16th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1538, where a certain "Gillecrist MacNycol" is mentioned. This suggests that the name had already been established in the region by that time.
The name MACNICOL is closely related to the Scottish surname NICOLSON, which also derives from the name Nicholas. In some instances, the two surnames were used interchangeably, particularly in the Outer Hebrides islands.
In the 17th century, the MACNICOL clan was associated with the MacDonalds of Sleat, a powerful clan on the Isle of Skye. During this period, the MACNICOLS were known for their involvement in the Scottish Jacobite uprisings, supporting the exiled Stuarts against the Hanoverian monarchs.
One notable figure from this era was John MACNICOL (1670-1745), a Scottish Jacobite who fought in the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715. He later became a prominent merchant and landowner on the Isle of Skye.
In the 18th century, the MACNICOL name spread beyond the Hebrides, with some families settling in other parts of Scotland and even in North America. A prominent figure from this period was Reverend Donald MACNICOL (1735-1802), a Scottish Presbyterian minister who emigrated to Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1786.
In the 19th century, the name MACNICOL gained recognition through individuals such as William MACNICOL (1770-1853), a Scottish philosopher and writer who published works on theology and ethics. Another notable figure was Donald MACNICOL (1821-1887), a Scottish businessman and politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1879 to 1882.
As the MACNICOL clan dispersed throughout Scotland and beyond, the name took on various spellings, including MACNICHOL, MACNICOLL, and MACNICKLE. Despite these variations, the name has retained its distinct Scottish heritage and connection to the Isle of Skye and the Hebrides islands.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Macnicol
Among Census respondents with the surname Macnicol, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.3%.
The bar chart below shows how Macnicol bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Macnicol surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Macnicol surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #115,639 | #115,639 | 0.0% |
| Count | 151 | 151 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Macnicol bearers went from 151 to 151 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #115,639 to #115,639.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Macnicol
FAQ
Macnicol surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Macnicol?
The surname Macnicol holds position #115,639 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Macnicol surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Macnicol, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.3%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.