Mcnichol
Son of the nickname derived from the Gaelic personal name Niocal or Nicol (Nicholas).
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,474 Americans carry the last name Mcnichol. That puts it at #20,910 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.43 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 232,533 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcnichol 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
1.5K
1 in 232,533
Census rank
#20,910
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,260 bearers of the surname Mcnichol in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.43 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 20910th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcnichol, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Black (4.1%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mcnichol
The surname McNichol originated in Scotland, with the earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "Nicail" which is a shortened form of the name "Nicholas." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to the son of someone named Nicholas.
The name was particularly prevalent in the Scottish Highlands, specifically in the regions of Argyll and Bute. Some of the earliest known records of the name can be found in parish registers and court documents from these areas during the late 1500s and early 1600s.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname McNichol was John McNichol, who was born in Argyll around 1620. He was mentioned in various legal documents related to land disputes in the region during the mid-17th century.
Another notable bearer of the name was Archibald McNichol, who was born in Bute in 1678. He was a merchant and landowner, and his name appeared in several business records and property deeds from the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
In the 19th century, the surname McNichol began to spread more widely as people migrated from Scotland to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. One significant figure was William McNichol, born in Glasgow in 1812, who was a prominent architect and designed several notable buildings in Scotland and England.
Another individual of note was Mary McNichol, born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1845. She was a renowned educator and founded several schools for girls in Northern Ireland during the late 19th century.
As the name spread, variations in spelling began to appear, such as McNicol, MacNichol, and McNickle. These were likely influenced by regional dialects and differences in pronunciation.
Throughout history, the surname McNichol has been associated with various professions, including merchants, landowners, architects, educators, and more. While not a particularly widespread name, it has left its mark in various regions, particularly in Scotland and Ireland, where it has its deepest roots.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcnichol
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcnichol, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Black (4.1%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Mcnichol 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 Mcnichol surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.5%
- Black or African American4.1%
- Hispanic or Latino1.7%
- Two or more races1.0%
- Unknown or suppressed0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mcnichol 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,323 | #20,910 | 1.9% |
| Count | 1,145 | 1,260 | 10.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.42 | 0.43 | 2.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mcnichol bearers went from 1,145 to 1,260 (+10.0% change). The surname moved up 413 positions in the national ranking, going from #21,323 to #20,910.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mcnichol
FAQ
Mcnichol surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mcnichol?
The surname Mcnichol holds position #20,910 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,474 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.43 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mcnichol surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcnichol, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Black (4.1%) and Hispanic (1.7%). 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.