Find out how popular the last name Nacol is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Nacol.

Nacol, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Nacol surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nacol in America

Nacol is the 143149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nacol surname appeared 116 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Nacol.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nacol to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Nacol

The surname Nacol traces its origins to the Iberian Peninsula, specifically within the regions that now make up modern Spain and Portugal, during the medieval period. Its earliest roots can be found in the late 12th century, where it was first noted in local parish records. The name likely evolved from the old Portuguese or Galician word "Naco," meaning a piece or chunk, possibly indicating someone who lived near a distinctive land feature or had a large, robust personality.

The surname Nacol also shows early associations with the Basque region, where the language and naming customs were unique compared to the surrounding Romance languages. Some etymologists believe that Nacol could have been derived from a Basque word with similar phonetic attributes, although concrete documentation supporting this theory remains sparse.

Historical references to the name can be seen in manuscripts and church records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable mention is in the Livro de Linhagens, a genealogical book from Portugal that dates back to the late 13th century, where a João Nacol is listed as a participant in minor noble activities. This suggests that the name was associated not only with common folk but also with some degree of minor nobility.

The earliest recorded example of a person bearing the surname Nacol is Martín Nacol, a figure mentioned in 1275 in the records of a land dispute in the Kingdom of Galicia. His involvement as a witness indicates the use of the name in legal and civic matters early on. Additionally, Pedro Nacol, born in 1302 and recorded in the township of Toledo, is another early instance. Pedro was noted to have been a craftsman, specifically a stonemason, which supports the hypothesis of the surname's association with the physical labor or land features.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in the records of the Spanish Inquisition, where a Tomas Nacol, born in 1433 and living in the city of Seville, was mentioned as having testified in several inquisitorial processes. His involvement in these legal proceedings underscores the surname's continued civic visibility into the Late Middle Ages.

Fast forward to the 16th century, a Miguel Nacol was documented in Lisbon in 1579 during a census of skilled tradesmen and laborers for the rebuilding projects after the seismic activities that plagued the region. Miguel was a blacksmith, aligning with the earlier association of the surname with physical and skilled labor.

By the 17th century, the name appears in colonial records. A Francisco Nacol, born in 1625, immigrated to the New World and is recorded in the archival documents of New Spain (modern-day Mexico) in 1650. Francisco’s journey underscores the migration patterns and the spreading of the surname beyond its Iberian roots.

Another prominent individual bearing the surname was Ana Nacol, born in 1701 in Porto, Portugal. Known for her writings and correspondence that provided insight into the daily lives and social conditions of early 18th-century Portuguese society, Ana’s legacy highlights the cultural and intellectual contributions associated with the Nacol surname.

Throughout history, the surname Nacol traversed regions, occupations, and social standings, rooting itself in the cultural tapestry of the Iberian Peninsula and beyond. Its evolution illustrates the dynamic and multifaceted nature of surnames and their enduring historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nacol

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Nacol.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Nacol was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Nacol has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Nacol was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nacol, please contact us.

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