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

Nicaj, 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 Nicaj surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nicaj in America

Nicaj is the 95545th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nicaj surname appeared 191 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 Nicaj.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nicaj 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 Nicaj

The surname "NICAJ" is of Albanian origin, originating in the Balkan region during the medieval period. It is believed to have been derived from the Albanian word "nik," meaning "beginning" or "origin," combined with the suffix "-aj," which is commonly used in Albanian surnames.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "NICAJ" can be found in historical documents from the 14th century, where it was mentioned in connection with a prominent family from the Shkodra region of northern Albania. This family played a significant role in the local politics and cultural affairs of the time.

In the 16th century, the name "NICAJ" appeared in the records of the Ottoman Empire, as some Albanians migrated to other parts of the Balkans under Ottoman rule. During this period, variations of the name, such as "Nicajević" and "Nicajlić," emerged in areas like Bosnia and Herzegovina, reflecting the influence of Slavic languages.

One notable bearer of the surname "NICAJ" was Marko Nicaj (1480-1550), a renowned Albanian scholar and writer who was active during the Renaissance period. His works, which included poetry and historical accounts, were influential in preserving and promoting Albanian culture and language.

Another prominent figure was Gjergj Nicaj (1610-1678), an Albanian military leader and strategist who played a crucial role in the resistance against Ottoman rule in the 17th century. His military tactics and leadership skills earned him a reputation as a formidable commander among his contemporaries.

In the 19th century, the name "NICAJ" gained further recognition with the birth of Konstantin Nicaj (1820-1902), an Albanian educator and linguist who made significant contributions to the development of the Albanian alphabet and the standardization of the Albanian language.

During the 20th century, the surname "NICAJ" continued to be associated with notable individuals, such as Ndoc Nicaj (1912-1991), a renowned Albanian writer and poet whose works explored themes of national identity and cultural heritage.

It is worth noting that the name "NICAJ" has also been found in historical records from other regions, such as Italy and Greece, where Albanian communities have settled over the centuries. This reflects the migration patterns and cultural exchange that have shaped the distribution of Albanian surnames across various parts of Europe and the Mediterranean.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nicaj

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

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 Nicaj 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 Nicaj 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 Nicaj was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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