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

Nice, 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 Nice surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nice in America

Nice is the 9090th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nice surname appeared 3,595 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Nice.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nice 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 Nice

The surname NICE is believed to have originated in France during the medieval period, deriving from the Old French word "nice," which meant "foolish" or "simple." This term likely evolved from the Latin word "nescius," meaning "ignorant" or "unaware."

The name was initially associated with individuals who were perceived as naive or unsophisticated, often used as a derogatory term. However, over time, the connotation shifted, and the name came to represent qualities like kindness, gentleness, and a pleasant demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the NICE surname can be traced back to the 13th century in the Normandy region of France. It appeared in various historical documents, including tax records and court proceedings, indicating its presence among the local population.

During the Middle Ages, the name NICE was occasionally found in literary works and manuscripts, although references were relatively scarce compared to more common surnames of the time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the NICE surname was Barthélemy Nice (c. 1510-1580), a French Protestant theologian and reformer. He played a significant role in the spread of Calvinism in France and authored several influential religious texts.

Another prominent individual was Jean Nice (1623-1678), a French painter and engraver known for his landscape paintings and etchings depicting rural scenes. His works are celebrated for their attention to detail and atmospheric quality.

In the 18th century, Joseph-Ignace Nice (1737-1808) was a French architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Théâtre de l'Odéon and the Palais de la Bourse.

Moving into the 19th century, Édouard Nice (1811-1892) was a French lawyer and politician who served as a member of the National Assembly and played a role in the establishment of the Third Republic.

In the realm of literature, Jacques Nice (1933-2007) was a French poet and writer whose works explored themes of love, nature, and human existence. He received numerous literary awards and accolades throughout his prolific career.

While the NICE surname has its roots in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, the origins and historical significance of this name can be traced back to the French soil and the linguistic evolution that shaped its meaning over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nice

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

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

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

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