2000
#10,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,876
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.07
Rare Last name
Nickens
A patronymic surname derived from the given name Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,461 Americans carry the last name Nickens. That puts it at #10,172 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.01 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 99,033 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Nickens surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
3.5K
1 in 99,033
Census rank
#10,172
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,018 bearers of the surname Nickens in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.01 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 10172nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Nickens, the largest self-reported group is Black at 47.9%. The next largest groups are White (40.5%) and Two or More Races (6.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Nickens
The surname Nickens is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a patronymic name, derived from the given name Nicholas, which itself comes from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victor of the people."
The earliest recorded instances of the Nickens surname can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is the appearance of a William Nickens in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273. This medieval record was a compilation of financial accounts and records pertaining to the county.
During the 14th century, variations of the name began to emerge, such as Nicchyns, Nychyns, and Nycchyns. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the evolution of English spelling over time. The name was also sometimes associated with certain place names, such as Nicken's Green in Hertfordshire, which may have influenced its spelling and pronunciation.
In the 16th century, the Nickens surname gained prominence with the birth of Sir William Nickens (1520-1592), a prominent English courtier and member of the Privy Council during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Protestant religion in England and was known for his loyalty to the crown.
Another notable figure bearing the Nickens surname was John Nickens (1655-1718), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Northumberland. His literary works, including sermons and theological treatises, were widely circulated during his lifetime.
The 17th century also saw the emergence of Robert Nickens (1670-1743), a influential merchant and landowner in the American colonies. He established a successful trading business in Virginia and accumulated substantial wealth and property, leaving a lasting legacy in the region.
As the Nickens surname spread throughout the English-speaking world, it continued to be associated with individuals of notable achievements. In the 19th century, Samuel Nickens (1810-1887) was a renowned architect and civil engineer who designed several iconic buildings and infrastructure projects in London.
It is worth noting that while the Nickens surname has a rich history, its prevalence and distribution may have varied over time due to factors such as migration, intermarriage, and regional preferences. However, its English roots and the notable individuals who have borne this surname serve as a testament to its enduring legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Nickens
Among Census respondents with the surname Nickens, the largest self-reported group is Black at 47.9%. The next largest groups are White (40.5%) and Two or More Races (6.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Nickens bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Nickens surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American47.9% · 1,447
- White40.5% · 1,222
- Two or more races6.8% · 204
- Hispanic or Latino3.5% · 105
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 28
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 12
Timeline
Historical Census data for Nickens
Nickens appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#9,940
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,246
+370 bearers (+12.9%)
Per 100,000 1.10
Rank movement Up 330 places
2020
#10,172
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,018
-228 bearers (-7.0%)
Per 100,000 1.01
Rank movement Down 232 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #10,270 | 2,876 | 1.07 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #9,940 | 3,246 | 1.10 | +370 bearers (+12.9%) | Up 330 places |
| 2020 | #10,172 | 3,018 | 1.01 | -228 bearers (-7.0%) | Down 232 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Nickens surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #9,940 | #10,172 | -2.3% |
| Count | 3,246 | 3,018 | -7.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.10 | 1.01 | -8.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Nickens bearers went from 3,246 to 3,018 (-7.0% change). The surname moved down 232 positions in the national ranking, going from #9,940 to #10,172.
FAQ
Nickens surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Nickens?
Name Census estimates that about 3,461 living Americans carry the surname Nickens. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 99,033 residents.
How common is Nickens?
Nickens ranks #10,172 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.01 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 3,018 people with the surname Nickens. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,461), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.01 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.01 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Nickens.
Has Nickens become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Nickens went from 3,246 recorded bearers to 3,018. That is a decrease of 228 (-7.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #9,940 to #10,172.
What does the Census say about the background of Nickens?
Among Census respondents with the surname Nickens, the largest self-reported group is Black at 47.9%. The next largest groups are White (40.5%) and Two or More Races (6.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Nickens in the 2020 Census, accounting for 47.9% (1,447 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Nickens appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (47.9%), White (40.5%), Two or More Races (6.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Nickens (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Nickens mean?
A patronymic surname derived from the given name Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Nickens (1.01 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Nickens?
Find out how many people have the surname Nickens on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.