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

Nickolas, 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 Nickolas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nickolas in America

Nickolas is the 49461st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nickolas surname appeared 425 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 Nickolas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nickolas 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 Nickolas

The surname NICKOLAS is believed to have originated in Greece, with roots dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, which means "victory of the people." The name was initially popularized by Saint Nicholas, the 4th-century Christian saint and Greek bishop of Myra, in modern-day Turkey.

In the Middle Ages, the name NICKOLAS spread across Europe through traders and travelers. It gained prominence in England during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Greek and Byzantine scholars and artisans migrated to Britain, bringing their names with them.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname NICKOLAS can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Nicolaus," reflecting its Greek roots.

During the medieval period, the surname NICKOLAS was often associated with clerics and scholars, as many learned men bore this name in honor of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of scholars and students. In the 13th century, a prominent English cleric named Peter NICKOLAS served as the Archbishop of Rouen in Normandy.

As the surname spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, including Nichols, Nicholls, Nicolls, and Nicoll. These variations often reflected regional dialects and linguistic influences.

One notable bearer of the name NICKOLAS was Sir Edward NICKOLAS (1551-1617), an English diplomat and politician who served as the Secretary of State under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. He played a crucial role in the Hampton Court Conference of 1604, which led to the translation of the King James Bible.

Another famous figure with the surname NICKOLAS was Anne NICKOLAS (1792-1857), a British author and poet. She is best known for her work "The Literary Remains of the Late Henry Neele," which celebrated the life and writings of her husband, a distinguished poet and essayist.

In the 19th century, James NICKOLAS (1820-1885) was a prominent Scottish inventor and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of the steam engine and other industrial technologies.

The NICKOLAS surname also gained recognition in the arts, with the influential American painter Georgia O'Keeffe (born Georgia NICKOLAS, 1887-1986) being a notable bearer of the name. Her pioneering works in abstract art and depictions of the American Southwest earned her worldwide acclaim.

Throughout history, the surname NICKOLAS has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, clergy, politicians, inventors, and artists, reflecting the diverse heritage and rich tapestry of this ancient Greek name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nickolas

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

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

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

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