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

Nickols, 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 Nickols surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nickols in America

Nickols is the 19774th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nickols surname appeared 1,361 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 Nickols.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nickols 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 Nickols

The surname Nickols is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is a patronymic name derived from the personal name Nicholas, which ultimately traces its origins to the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people."

Nickols is believed to have emerged as a surname in the 12th or 13th century, initially as a way to distinguish various branches of families or to identify individuals by their father's name. It was one of the many variations that emerged from the popular name Nicholas, which was widespread across Europe due to the veneration of St. Nicholas, the 4th-century patron saint of children and sailors.

Early records of the Nickols surname can be found in various historical documents, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which recorded landowners and their properties. One notable example is Walter Nichole, who was listed as a landowner in Cambridgeshire during this period.

The Domesday Book of 1086, a vast survey of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror, does not contain the surname Nickols directly, but it does mention individuals with the given name Nicholas, which likely contributed to the eventual development of the surname.

As the surname spread and evolved over the centuries, various spelling variations emerged, including Nickols, Nickolls, Nicol, and Nicholl. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of local scribes who recorded the names.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Nickols was John Nickols, who was born in Somerset, England, around 1520. Another notable figure was William Nickols (1558-1633), a renowned English theologian and author who served as the rector of Stourton, Wiltshire.

Other historical figures bearing the Nickols surname include:

1. Thomas Nickols (1652-1720), an English mathematician and astronomer who collaborated with Sir Isaac Newton.
2. Elizabeth Nickols (1745-1828), a prominent English philanthropist and advocate for the abolition of slavery.
3. James Nickols (1810-1876), a British explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in Australia.
4. Sir John Nickols (1857-1924), a British naval officer and explorer who led expeditions to the Arctic regions.
5. Mary Nickols (1885-1962), an American writer and poet known for her work exploring themes of nature and spirituality.

These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have carried the Nickols surname throughout history, contributing to its rich legacy and significance across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nickols

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

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

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

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