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

Nicolay, 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 Nicolay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nicolay in America

Nicolay is the 27818th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nicolay surname appeared 863 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 Nicolay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nicolay 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 Nicolay

The surname NICOLAY originates from France, derived from the given name Nicolas, the French form of the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people." It traces back to the Middle Ages and the Norman conquest of England in 1066.

The earliest recorded spelling of NICOLAY was found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a manuscript record of landholders in Norman England. Several entries mention individuals with the name Nicolai, indicating the name's presence among the Norman nobility who accompanied William the Conqueror.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the name NICOLAY appeared in various regions of France, particularly in the northern provinces of Normandy, Picardy, and Île-de-France. It was often associated with noble families and landowners, as evidenced by records in medieval charters and chronicles.

One notable bearer of the name was Jean NICOLAY (c. 1510-1596), a French geographer and traveler who served as the first cosmographer to the King of France. His work, "Les Navigations, Périgrinations et Voyages faits en la Turquie," published in 1567, provided valuable insights into the Ottoman Empire.

Another historical figure was Aymé NICOLAY (1556-1626), a French diplomat and writer who served as the ambassador to the Ottoman Empire under King Henry IV. His accounts of his travels and diplomatic missions offer a unique perspective on the cultural and political landscapes of the time.

In the 17th century, the name NICOLAY gained prominence in the Netherlands through Antoine NICOLAY (1617-1658), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his still-life and genre paintings. His works, such as "Still Life with Fruit and Nuts," are celebrated for their meticulous attention to detail and natural lighting.

The NICOLAY surname also has roots in Germany, where it was often spelled as NIKOLAY or NIKOLAI. One notable bearer was Otto NIKOLAY (1810-1849), a German mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to the field of acoustics and wave theory.

In the 19th century, the name NICOLAY gained international recognition through John G. NICOLAY (1832-1901), an American biographer and private secretary to President Abraham Lincoln. His work, "Abraham Lincoln: A History," co-authored with John Hay, is considered a seminal work on Lincoln's life and presidency.

These examples illustrate the long and diverse history of the surname NICOLAY, spanning across different countries and centuries, with bearers making notable contributions in various fields, from literature and art to diplomacy and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nicolay

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

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

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

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