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

Nikolas, 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 Nikolas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nikolas in America

Nikolas is the 62903rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nikolas surname appeared 318 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 Nikolas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nikolas 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 Nikolas

The surname "NIKOLAS" is of Greek origin, dating back to the Byzantine period in the 4th century AD. It is derived from the Greek name "Nikolaos," which means "victory of the people." The name was initially associated with the Greek Orthodox Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors and children.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "NIKOLAS" can be traced back to the Greek islands and coastal regions of the Aegean Sea. It was particularly prevalent in areas such as the islands of Crete, Rhodes, and Cyprus, where maritime trade and seafaring were essential aspects of life.

In the 11th century, a notable figure bearing the surname "NIKOLAS" was Nikolas Kallikles, a renowned Byzantine scholar and writer who authored several treatises on philosophy and rhetoric. His works were highly regarded during the Byzantine Renaissance period.

The surname "NIKOLAS" also appeared in medieval manuscripts and records from the Venetian Republic, which had significant influence and control over various Greek islands and territories during the 13th and 14th centuries. One such example is Nikolas Akropolites, a Greek historian and statesman who served as the governor of Constantinople in the late 13th century.

As the Greek diaspora spread across Europe and the Mediterranean region, the surname "NIKOLAS" became more widespread. In the 16th century, Nikolas Kabasilas, a Greek theologian and bishop, played a crucial role in the theological debates surrounding the Council of Florence, seeking to reconcile the Eastern and Western Christian churches.

Another notable figure with the surname "NIKOLAS" was Nikolas Mavrokordatos, a Greek statesman and scholar who served as the Prince of Wallachia (present-day Romania) in the early 18th century. He was instrumental in promoting Greek culture and education during the Ottoman rule in the Balkans.

During the Greek War of Independence in the 19th century, Nikolas Kasomatис, a Greek military leader and revolutionary, played a significant role in the struggle against the Ottoman Empire. His bravery and strategic leadership contributed to the eventual establishment of the modern Greek state.

Over the centuries, the surname "NIKOLAS" has been associated with various place names and locales in Greece, such as the islands of Nikolas and Nikolia, as well as the town of Nikolaou in Crete. These place names likely derived from the surname itself or from individuals bearing the name who were prominent figures in those areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nikolas

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

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

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

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