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

Nikolov, 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 Nikolov surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nikolov in America

Nikolov is the 26833rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nikolov surname appeared 906 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 Nikolov.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nikolov 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 Nikolov

The surname Nikolov is of Bulgarian origin, deriving from the personal name Nikola, which is the Bulgarian form of the Greek name Nicholas. The name Nicholas itself derives from the Greek words "niko" meaning "victor" and "laos" meaning "people," thus translating to "victor of the people."

The earliest recorded instances of the Nikolov surname can be traced back to the 14th century in the regions of present-day Bulgaria. During this time, the use of hereditary surnames was becoming more widespread among the Bulgarian nobility and upper classes, with surnames often derived from personal names, occupations, or geographical locations.

One notable historical figure bearing the Nikolov surname was Ivan Nikolov, a Bulgarian revolutionary who lived from 1859 to 1926. Nikolov played a significant role in the struggle for Bulgarian independence from the Ottoman Empire, participating in various uprisings and serving as a member of the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee.

Another prominent individual with the Nikolov surname was Petko Nikolov, a Bulgarian painter and art teacher who lived from 1877 to 1964. Nikolov's works, which often depicted scenes from rural Bulgarian life, are considered important contributions to the development of modern Bulgarian art.

In the realm of literature, Vera Nikolova (1914-1990) was a celebrated Bulgarian writer and poet. Her poetry collections, such as "Belite Prasti" (The White Stones) and "Ogledalo" (Mirror), explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, earning her recognition as one of the most influential Bulgarian poets of the 20th century.

The Nikolov surname has also been present in the field of sports. Hristo Nikolov (born 1967) is a former Bulgarian football goalkeeper who played for several clubs, including CSKA Sofia and Sporting CP in Portugal. He was also a member of the Bulgarian national team and participated in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Another notable bearer of the Nikolov surname was Evgeni Nikolov (1926-2007), a Bulgarian mathematician and computer scientist. Nikolov made significant contributions to the fields of numerical analysis and mathematical modeling, and his work played a crucial role in the development of computer technology in Bulgaria.

While the Nikolov surname has its roots in Bulgaria, it has since spread to other parts of the world, with individuals bearing this name found in various countries and cultures. However, the historical and cultural significance of the Nikolov surname remains deeply rooted in its Bulgarian origins and the rich tapestry of Bulgarian history and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nikolov

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

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

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

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