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

Nix, 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 Nix surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nix in America

Nix is the 1438th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nix surname appeared 24,786 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Nix.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nix 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 Nix

The surname Nix originated in Germany, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "nix," meaning a water sprite or goblin. This is likely a reference to the mythical creatures associated with rivers and streams.

In medieval times, the name Nix was prominent in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a 1287 document from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which mentions a "Conrad Nix" as a landowner.

The name Nix can also be traced back to certain place names. For instance, the village of Nixdorf in Saxony may have contributed to the surname's origins. Additionally, the variant spelling "Nicks" was found in records from the city of Cologne in the 14th century.

In the 15th century, the name Nix gained further prominence with the birth of Johann Nix (1470-1538), a German theologian and humanist scholar who served as the Bishop of Angers in France. Another notable figure was Wilhelm Nix (1573-1644), a German composer and organist known for his sacred works.

The Domesday Book, a medieval survey of landowners in England, does not contain any direct references to the name Nix. However, it is possible that some early variations of the name existed in England during that period.

Other historical figures with the surname Nix include:

1. Nathaniel Nix (1627-1688), an English merchant and member of the Virginia House of Burgesses.
2. Johann Samuel Nix (1680-1744), a German painter and engraver known for his landscapes and religious works.
3. John Nix (1737-1796), an American soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War.
4. Elizabeth Nix (1815-1889), an American pioneer and one of the first settlers in the Oregon Territory.
5. John Nix (1801-1879), an English cricketer who played for Kent County Cricket Club in the early 19th century.

While the surname Nix has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by migration and cultural exchange over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nix

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

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

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

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