Surname Nichol - Meaning and Origin
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Nichol: What does the surname Nichol mean?
The surname "Nichol" is of English origin. It is a derivative of the given name Nicholas, which means "victory of the people" in Greek. "Nichos" translates to "victory" and "laos" means "people". Bearing this surname could have implied that the person was a beloved figure among the people or was victorious in battles on behalf of the people. The variation "Nichol" is particularly common in Scotland. Over the years, it has been transformed because of regional dialects, resulting in various spellings such as Nicholl, Nichols, Nicoll, Nichol, Nicholls, Nickel, Nickle, Nickalls, Niccols, and so forth. Like many last names that originated from first names, it likely started as a patronymic surname, indicating the 'son of Nicholas'. This name became popular among Christians during the Middle Ages because of the veneration of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children, merchants and seafarers, resulting in its vast spread across Europe and eventual transformation into a common surname.
Order DNA origin analysisNichol: Where does the name Nichol come from?
The last name Nichol is commonly found in the United Kingdom and countries of the British Isles, although there are also people with the last name Nichol in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. It is possible the surname first appeared in Scotland, with variations in spelling appearing in England and Ireland. It is also known as Nicholson.
In the United Kingdom, the last name is most common in Scotland, where it is ranked 27th on the list of the most frequent surnames. In England, the name is ranked in the 217th position, and in Wales it is ranked 56th. In Ireland, the name is ranked 868th.
The name is also found in Canada where it is ranked 1,325th. In the United States, the name is ranked 4,632nd.
In Australia, the name is ranked 746th out of the top 500 surnames. In New Zealand, Nichol is one of the top 400 surnames.
Overall, the last name Nichol can be found all around the world, though is most common in the countries of the British Isles.
Variations of the surname Nichol
The surname Nichol is a surname of many variants. It can either be spelled as Nicholl, Nicol, Nicoll, Nicolls, Nicholls, Nickols, Nicholle, Nicolds or Nicholes. It is mostly a British surname, typically coming from places like Scotland and England.
The meaning of the surname Nichol is derived from the personal name Nicholas, which in Greek means “people's victory” or “victory of the people”. It originates from a combination of the Greek name Nikolaos (victory of the people) and laos (people).
Variations in spelling, such as Nicholls and Nicholle, can often be found in older records from Scotland and England. The variations are a result of language changes since the surname was first adopted by the English and Scottish.
The variations in spelling of the surname have also led to the creation of a few distinct clans or families of the same origin. These include the Nicholas (or Nichol) Clan of the Isle of Skye, which traces its roots to Skye in the Scottish Highlands. The Nichols or Nicholls Clan of East Lothian and the Nicols Clan of Angus also exist.
The surname Nichol is also used as a patronymic surname in some cases. Patronymic surnames originated from the father’s given name, and are often found in northwestern England. The surname Nickelson is a patronymic variation of Nichol.
Another variation of the surname Nichol is Nicolson. It is derived from the Gaelic MacNeacail (son of Neil). The Nicolsons are a prominent Yorkshire family, and are also descendants of the ancient Norman house of Neville.
Overall, the surname Nichol has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variants all trace back to the origin of the surname, which is derived from the Greek name Nikolaos.
Famous people with the name Nichol
- Bob Nichol: English cricketer who also played pool.
- Angus Nichol: Scottish actor who appeared in films such as Triangle and The Damned United.
- Wynne Nichol: Canadian field hockey player and Olympic athlete.
- Kevin Nichol: Scottish footballer who played for Leeds United.
- Natalie Nichol: Canadian actress who appeared in films such as The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and Grassland.
- Peter Nichol: English actor known for his roles in the Harry Potter franchise and the BBC's Rock & Chips.
- David Nichol: British actor and voice actor who played roles in Game of Thrones and Doctor Who.
- John Nichol: British journalist and best-selling author who was a prisoner of war during the Gulf War.
- Frances Nichol: English stage and film actress who appeared in movies such as Monsieur Verdoux and Sabotage.
- Gordon Nichol: Scottish artist who won the Turner Prize in 1989.