NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcnicholas

A patronymic surname meaning "son of Nicholas", derived from the personal name Nicholas.

In the 1881 census there were 160 people recorded with the Mcnicholas surname, ranking it #14,860 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,646, ranked #3,783, up from #14,860 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolstanton, Workington (Workington), Clossocks and Wigan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Barnsley and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcnicholas is 1,708 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 928.8%.

1881 census count

160

Ranked #14,860

Modern count

1,646

2016, ranked #3,783

Peak year

2010

1,708 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcnicholas had 160 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,860 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,646 in 2016, ranked #3,783.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 457 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Mcnicholas surname distribution map

The map shows where the Mcnicholas surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Mcnicholas surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcnicholas over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 33 #27,390
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 160 #14,860
1891 historical 222 #13,854
1901 historical 336 #10,762
1911 historical 457 #8,397
1997 modern 1,445 #4,038
1998 modern 1,521 #3,998
1999 modern 1,559 #3,954
2000 modern 1,549 #3,954
2001 modern 1,516 #3,949
2002 modern 1,557 #3,958
2003 modern 1,535 #3,917
2004 modern 1,533 #3,928
2005 modern 1,538 #3,867
2006 modern 1,540 #3,862
2007 modern 1,563 #3,838
2008 modern 1,590 #3,816
2009 modern 1,681 #3,719
2010 modern 1,708 #3,742
2011 modern 1,688 #3,728
2012 modern 1,623 #3,794
2013 modern 1,670 #3,762
2014 modern 1,685 #3,745
2015 modern 1,672 #3,740
2016 modern 1,646 #3,783

Geography

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Where Mcnicholas' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolstanton, Workington (Workington), Clossocks, Wigan, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall and Bidstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Barnsley, Allerdale, High Peak and Wigan. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Wolstanton Staffordshire
2 Workington (Workington), Clossocks Cumberland
3 Wigan Lancashire
4 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bidstone Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 032 Barnet
2 Barnsley 007 Barnsley
3 Allerdale 009 Allerdale
4 High Peak 008 High Peak
5 Wigan 014 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcnicholas

These lists show first names that appear often with the Mcnicholas surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcnicholas

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcnicholas, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Mcnicholas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcnicholas household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Mcnicholas is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcnicholas is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcnicholas falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcnicholas is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcnicholas, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcnicholas

The surname MCNICHOLAS finds its origins in Ireland, with the name first appearing in historical records during the 12th century. It is a variant of the Gaelic name "Mac Niocaill", which translates to "son of the victorious one". This patronymic name was initially found in counties Cork and Kerry, where it was borne by families of Norman descent who had settled in these regions following the Norman invasion of Ireland in the late 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a 12th-century chronicle detailing events in Ireland from the 5th to the 12th century. The name is also mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of County Cork from the late 13th century, which were administrative records maintained by the English crown.

In the 16th century, the name MCNICHOLAS was associated with the Gaelic nobility in County Cork, particularly the clan known as the Sliocht Airt Mhic Niocaill, or the "Descendants of Art McNicholas". This clan held significant influence and land holdings in the region during this period.

Notable figures in history bearing the MCNICHOLAS surname include Michael McNicholas (c. 1555-1616), a prominent Irish Catholic priest and Archbishop of Cashel during the Tudor period. Another important figure was Dominic McNicholas (1684-1747), a Franciscan friar and historian who authored several works on Irish history and genealogy.

In the 18th century, James McNicholas (1730-1802) was a prominent landowner and member of the Irish Parliament, representing County Cork. His son, John McNicholas (1762-1838), followed in his footsteps as a member of the Parliament and was also involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1798.

The 19th century saw the birth of Patrick McNicholas (1819-1892), a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the Catholic Church and various charitable organizations in Ireland and the United States, where he later emigrated.

As with many Irish names, the MCNICHOLAS surname underwent various spelling variations over the centuries, including MacNicholas, McNicholls, and McNickles, reflecting the phonetic nature of Irish naming conventions and the influence of English orthography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcnicholas families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcnicholas surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 13 Mcnicholas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.32x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 13 4.32x
Staffordshire 7 8.18x
Yorkshire 4 1.59x
Denbighshire 1 10.44x
Durham 1 1.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Over Darwen in Lancashire leads with 7 Mcnicholas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 291.67x.

Place Total Index
Over Darwen 7 291.67x
Rugeley 7 1147.54x
West Derby 4 45.45x
Normanby In 2 298.51x
Patrington 2 1666.67x
Scarisbrick 2 571.43x
Whitton 1 1666.67x
Wrexham Abbot 1 416.67x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcnicholas surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 6
Anne 1
Wineford 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcnicholas surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Patrick 5
James 3
Mark 2
Edward 1
Henry 1
John 1
Michael 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
W. 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Mcnicholas households.

FAQ

Mcnicholas surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcnicholas surname in 1881?

In 1881, 160 people were recorded with the Mcnicholas surname. That placed it at #14,860 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcnicholas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,646 in 2016. That gives Mcnicholas a modern rank of #3,783.

What does the Mcnicholas surname mean?

A patronymic surname meaning "son of Nicholas", derived from the personal name Nicholas.

What does the Mcnicholas map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcnicholas bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.