NameCensus.

UK surname

Nicholls

An English patronymic surname derived from the given name Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."

In the 1881 census there were 15,623 people recorded with the Nicholls surname, ranking it #256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 25,782, ranked #220, up from #256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Cotswold.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nicholls is 27,338 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.0%.

1881 census count

15,623

Ranked #256

Modern count

25,782

2016, ranked #220

Peak year

1999

27,338 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nicholls had 15,623 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 25,782 in 2016, ranked #220.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 24,496 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Nicholls surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nicholls surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nicholls 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 7,476 #377
1861 historical 8,249 #334
1881 historical 15,623 #256
1891 historical 17,581 #226
1901 historical 22,294 #213
1911 historical 24,496 #174
1997 modern 26,128 #204
1998 modern 27,141 #205
1999 modern 27,338 #205
2000 modern 27,182 #205
2001 modern 26,495 #205
2002 modern 26,833 #209
2003 modern 26,140 #212
2004 modern 26,078 #210
2005 modern 25,597 #213
2006 modern 25,548 #212
2007 modern 25,656 #213
2008 modern 25,783 #213
2009 modern 26,237 #215
2010 modern 26,642 #216
2011 modern 26,398 #215
2012 modern 25,675 #217
2013 modern 26,248 #217
2014 modern 26,348 #219
2015 modern 26,065 #218
2016 modern 25,782 #220

Geography

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Where Nicholls' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Cotswold. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 065 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 068 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 067 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 070 Cornwall
5 Cotswold 009 Cotswold

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nicholls

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nicholls

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nicholls, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Nicholls surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Nicholls household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Nicholls is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Nicholls is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nicholls falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nicholls is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Nicholls

The surname Nicholls originated in England, with roots that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is a patronymic surname, derived from the personal name Nicholas, which itself has Greek origins meaning "victory of the people."

In ancient records, the name appears with various spellings, such as Nicholls, Nichols, Nicholl, and Nicol, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping at the time. The earliest known record of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as Nicholaus.

During the medieval period, the name Nicholls was particularly prevalent in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. It is believed to have originated from several place names, such as Nycholl's Green in Buckinghamshire and Nicholl's Farm in Oxfordshire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Nicholls was Sir John Nicholls (c. 1490-1556), a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another notable figure was Richard Nicholls (c. 1610-1672), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Cheam in Surrey.

In the 17th century, the name gained recognition through Sir Edward Nicholls (1619-1699), a distinguished lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. During the same period, John Nicholls (1630-1677) made his mark as a prominent mathematician and served as a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Moving into the 18th century, we find the influential figure of William Nicholls (1664-1712), an English theologian and Bishop of Carlisle. He was known for his scholarly works and contributions to the Church of England.

Throughout history, the Nicholls surname has been associated with various notable individuals across different fields, including academics, clergymen, lawyers, and politicians, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nicholls families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nicholls 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. Middlesex leads with 2,008 Nicholls' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.32x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2,008 1.32x
Cornwall 1,799 10.41x
Staffordshire 1,259 2.44x
Warwickshire 1,063 2.76x
Surrey 893 1.20x
Lancashire 801 0.44x
Kent 757 1.45x
Gloucestershire 731 2.44x
Devon 665 2.09x
Yorkshire 537 0.36x
Essex 519 1.72x
Worcestershire 383 1.92x
Somerset 348 1.42x
Buckinghamshire 277 3.00x
Glamorgan 270 1.02x
Shropshire 270 2.05x
Sussex 236 0.92x
Hertfordshire 218 2.07x
Derbyshire 206 0.86x
Cheshire 205 0.61x
Norfolk 201 0.86x
Oxfordshire 159 1.69x
Northamptonshire 149 1.04x
Hampshire 143 0.46x
Wiltshire 143 1.06x
Cambridgeshire 119 1.23x
Herefordshire 119 1.90x
Suffolk 111 0.60x
Berkshire 103 0.90x
Leicestershire 103 0.61x
Lincolnshire 97 0.40x
Bedfordshire 81 1.03x
Durham 78 0.17x
Northumberland 68 0.30x
Nottinghamshire 65 0.32x
Monmouthshire 63 0.57x
Radnorshire 52 4.22x
Pembrokeshire 51 1.05x
Huntingdonshire 44 1.45x
Dorset 33 0.33x
Royal Navy 28 1.54x
Brecknockshire 25 0.82x
Cumberland 19 0.14x
Carmarthenshire 18 0.28x
Lanarkshire 18 0.04x
Flintshire 17 0.41x
Cardiganshire 16 0.43x
Montgomeryshire 13 0.37x
Denbighshire 11 0.19x
Isle of Man 8 0.28x
Wigtownshire 8 0.39x
Westmorland 6 0.18x
Ayrshire 5 0.04x
Rutland 5 0.45x
Angus 4 0.03x
Argyllshire 4 0.09x
Channel Islands 2 0.04x
Merionethshire 2 0.07x
Anglesey 1 0.04x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.02x
Midlothian 1 0.00x
Perthshire 1 0.01x
Renfrewshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 405 Nicholls' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.16x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 405 3.16x
Aston 335 3.16x
Sedgley 291 15.21x
Islington London 264 1.79x
Lambeth 240 1.80x
West Ham 167 2.51x
Madron Penzance 155 24.68x
St Pancras London 130 1.06x
Walsall Foreign 104 3.91x
Bethnal Green London 99 1.49x
Kensington London 92 1.08x
Camberwell 91 0.93x
Mile End Old Town 91 3.78x
Hackney London 89 1.04x
Paul 87 27.72x
Redruth 87 17.80x
St Austell 86 14.57x
Shoreditch London 83 1.25x
Tipton 83 5.26x
Wolverhampton 80 2.02x
St Marylebone London 76 0.93x
Chelsea London 74 1.61x
Stoke Damerel 74 3.33x
West Bromwich 74 2.51x
Whitstable 71 27.81x
Battersea 68 1.21x
Swansea Town 68 3.12x
Newington 67 1.19x
Plymouth St Andrew 67 2.74x
Croydon 66 1.60x
Deptford St Paul 66 1.64x
Stoke Upon Trent 66 1.21x
Brighton 63 1.21x
Gwennap 62 19.03x
Brampton 61 18.27x
Feock 61 56.42x
Paddington London 57 1.02x
Coventry St Michael 56 4.53x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 55 1.95x
Oldham 52 0.89x
St Luke London 52 2.12x
Madron 51 36.55x
Gerrans 50 107.32x
St Gluvias Penryn 49 35.40x
Liverpool 47 0.43x
St Agnes 47 19.43x
Yardley 47 9.22x
Bow London 46 2.37x
Hornsey 46 2.38x
Cardiff St Mary 45 3.08x
Salford 45 0.85x
Bedminster 44 1.91x
Camborne 44 6.18x
Kidderminster Borough 44 3.77x
Tottenham 44 1.81x
Bristol St George 43 3.11x
Plymouth Charles The 43 3.07x
Lewisham 42 1.51x
Plumstead 42 2.42x
Bromley London 41 1.22x
Falmouth 41 6.71x
St George Hanover 41 2.06x
Willenhall 41 4.25x
Hammersmith London 40 1.06x
Mangotsfield 40 13.41x
Wellington 40 5.40x
Cheltenham 39 1.69x
Handsworth 39 3.07x
Westbury On Severn East 39 5.76x
Edmonton 38 3.09x
Pucklechurch 38 56.31x
Ludgvan 37 26.88x
Barrow In Furness 36 1.46x
Bishop Stortford 36 10.25x
Everton 36 0.62x
Oldbury 36 3.67x
Portsea 36 0.59x
Clerkenwell London 35 0.97x
Mitcham 35 7.45x
St Keverne 35 36.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1,046
Elizabeth 649
Sarah 574
Eliza 292
Ann 280
Jane 271
Emma 244
Ellen 231
Annie 213
Alice 210
Emily 203
Hannah 153
Louisa 128
Martha 121
Harriet 117
Maria 107
Ada 105
Edith 100
Charlotte 99
Clara 99
Caroline 96
Florence 96
Susan 82
Catherine 79
Margaret 76
Fanny 67
Kate 65
Amelia 63
Lucy 60
Agnes 55
Anne 51
Harriett 49
Frances 47
Minnie 47
Amy 46
Rebecca 43
Elizth. 41
Rose 41
Sophia 41
Matilda 40
Grace 39
Bessie 36
Jessie 36
Lydia 36
Isabella 35
Julia 35
Laura 32
Gertrude 29
Susannah 29
Beatrice 27

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 987
John 856
Thomas 528
George 487
James 470
Henry 354
Charles 345
Joseph 247
Alfred 207
Richard 201
Arthur 157
Edward 153
Frederick 149
Robert 149
Samuel 149
Albert 113
Walter 104
Harry 75
Ernest 71
Frank 67
Wm. 64
Herbert 61
Benjamin 55
Edwin 51
Francis 50
David 49
Isaac 34
Stephen 34
Fred 33
Daniel 32
Thos. 24
Sidney 23
Peter 22
Andrew 21
Fredrick 21
Geo. 20
Fredk. 19
Philip 18
Edmund 16
Percy 13
Tom 13
Willm. 13
Abraham 12
Robt. 12
Sydney 12
Edgar 11
Chas. 10
Gilbert 10
Horace 10
Jesse 10

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 Nicholls households.

FAQ

Nicholls surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nicholls surname in 1881?

In 1881, 15,623 people were recorded with the Nicholls surname. That placed it at #256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nicholls surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 25,782 in 2016. That gives Nicholls a modern rank of #220.

What does the Nicholls surname mean?

An English patronymic surname derived from the given name Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."

What does the Nicholls map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nicholls 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.