NameCensus.

UK surname

Nick

A shortened form of various Greek surnames beginning with the prefix "Ni-," meaning "son of" or "descendant of."

In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Nick surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 117, ranked #28,033, up from #28,418 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Leonard Shoreditch and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mole Valley, Harrow and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nick is 158 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 216.2%.

1881 census count

37

Ranked #28,418

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

1861

158 bearers

Map years

2

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nick had 37 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,418 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 158 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Nick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nick surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nick 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 25 #28,853
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 37 #28,418
1891 historical 50 #30,253
1901 historical 31 #30,616
1911 historical 22 #31,030
1997 modern 16 #36,292
1998 modern 13 #36,679
1999 modern 14 #36,595
2000 modern 16 #36,316
2001 modern 15 #36,265
2002 modern 13 #36,570
2003 modern 14 #36,512
2004 modern 19 #36,147
2005 modern 21 #36,083
2006 modern 22 #36,105
2007 modern 26 #35,932
2008 modern 35 #35,441
2009 modern 28 #35,988
2010 modern 38 #35,514
2011 modern 55 #34,502
2012 modern 78 #33,044
2013 modern 92 #31,909
2014 modern 104 #30,365
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

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Where Nicks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Leonard Shoreditch, Paddington, Clifton and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mole Valley, Harrow, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham and Wychavon. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Paddington London (West Districts)
4 Clifton Gloucestershire
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mole Valley 001 Mole Valley
2 Harrow 010 Harrow
3 Kensington and Chelsea 004 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Newham 023 Newham
5 Wychavon 016 Wychavon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nick

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Nick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Nick 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Nick is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nick 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

Nick 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 Nick is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Nick

The surname NICK has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Middle English word "nik," which means "nickname" or "to give a nickname." The name likely originated as a descriptive surname, given to someone who was known by a particular nickname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname NICK can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, where a person named Richard Nic is mentioned. The name is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a William Nik is listed.

In the 13th century, the name NICK was predominantly found in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire, suggesting that these areas were where the name first took root. Variants of the spelling included Nik, Nikke, and Nycke.

A notable early bearer of the surname was John Nick, who was born in Abingdon, Berkshire, around 1320. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the town.

In the 14th century, the surname NICK began to appear in other parts of England, such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. During this period, the name was sometimes associated with place names, such as Nickby or Nicktown, though the exact origins of these places are unclear.

In the 15th century, a branch of the NICK family settled in Huntingdonshire, where they became landowners and prominent members of the local community. One notable figure from this line was Robert Nick, who was born in 1472 and served as the High Sheriff of Huntingdonshire in 1505.

Another notable bearer of the surname was William Nick, who was born in Oxfordshire in 1587. He was a scholar and translator, best known for his English translation of Machiavelli's "The Prince" in 1640.

In the 17th century, the NICK surname continued to spread across England, with families established in counties such as Warwickshire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Nick, who was born in Warwickshire in 1635 and became a successful merchant and landowner.

As the surname NICK grew more widespread, it also began to appear in various records and documents, such as parish registers, tax rolls, and court records. This has provided valuable information for tracing the history and migration patterns of families with this surname over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nick 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 10 Nicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.77x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 10 2.77x
Gloucestershire 8 11.31x
Glamorgan 6 9.55x
Devon 3 3.99x
Renfrewshire 3 10.73x
Durham 2 1.86x
Cornwall 1 2.45x
Kent 1 0.81x
Lanarkshire 1 0.86x
Shropshire 1 3.21x
Surrey 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Mary Redcliff in Gloucestershire leads with 8 Nicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1250.00x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 8 1250.00x
Islington London 8 22.88x
Swansea Town 5 97.09x
Renfrew 3 326.09x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 95.24x
Paddington London 2 15.07x
Tormoham 2 62.89x
Anderston 1 3333.33x
Cardiff St Mary 1 28.90x
Milton In Gravesend 1 54.05x
Plymouth Charles The 1 30.21x
St Breock 1 454.55x
Wimbledon 1 50.76x
Worfield 1 454.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Clara 1
Elizabeth 1
Frances 1
Harritt 1
Jane 1
Janet 1
Julia 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 3
George 3
William 3
Aurthur 1
Benjamin 1
Christopher 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Henry 1
James 1
John 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 Nick households.

FAQ

Nick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Nick surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Nick a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Nick surname mean?

A shortened form of various Greek surnames beginning with the prefix "Ni-," meaning "son of" or "descendant of."

What does the Nick map show?

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