NameCensus.

UK surname

Nickels

An occupational surname referring to a moneychanger or coin maker, derived from the Middle English word "nikel".

In the 1881 census there were 318 people recorded with the Nickels surname, ranking it #9,342 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 374, ranked #12,490, down from #9,342 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes and St Mary Church. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Cornwall and Torbay.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nickels is 416 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.6%.

1881 census count

318

Ranked #9,342

Modern count

374

2016, ranked #12,490

Peak year

1911

416 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nickels had 318 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,342 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 374 in 2016, ranked #12,490.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 416 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Nickels surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nickels surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nickels 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 309 #7,449
1861 historical 199 #12,062
1881 historical 318 #9,342
1891 historical 293 #11,319
1901 historical 337 #10,735
1911 historical 416 #9,028
1997 modern 344 #12,319
1998 modern 340 #12,784
1999 modern 360 #12,371
2000 modern 341 #12,801
2001 modern 330 #12,893
2002 modern 337 #12,965
2003 modern 342 #12,627
2004 modern 330 #12,994
2005 modern 315 #13,375
2006 modern 315 #13,440
2007 modern 325 #13,291
2008 modern 330 #13,257
2009 modern 342 #13,193
2010 modern 348 #13,304
2011 modern 357 #12,915
2012 modern 349 #12,993
2013 modern 362 #12,843
2014 modern 363 #12,908
2015 modern 367 #12,696
2016 modern 374 #12,490

Geography

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Where Nickels' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes, St Mary Church and Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Cornwall, Torbay and Teignbridge. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Mary Church Devon
5 Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 021 Powys
2 Cornwall 021 Cornwall
3 Torbay 003 Torbay
4 Torbay 004 Torbay
5 Teignbridge 011 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nickels

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nickels

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Nickels is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nickels is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nickels 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 Nickels 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 Nickels, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Nickels

The surname Nickels originated in Germany and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the German word "Nickel," which means "demon" or "goblin." The name likely originated as a nickname for someone with a mischievous or playful personality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nickels can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, dated around 1200. The name is spelled "Nickele" in these records.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Bürgermeisterbuch (Book of Mayors) of the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, where a "Hans Nickels" is mentioned as a councilman in 1387.

During the 16th century, the name Nickels can be found in various records from the region of Swabia, in present-day southwestern Germany. A notable example is Johann Nickels (1520-1587), a Lutheran pastor and reformer from the town of Biberach an der Riss.

In the 17th century, the name spread to other parts of Germany and surrounding regions. One notable individual was Johann Christoph Nickels (1629-1696), a German composer and organist from Saxony.

The 18th century saw the name Nickels appearing in various parts of Europe, including the Netherlands. A notable figure was Jan Nickels (1742-1819), a Dutch painter and engraver known for his landscapes and cityscapes.

As people migrated from Europe to other parts of the world, the surname Nickels also spread to other countries. In the 19th century, for instance, there are records of individuals named Nickels in the United States and Canada.

Some other notable individuals with the surname Nickels throughout history include: - Philipp Nickels (1876-1944), a German architect and urban planner from Berlin. - Theodor Nickels (1888-1967), a German banker and politician from Hamburg. - Edith Nickels (1892-1983), a British author and journalist known for her children's books. - Ernst Nickels (1907-1986), a German footballer who played as a defender for several German clubs in the 1920s and 1930s. - Herbert Nickels (1926-2012), an American basketball player and coach from Indiana.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nickels families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nickels 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. Devon leads with 92 Nickels' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.20x.

County Total Index
Devon 92 14.20x
Middlesex 62 1.99x
Cheshire 22 3.20x
Suffolk 19 5.01x
Kent 17 1.60x
Essex 14 2.28x
Surrey 11 0.73x
Wiltshire 9 3.27x
Leicestershire 8 2.32x
Lincolnshire 8 1.61x
Sussex 8 1.52x
Glamorgan 7 1.29x
Nottinghamshire 7 1.67x
Durham 6 0.65x
Lancashire 5 0.14x
Cornwall 4 1.14x
Hertfordshire 4 1.87x
Gloucestershire 3 0.49x
Berkshire 2 0.86x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.01x
Derbyshire 2 0.41x
Norfolk 2 0.42x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.76x
Royal Navy 1 2.70x
Somerset 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hawkhurst in Kent leads with 16 Nickels' recorded in 1881 and an index of 484.85x.

Place Total Index
Hawkhurst 16 484.85x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 12 902.26x
Halberton 11 728.48x
Chelmsford 10 94.88x
Hackney London 10 5.73x
Newton Abbot St Mary 10 184.16x
Shoreditch London 10 7.41x
Tormoham 10 36.48x
Birkenhead 9 16.44x
Crediton 9 146.58x
Swindon 9 42.17x
Willesden 9 30.69x
Camberwell 8 4.03x
Chagford 8 516.13x
Orford 8 655.74x
Spalding 8 81.05x
Warminghurst 8 8000.00x
Roath 7 28.44x
Thorpe 7 7000.00x
Exeter St John 6 1304.35x
Littleham 6 126.58x
North Bovey 6 1276.60x
Bishopwearmouth 5 6.29x
Bromley London 5 7.30x
Higher Bebington 5 113.64x
Noctorum 5 3846.15x
St Marylebone London 5 3.01x
East Barnet 4 94.12x
Islington London 4 1.33x
Little Claybrooke 4 634.92x
Tunstall 4 606.06x
Wickham Market 4 254.78x
Clifton 3 9.72x
Edmonton 3 11.97x
Hyde 3 14.80x
Ipplepen 3 340.91x
Layton With Warbreck 3 22.14x
Romford 3 30.90x
Church Gresley 2 25.81x
Drewsteignton 2 232.56x
Fulham London 2 4.43x
Hammersmith London 2 2.61x
Liverpool 2 0.89x
Norton 2 253.16x
Putney 2 14.10x
Sourton 2 363.64x
St Andrewthe Less 2 8.88x
St George Hanover 2 4.92x
St George In East 2 9.45x
Stoke Damerel 2 4.41x
Teddington London 2 28.37x
Uffculme 2 103.63x
Winkfield 2 51.55x
Aldeburgh 1 44.64x
Ashby Parva 1 625.00x
Budock 1 37.74x
Callington 1 48.78x
Carmarthen St Peter 1 8.92x
Chelsea London 1 1.07x
Ealing 1 3.60x
Falmouth 1 8.02x
Gildersome 1 26.95x
Grays Thurrock 1 17.51x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 6.96x
Knighton 1 51.28x
Lapford 1 158.73x
Marwood 1 116.28x
Northowram 1 4.63x
Norwich St Andrew 1 121.95x
Nutfield 1 86.96x
Royal Navy 1 3.15x
Saltash 1 36.63x
Sandwich St Mary 1 104.17x
Sapcote 1 135.14x
Spitalfields London 1 4.27x
St George Bloomsbury 1 5.60x
St Giles 1 17.30x
Stoke Newington London 1 4.13x
Stoke Under Hambdon 1 60.98x
Westminster St James 1 3.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 9
Eliza 8
Jane 6
Alice 5
Matilda 5
Annie 4
Caroline 4
Emma 4
Amy 3
Ann 3
Ellen 3
Florence 3
Rosa 3
Susan 3
Anna 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lilly 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Alma 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Charles 1
Claribelle 1
Dora 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Emmeline 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Eva.M. 1
Frances 1
Isabel 1
Jemima 1
Josephine 1
Katherine 1
Lilian 1
Welthin 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
James 18
John 18
George 9
Henry 9
Alfred 7
Charles 6
Walter 6
Frank 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Thomas 4
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Percy 2
A.W.D. 1
Alferd 1
Andrew 1
Christopher 1
Clement 1
Colman 1
Earnest 1
Evan 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Hiram 1
Howard 1
J.J. 1
Jesse 1
Latimer 1
Luther 1
Nicholas 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Wallace 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Nickels surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nickels surname in 1881?

In 1881, 318 people were recorded with the Nickels surname. That placed it at #9,342 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nickels surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 374 in 2016. That gives Nickels a modern rank of #12,490.

What does the Nickels surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a moneychanger or coin maker, derived from the Middle English word "nikel".

What does the Nickels map show?

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