UK surname
A variant of the surname Nicholas, derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people."
In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Nickles surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 41, ranked #35,388, down from #15,046 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Saham Toney and Witheridge, Thelbridge. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nickles is 206 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.9%.
1881 census count
157
Ranked #15,046
Modern count
41
2016, ranked #35,388
Peak year
1861
206 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Nickles surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Nickles surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 166 | #11,986 |
| 1861 | historical | 206 | #11,725 |
| 1881 | historical | 157 | #15,046 |
| 1891 | historical | 119 | #21,415 |
| 1901 | historical | 63 | #27,134 |
| 1911 | historical | 71 | #25,742 |
| 1997 | modern | 20 | #35,809 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 21 | #35,810 |
| 2000 | modern | 25 | #35,382 |
| 2001 | modern | 24 | #35,357 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 15 | #36,415 |
| 2004 | modern | 18 | #36,245 |
| 2005 | modern | 16 | #36,530 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 16 | #36,714 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 30 | #35,949 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 36 | #35,643 |
| 2014 | modern | 38 | #35,547 |
| 2015 | modern | 43 | #35,269 |
| 2016 | modern | 41 | #35,388 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Saham Toney, Witheridge, Thelbridge, Birstall and Stratford St Andrew. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | Saham Toney | Norfolk |
| 3 | Witheridge, Thelbridge | Devon |
| 4 | Birstall | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Stratford St Andrew | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Nickles surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nickles, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Nickles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Nickles household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Nickles is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nickles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Nickles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Nickles originates from England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "niccol," which was a diminutive form of the name Nicholas. This name was brought to England by the Normans after the conquest in 1066.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England after the Norman Conquest, there are several entries of individuals with the name Nicol or Nichole, which are variations of the name Nicholas. These early spellings likely evolved into the surname Nickles over time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Nickles can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a William Nickles. Another early mention is in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, listing a John Nickles.
During the 16th century, the surname Nickles was found in various parts of England, including Essex, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire. Some notable individuals with the name include John Nickles (c. 1510-1580), a merchant from London, and Edward Nickles (1568-1634), a landowner in Gloucestershire.
In the 17th century, the name Nickles appeared in several parish records across England. For example, the baptism of Thomas Nickles was recorded in St. Andrew's Church, Hertford, in 1628. Another notable figure from this period was Richard Nickles (1637-1703), a wealthy landowner in Oxfordshire.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname Nickles continued to be found in various parts of England, with several individuals bearing the name achieving prominence. One notable example is William Nickles (1745-1812), a member of the British Parliament who represented the borough of Maldon in Essex.
As the Nickles family spread across England over the centuries, variations in the spelling of the surname emerged, including Nickels, Nickolls, and Nicholls. However, the original spelling of Nickles remained prevalent in certain regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nickles surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Norfolk leads with 21 Nickles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.86x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 21 | 8.86x |
| Devon | 20 | 6.23x |
| Middlesex | 17 | 1.10x |
| Suffolk | 17 | 9.06x |
| Lancashire | 16 | 0.88x |
| Yorkshire | 16 | 1.05x |
| Staffordshire | 11 | 2.11x |
| Derbyshire | 8 | 3.32x |
| Essex | 6 | 1.97x |
| Northamptonshire | 6 | 4.14x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.44x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.66x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 0.96x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 1.50x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 1.25x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 1.02x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.29x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.57x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 1.72x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.37x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.32x |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | 3.27x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.19x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.59x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 5.45x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.13x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Saham Toney in Norfolk leads with 16 Nickles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nickles surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Nickles surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Nickles households.
FAQ
In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Nickles surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 41 in 2016. That gives Nickles a modern rank of #35,388.
A variant of the surname Nicholas, derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nickles bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.