NameCensus.

UK surname

Nickless

A Nickless surname likely stems from being without a nickname.

In the 1881 census there were 402 people recorded with the Nickless surname, ranking it #7,949 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 713, ranked #7,611, up from #7,949 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dawley, Magna, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors and Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Basingstoke and Deane, Telford and Wrekin and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nickless is 810 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 77.4%.

1881 census count

402

Ranked #7,949

Modern count

713

2016, ranked #7,611

Peak year

1998

810 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nickless had 402 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,949 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 713 in 2016, ranked #7,611.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 603 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Nickless surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nickless surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nickless 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 299 #7,675
1861 historical 221 #11,031
1881 historical 402 #7,949
1891 historical 423 #8,465
1901 historical 547 #7,555
1911 historical 603 #6,813
1997 modern 749 #6,890
1998 modern 810 #6,689
1999 modern 806 #6,749
2000 modern 807 #6,721
2001 modern 780 #6,776
2002 modern 800 #6,773
2003 modern 781 #6,787
2004 modern 759 #6,963
2005 modern 735 #7,065
2006 modern 729 #7,144
2007 modern 732 #7,199
2008 modern 718 #7,335
2009 modern 739 #7,331
2010 modern 729 #7,541
2011 modern 736 #7,424
2012 modern 695 #7,649
2013 modern 717 #7,600
2014 modern 730 #7,534
2015 modern 725 #7,524
2016 modern 713 #7,611

Geography

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Where Nickless' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dawley, Magna, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Madeley and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Basingstoke and Deane, Telford and Wrekin and Powys. 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 Dawley, Magna Shropshire
2 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
3 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
4 Madeley Shropshire
5 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Basingstoke and Deane 007 Basingstoke and Deane
2 Telford and Wrekin 019 Telford and Wrekin
3 Powys 010 Powys
4 Telford and Wrekin 012 Telford and Wrekin
5 Telford and Wrekin 017 Telford and Wrekin

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nickless

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nickless

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nickless, 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 Nickless surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Nickless 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, Nickless 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

Nickless 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

Nickless falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nickless 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Nickless

The surname NICKLESS is of English origin and is believed to have originated in the 16th century. It is derived from the Old English word "nick", which means "a small cut or score", and the suffix "-less", which means "without". Together, the name likely referred to someone who was without a cut or mark, perhaps a person who had an unblemished complexion.

The earliest known record of the NICKLESS surname dates back to the late 16th century in the parish records of Staffordshire, England. In 1598, a John Nickless was recorded in the christening records of Audley parish. Over the following centuries, the name spread to other parts of England, with variations in spelling such as Nickles, Niklesse, and Nykles.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the NICKLESS surname was William Nickless, a merchant who lived in London in the late 17th century. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers and played a role in the city's trade with the American colonies.

In the 18th century, the NICKLESS name appeared in various records, including the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, where a Thomas Nickless was christened in 1712. Another individual, John Nickless, was born in Shropshire in 1745 and later served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.

During the 19th century, the NICKLESS surname continued to be present in various parts of England. One notable individual was Richard Nickless, a farmer and landowner born in Worcestershire in 1815. His descendants would later emigrate to Australia and Canada, spreading the name to new continents.

Another notable bearer of the NICKLESS surname was John Nickless, a renowned English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century. He was born in 1848 and played first-class cricket from 1871 to 1885.

While the NICKLESS surname may not be as widespread as some other English surnames, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, soldiers, farmers, and sportsmen.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nickless families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nickless 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. Shropshire leads with 121 Nickless' recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.63x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 121 35.63x
Worcestershire 93 18.12x
Staffordshire 50 3.77x
Middlesex 31 0.79x
Berkshire 22 7.46x
Hampshire 15 1.86x
Somerset 11 1.74x
Norfolk 8 1.32x
Surrey 7 0.37x
Cumberland 6 1.77x
Yorkshire 6 0.15x
Cheshire 5 0.58x
Lancashire 5 0.11x
Monmouthshire 5 1.76x
Oxfordshire 5 2.06x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.26x
Glamorgan 3 0.44x
Warwickshire 3 0.30x
Derbyshire 2 0.33x
Cornwall 1 0.22x
Herefordshire 1 0.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Madeley in Shropshire leads with 52 Nickless' recorded in 1881 and an index of 417.67x.

Place Total Index
Madeley 52 417.67x
Oldbury 41 162.31x
West Bromwich 23 30.28x
Dawley 18 145.63x
Wellington 18 94.29x
Bromsgrove 17 98.38x
Wollaston 13 398.77x
Islington London 11 2.89x
Claines 8 56.78x
Dudley 8 12.82x
Tipton 8 19.69x
Weston 8 164.27x
Cleobury Mortimer 7 327.10x
Ludlow St Lawrence 7 103.55x
Ellisfield 6 1764.71x
Harmondsworth 6 245.90x
Millom 6 57.86x
Thorpe Next Norwich 6 93.60x
Bradfield 5 320.51x
Chester St John Baptist 5 32.05x
Christchurch 5 56.88x
Harborne 5 11.76x
Mortimer 5 354.61x
Oxford St Aldate 5 195.31x
Pontesbury 5 121.07x
Willenhall 5 20.12x
Wolverhampton 5 4.90x
Abingdon St Helen 4 46.35x
Basingstoke 4 43.15x
Newcastle Under Lyme 4 17.04x
North Cave Drewton 4 261.44x
Reading St Giles 4 13.82x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 5.06x
Yardley 4 30.46x
Bradwell 3 89.55x
East Ilsley 3 384.62x
Hackney London 3 1.36x
Hammersmith London 3 3.10x
Shoreditch London 3 1.76x
Aston 2 0.73x
Broseley 2 33.11x
Cardiff St Mary 2 5.31x
Derby St Werburgh 2 5.63x
Heigham 2 6.17x
Little Bolton 2 3.34x
Rawmarsh 2 14.53x
Ruishton 2 312.50x
Shrewsbury St Chad 2 16.78x
Shrewsbury St Julian 2 23.81x
Wandsworth 2 5.29x
Westbury 2 114.29x
Wootton St Lawrence 2 149.25x
Worthen 2 55.40x
Alverstoke 1 3.43x
Barrowford Booth 1 19.38x
Camberwell 1 0.40x
Cressage 1 285.71x
Drayton In Hales 1 14.29x
East Swallowfield 1 238.10x
Ercall Magna 1 41.15x
Finchley 1 6.64x
Great Bolton 1 1.62x
Gulval 1 34.97x
Hereford St Owen 1 18.80x
Hornsey 1 2.01x
Kenilworth 1 17.89x
Lower Booths 1 11.96x
Paddington London 1 0.69x
Portsea 1 0.63x
Shifnal 1 10.85x
Southampton St Mary 1 1.97x
St George Hanover 1 1.95x
St George Martyr 1 15.08x
Stoke Prior 1 31.55x
Swansea St Thomas 1 14.53x
West Bromwich 1 125.00x
Weston Super Mare 1 6.26x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 33
John 22
Thomas 17
George 13
James 10
Henry 9
Benjamin 8
Richard 8
Samuel 8
Edward 7
Arthur 5
Charles 5
Daniel 4
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Walter 3
Elijah 2
Embrey 2
Frederick 2
Abraham 1
Anthony 1
Benjm. 1
Christopher 1
Davied 1
Dennis 1
Edmond 1
Felise 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Jas. 1
Joel 1
Levi 1
Mark 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Septumas 1
Tom 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Nickless surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nickless surname in 1881?

In 1881, 402 people were recorded with the Nickless surname. That placed it at #7,949 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nickless surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 713 in 2016. That gives Nickless a modern rank of #7,611.

What does the Nickless surname mean?

A Nickless surname likely stems from being without a nickname.

What does the Nickless map show?

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