UK surname
Son of Nicholas, a patronymic surname derived from the given name Nicholas.
In the 1881 census there were 314 people recorded with the Nickolson surname, ranking it #9,417 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 42, ranked #35,336, down from #9,417 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lochs, Gateshead and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nickolson is 525 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 86.6%.
1881 census count
314
Ranked #9,417
Modern count
42
2016, ranked #35,336
Peak year
1861
525 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Nickolson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Nickolson 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 | 338 | #6,943 |
| 1861 | historical | 525 | #4,992 |
| 1881 | historical | 314 | #9,417 |
| 1891 | historical | 311 | #10,781 |
| 1901 | historical | 192 | #15,518 |
| 1911 | historical | 168 | #16,620 |
| 1997 | modern | 47 | #32,975 |
| 1998 | modern | 49 | #33,000 |
| 1999 | modern | 42 | #33,778 |
| 2000 | modern | 46 | #33,458 |
| 2001 | modern | 44 | #33,490 |
| 2002 | modern | 44 | #33,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 48 | #33,533 |
| 2004 | modern | 50 | #33,566 |
| 2005 | modern | 46 | #34,081 |
| 2006 | modern | 39 | #34,932 |
| 2007 | modern | 47 | #34,558 |
| 2008 | modern | 47 | #34,699 |
| 2009 | modern | 53 | #34,481 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 50 | #34,816 |
| 2012 | modern | 42 | #35,269 |
| 2013 | modern | 45 | #35,167 |
| 2014 | modern | 43 | #35,293 |
| 2015 | modern | 42 | #35,322 |
| 2016 | modern | 42 | #35,336 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lochs, Gateshead, Manchester, Liverpool and West Derby. 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 | Lochs | Ross And Cromarty |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | West Derby | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Nickolson 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 Nickolson, 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 Nickolson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Nickolson 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, Nickolson 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 Nickolson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Nickolson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname NICKOLSON is of English origin, derived from the medieval personal name Nicholas, itself originating from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people." The name was introduced to Britain by the Normans after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
The earliest recorded instances of the NICKOLSON surname date back to the late 12th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire. In the Domesday Book of 1086, a landowner named Nicholaus is mentioned, suggesting that the name was already in use in England at that time.
One of the earliest known bearers of the NICKOLSON surname was Sir John Nicholson (c. 1280 - 1349), a prominent English knight and landowner from Northamptonshire. Another notable figure was William Nicholson (c. 1390 - 1453), a member of the English Parliament who represented Nottinghamshire.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the NICKOLSON surname began to spread across various parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland. In Scotland, the name was sometimes spelled NICOLSON, while in Ireland, it was occasionally rendered as NICKELSON or NICKELSEN.
A famous bearer of the NICKOLSON surname was John Nickolson (1611 - 1676), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of navigation and cartography. Another noteworthy individual was James Nickolson (1737 - 1804), a Scottish poet and songwriter best known for his work "The Brownie of Blednoch."
In the 19th century, the NICKOLSON surname was associated with several prominent figures, including Isaac Nickolson (1789 - 1859), an English civil engineer who designed and constructed several important bridges and viaducts. Additionally, John Nickolson (1825 - 1904) was a renowned Scottish architect who played a significant role in the Gothic Revival movement.
Overall, the NICKOLSON surname has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including knights, landowners, mathematicians, poets, engineers, and architects. Its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it was derived from the personal name Nicholas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nickolson 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. Yorkshire leads with 79 Nickolsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.59x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 79 | 2.59x |
| Lancashire | 63 | 1.73x |
| Northumberland | 29 | 6.34x |
| Durham | 24 | 2.63x |
| Middlesex | 21 | 0.68x |
| Lincolnshire | 16 | 3.26x |
| Kent | 15 | 1.43x |
| Sussex | 14 | 2.70x |
| Surrey | 13 | 0.87x |
| Norfolk | 10 | 2.12x |
| Cumberland | 9 | 3.40x |
| Morayshire | 6 | 12.57x |
| Flintshire | 5 | 6.05x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 0.87x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.29x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 0.75x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.29x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.16x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.24x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.13x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.25x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cullercoates in Northumberland leads with 29 Nickolsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2013.89x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nickolson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 23 |
| Elizabeth | 12 |
| Jane | 12 |
| Sarah | 11 |
| Hannah | 6 |
| Ann | 5 |
| Emily | 5 |
| Fanny | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Catherine | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Julia | 3 |
| Laura | 3 |
| Margaret | 3 |
| Martha | 3 |
| Agnes | 2 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Barbara | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Ethel | 2 |
| Florence | 2 |
| Frances | 2 |
| Gertrude | 2 |
| Isabella | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Banly | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Christiana | 1 |
| Cora | 1 |
| Dinisha | 1 |
| E. | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eliz. | 1 |
| Eliz.W. | 1 |
| Harret | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Hilda | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Jessy | 1 |
| Johanna | 1 |
| L. | 1 |
| Lilly | 1 |
| Louchia | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Marry | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Mgt. | 1 |
| Winny | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Nickolson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 22 |
| John | 21 |
| George | 12 |
| Thomas | 9 |
| Robert | 6 |
| Albert | 5 |
| James | 5 |
| Joseph | 5 |
| J. | 4 |
| Richard | 4 |
| Charles | 3 |
| Henry | 3 |
| Jonathan | 3 |
| Peter | 3 |
| Stephen | 3 |
| Francis | 2 |
| Fred | 2 |
| Herbert | 2 |
| Wilson | 2 |
| Anthony | 1 |
| Arther | 1 |
| Arthur | 1 |
| David | 1 |
| Edgar | 1 |
| Edward | 1 |
| Eli | 1 |
| Elliot | 1 |
| Ernest | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Frederick | 1 |
| Gowan | 1 |
| Harry | 1 |
| Isaac | 1 |
| Jefry | 1 |
| Jos. | 1 |
| Mathew | 1 |
| Matthew | 1 |
| Michael | 1 |
| Moses | 1 |
| Patk. | 1 |
| Percy | 1 |
| Robt. | 1 |
| Rodger | 1 |
| T.W. | 1 |
| Thos. | 1 |
| Tom | 1 |
| W. | 1 |
| Walter | 1 |
| Wildred | 1 |
| Wm.Walker | 1 |
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 Nickolson households.
FAQ
In 1881, 314 people were recorded with the Nickolson surname. That placed it at #9,417 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 42 in 2016. That gives Nickolson a modern rank of #35,336.
Son of Nicholas, a patronymic surname derived from the given name Nicholas.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nickolson 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.