NameCensus.

UK surname

Nicol

A Scottish and northern English topographic surname derived from the shortened form of the given name Nicholas.

In the 1881 census there were 6,306 people recorded with the Nicol surname, ranking it #681 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,787, ranked #744, down from #681 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aboyne and South Deeside, Auchtermuchty and Gateside and Letham and Glamis.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nicol is 8,908 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.3%.

1881 census count

6,306

Ranked #681

Modern count

8,787

2016, ranked #744

Peak year

2010

8,908 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nicol had 6,306 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #681 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,787 in 2016, ranked #744.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,537 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Nicol surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nicol surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nicol 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 4,995 #554
1861 historical 4,795 #590
1881 historical 6,306 #681
1891 historical 6,666 #687
1901 historical 7,537 #715
1911 historical 1,313 #3,634
1997 modern 8,286 #769
1998 modern 8,458 #782
1999 modern 8,516 #782
2000 modern 8,588 #774
2001 modern 8,372 #775
2002 modern 8,550 #773
2003 modern 8,386 #771
2004 modern 8,374 #774
2005 modern 8,373 #756
2006 modern 8,437 #754
2007 modern 8,594 #746
2008 modern 8,716 #741
2009 modern 8,780 #754
2010 modern 8,908 #759
2011 modern 8,681 #767
2012 modern 8,488 #770
2013 modern 8,696 #764
2014 modern 8,803 #760
2015 modern 8,763 #750
2016 modern 8,787 #744

Geography

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Where Nicols are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aboyne and South Deeside, Auchtermuchty and Gateside, Letham and Glamis, Durno-Chapel of Garioch and Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aboyne and South Deeside Aberdeenshire
2 Auchtermuchty and Gateside Fife
3 Letham and Glamis Angus
4 Durno-Chapel of Garioch Aberdeenshire
5 Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nicol

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nicol

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Nicol surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Nicol household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Nicol is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Nicol is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nicol falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nicol 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 Nicol, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Nicol

The surname NICOL originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the medieval personal name Nigel, which comes from the Latin name Nigellus, meaning "little black one" or "dark-complexioned." The name was brought to Britain by the Normans after the conquest of England in 1066.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name NICOL can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Nicol" and "Nichol" in various entries throughout the document.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the name NICOL was particularly prevalent in the Scottish Lowlands and Borders regions. It was often associated with landowners and individuals of some prominence. For example, Sir William Nicol (c. 1280 - 1340) was a Scottish knight and landowner who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 15th century, the name NICOL was also found in other parts of Scotland, such as Aberdeenshire and Fife. One notable bearer of the name was Alexander Nicol (c. 1430 - 1493), a Scottish clergyman who served as the Bishop of Galloway from 1484 until his death.

As the name spread across Scotland, various spellings and variations emerged, including Nichol, Nicholl, Nicholson, and Nicolson. Some of these variations were derived from place names, such as Nicholston (now Neilston) in Renfrewshire.

Other notable individuals with the surname NICOL throughout history include:

1. William Nicol (1768 - 1851), a Scottish natural philosopher and inventor, best known for his invention of the Nicol prism used in polarizing light. 2. Erskine Nicol (1825 - 1904), a Scottish-born Australian artist and pioneer of the arts in Victoria, Australia. 3. John Nicol (1833 - 1894), a Scottish-born Australian politician and member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. 4. William Nicol (1851 - 1929), a Scottish-born Australian politician and member of the Parliament of New South Wales. 5. John Nicol (1865 - 1921), a Scottish professional golfer and one of the pioneers of the professional game.

The surname NICOL has a rich history rooted in medieval Scotland and has been carried across the world by Scottish emigrants and their descendants over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nicol families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nicol 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. Lanarkshire leads with 974 Nicols recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.95x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 974 4.95x
Aberdeenshire 901 16.00x
Fife 597 16.58x
Midlothian 580 7.12x
Angus 452 8.02x
Ayrshire 304 6.68x
Renfrewshire 252 5.35x
Stirlingshire 230 10.25x
Banffshire 177 14.03x
Perthshire 153 5.61x
Middlesex 141 0.23x
Lancashire 138 0.19x
Kincardineshire 132 17.82x
West Lothian 95 10.37x
Morayshire 93 9.84x
Surrey 86 0.29x
Dumfriesshire 80 5.96x
Dunbartonshire 77 4.71x
Buteshire 62 16.83x
Ross-shire 51 3.05x
Yorkshire 51 0.08x
Durham 47 0.26x
Peeblesshire 43 15.03x
Clackmannanshire 41 8.16x
Kent 36 0.17x
Sutherland 35 7.48x
Berwickshire 32 4.35x
Caithness 30 3.60x
Roxburghshire 30 2.72x
Cheshire 29 0.22x
Hampshire 29 0.23x
Selkirkshire 27 4.91x
Kinross-shire 23 14.96x
Essex 22 0.18x
Northumberland 18 0.20x
East Lothian 16 1.99x
Kirkcudbrightshire 16 1.82x
Argyllshire 15 0.89x
Warwickshire 12 0.08x
Inverness-shire 10 0.55x
Nairnshire 10 5.39x
Royal Navy 10 1.38x
Devon 9 0.07x
Worcestershire 9 0.11x
Glamorgan 8 0.08x
Brecknockshire 7 0.58x
Staffordshire 6 0.03x
Westmorland 6 0.45x
Sussex 5 0.05x
Leicestershire 4 0.06x
Gloucestershire 3 0.03x
Orkney 3 0.45x
Wigtownshire 3 0.37x
Lincolnshire 2 0.02x
Shetland 2 0.32x
Wiltshire 2 0.04x
Berkshire 1 0.02x
Channel Islands 1 0.06x
Cumberland 1 0.02x
Dorset 1 0.03x
Hertfordshire 1 0.02x
Oxfordshire 1 0.03x
Suffolk 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 299 Nicols recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.15x.

Place Total Index
Govan 299 6.15x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 240 7.32x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 199 18.89x
Barony 185 3.72x
Aberdeen Old Machar 179 15.22x
Glasgow 143 4.09x
Dunfermline 109 19.69x
Gamrie 96 68.17x
South Leith 86 9.38x
Peterhead 78 26.19x
Hamilton 72 13.13x
St Vigeans 72 23.68x
Kirkcaldy 68 38.09x
Falkirk 66 12.57x
Cambusnethan 61 13.96x
West Greenock 59 6.97x
Dundee 58 2.76x
Montrose 54 15.82x
Liff Benvie 52 6.08x
Stirling 50 17.68x
Wemyss 48 31.51x
New Monkland 43 7.40x
Forfar 41 13.44x
Dalserf 40 20.38x
East Greenock 39 8.76x
Chapel Of Garioch 37 92.34x
Abbotshall 36 26.76x
Beath 36 31.65x
Elgin 35 19.04x
Kirkintilloch 34 15.31x
Ardrossan 31 19.68x
Kilmory 31 57.74x
Ayr 30 13.97x
St Andrews 30 18.32x
Kilbride 29 63.90x
Old Cumnock 29 28.62x
Paisley High Church 29 7.73x
Abbey 28 3.89x
Eastwood 28 9.65x
Kilmarnock 28 5.17x
Kinnoull 27 37.63x
Stevenston 27 22.76x
Old Monkland 26 3.33x
Alford 25 81.54x
Cupar 25 15.97x
Kilsyth 25 17.48x
Kirkliston 25 46.81x
Lambeth 25 0.47x
Markinch 25 20.46x
Arbroath 24 12.85x
Brechin 24 10.84x
Craig 24 44.11x
Fetteresso 24 20.68x
Forgue 23 45.47x
Forteviot 23 176.25x
Monifieth 22 11.06x
Alloa 21 8.62x
Foveran 21 49.26x
Kinghorn 21 27.48x
North Leith 21 5.57x
Uphall 21 20.85x
Fraserburgh 20 12.62x
Paddington London 20 0.89x
Shoreditch London 20 0.76x
Tongue 20 49.51x
Fordoun 19 45.79x
Tarbolton 19 25.37x
Banchory Devenick 18 26.02x
Burntisland 18 17.88x
Dalkeith 18 11.20x
Edinburgh Greenside 18 16.72x
Edinburgh New North 18 25.39x
Leslie 18 19.75x
Monimail 18 102.10x
Perth East Church 18 6.99x
St Ninians 18 8.10x
Cramond 17 27.53x
Innerleithen 17 22.39x
Nigg 17 27.75x
St Andrews Lhanbryd 17 58.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 50
James 45
William 42
Robert 23
Thomas 21
George 20
Alexander 15
David 8
Andrew 7
Walter 7
Henry 6
Joseph 5
Charles 4
Wm. 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Hugh 3
Albert 2
Alex 2
Alexr. 2
Arthur 2
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Donald 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Laughlan 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Bernard 1
Bertie 1
Burton 1
Chas.A. 1
Chas.E. 1
Colin 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Alexr.Malcohm 1
Hamish 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
J. 1
Jean 1
Louis 1
Malcolm 1
Matthew 1
Paul 1
Philip 1

FAQ

Nicol surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nicol surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,306 people were recorded with the Nicol surname. That placed it at #681 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nicol surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,787 in 2016. That gives Nicol a modern rank of #744.

What does the Nicol surname mean?

A Scottish and northern English topographic surname derived from the shortened form of the given name Nicholas.

What does the Nicol map show?

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