NameCensus.

UK surname

Nicolas

French occupational surname referring to a victor or conqueror of the people.

In the 1881 census there were 111 people recorded with the Nicolas surname, ranking it #18,597 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 332, ranked #13,706, up from #18,597 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Enfield, Barnet and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nicolas is 337 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 199.1%.

1881 census count

111

Ranked #18,597

Modern count

332

2016, ranked #13,706

Peak year

2011

337 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nicolas had 111 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,597 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 332 in 2016, ranked #13,706.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 169 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Nicolas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nicolas surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nicolas 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 169 #13,823
1881 historical 111 #18,597
1891 historical 128 #20,393
1901 historical 87 #24,386
1911 historical 145 #18,255
1997 modern 212 #16,996
1998 modern 238 #16,218
1999 modern 256 #15,557
2000 modern 251 #15,692
2001 modern 243 #15,791
2002 modern 254 #15,641
2003 modern 253 #15,493
2004 modern 252 #15,618
2005 modern 266 #15,007
2006 modern 287 #14,295
2007 modern 289 #14,401
2008 modern 307 #13,907
2009 modern 317 #13,899
2010 modern 335 #13,645
2011 modern 337 #13,463
2012 modern 328 #13,625
2013 modern 334 #13,648
2014 modern 335 #13,720
2015 modern 329 #13,800
2016 modern 332 #13,706

Geography

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Where Nicolas' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth and Jeffreston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Enfield, Barnet, Kensington and Chelsea and Southwark. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Jeffreston Pembrokeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Enfield 021 Enfield
2 Barnet 003 Barnet
3 Kensington and Chelsea 001 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Southwark 034 Southwark
5 Enfield 031 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nicolas

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nicolas

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Nicolas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Nicolas 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Nicolas 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

Nicolas is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nicolas falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nicolas is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Nicolas

The surname Nicolas is of French origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Christian name Nicholas, which comes from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people." The name was widely used in France during the medieval period and was often given to children in honor of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Nicolas can be found in the Domesday Book, a record of landowners in England compiled by order of William the Conqueror in 1086. The book mentions a landowner named Nicolaus, which was likely a variant spelling of the French surname Nicolas.

In the 13th century, the surname Nicolas appeared in various records throughout France, often associated with families from the northern regions of the country. One notable example is Philippe de Nicolas, a 13th-century French knight who fought in the Crusades.

During the Renaissance period, the surname Nicolas gained prominence with the birth of Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543), the famous Polish astronomer who revolutionized the understanding of the solar system by proposing the heliocentric model.

Another notable figure with the surname Nicolas was Claude Nicolas Ledoux (1736-1806), a French architect and urban planner who designed many iconic buildings in Paris, including the Saltworks at Arc-et-Senans.

In the 19th century, the surname Nicolas was associated with several prominent artists and writers, such as Adolphe Nicolas (1803-1887), a French painter known for his historical and religious works, and Auguste Nicolas (1807-1876), a French poet and dramatist.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Nicolas in modern times was Nicolas de Staël (1914-1955), a French painter known for his abstract expressionist works and his influence on the art world of the mid-20th century.

Throughout history, the surname Nicolas has been prevalent in various regions of France, with some variations in spelling, such as Nicolle, Nicolleau, and Nicolet. These variations often reflected regional dialects or local traditions in naming conventions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nicolas families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nicolas 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. Middlesex leads with 22 Nicolas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.94x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 22 1.94x
Glamorgan 14 7.11x
Kent 12 3.11x
Devon 11 4.67x
Warwickshire 8 2.80x
Cornwall 7 5.46x
Channel Islands 6 17.89x
Hampshire 6 2.59x
Surrey 6 1.09x
Sussex 6 3.15x
Herefordshire 5 10.78x
Pembrokeshire 2 5.56x
Yorkshire 2 0.18x
Caithness 1 6.46x
Essex 1 0.45x
Lancashire 1 0.07x
Monmouthshire 1 1.22x
Montgomeryshire 1 3.86x
Northamptonshire 1 0.94x
Shropshire 1 1.02x
Somerset 1 0.55x
Wiltshire 1 1.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 8 Nicolas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.29x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 8 7.29x
Lidford 8 754.72x
Aberavon 7 386.74x
Aston 7 8.91x
Beckenham 6 118.81x
Madron 6 582.52x
Southampton St Mary 6 41.15x
Herne 5 292.40x
Kings Caple 5 4166.67x
Michaelstone Super Avon 5 234.74x
West Moulsey 5 1923.08x
Hammersmith London 3 10.76x
Sidmouth 3 222.22x
Enfield 2 26.95x
Jeffreston 2 1052.63x
Kingstonupon Hull 2 222.22x
Shoreditch London 2 4.08x
St Clement Danes 2 109.29x
St Helier 2 18.33x
Trinity 2 256.41x
Birmingham 1 1.05x
Botolphs 1 2500.00x
Brighton 1 2.60x
Cardiff St Mary 1 9.22x
Chingford 1 185.19x
Devizes St James 1 75.19x
Ealing 1 9.89x
Godstone 1 101.01x
Guilsfield 1 106.38x
Hampstead London 1 5.68x
Hastings St Mary 1 21.05x
Hove 1 11.95x
Lewisham 1 4.86x
Mabe 1 384.62x
Newhaven 1 64.52x
Newport 1 25.64x
Pontesbury 1 84.03x
Poplar London 1 4.68x
Shipley 1 232.56x
St George Hanover 1 6.77x
St Martin In Fields 1 14.77x
St Owen 1 113.64x
St Saviour 1 54.05x
Swansea Town 1 6.19x
Thornton In Fylde 1 34.01x
Twerton 1 53.19x
Wick 1 20.00x
Wicken 1 625.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Emily 3
Emma 3
Blanche 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Joanna 2
Martha 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Anniska 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Daisy 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Eusardia 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Jeanne 1
Jeannette 1
Jessie 1
Kathleen 1
Lillian 1
M. 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Maud 1
Norah 1
Pauline 1
Pheobe 1
Philippa 1
Rebekah 1
Ruth 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
Henry 5
George 3
John 3
Louis 3
Thomas 3
David 2
Joseph 2
Peter 2
Pierre 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Basil 1
Charles 1
Collin 1
Cyril 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Eugene 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
Harry 1
James 1
Jule 1
Lewis 1
N. 1
Paul 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
Tressilian 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Yves 1

FAQ

Nicolas surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nicolas surname in 1881?

In 1881, 111 people were recorded with the Nicolas surname. That placed it at #18,597 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nicolas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 332 in 2016. That gives Nicolas a modern rank of #13,706.

What does the Nicolas surname mean?

French occupational surname referring to a victor or conqueror of the people.

What does the Nicolas map show?

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