NameCensus.

UK surname

Nicole

Derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victorious people".

In the 1881 census there were 128 people recorded with the Nicole surname, ranking it #17,079 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 160, ranked #22,694, down from #17,079 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), St Leonard Shoreditch and Ely Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cotswold, East Cambridgeshire and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nicole is 160 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.0%.

1881 census count

128

Ranked #17,079

Modern count

160

2016, ranked #22,694

Peak year

2016

160 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nicole had 128 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,079 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016, ranked #22,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 136 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Nicole surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nicole surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nicole 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 84 #19,067
1861 historical 95 #21,768
1881 historical 128 #17,079
1891 historical 102 #23,719
1901 historical 129 #19,735
1911 historical 136 #18,962
1997 modern 76 #29,997
1998 modern 77 #30,289
1999 modern 73 #30,856
2000 modern 78 #30,361
2001 modern 78 #30,168
2002 modern 78 #30,601
2003 modern 71 #31,393
2004 modern 68 #31,880
2005 modern 69 #32,007
2006 modern 76 #31,633
2007 modern 81 #31,408
2008 modern 82 #31,597
2009 modern 86 #31,612
2010 modern 96 #30,854
2011 modern 107 #28,979
2012 modern 121 #26,829
2013 modern 121 #27,255
2014 modern 131 #26,089
2015 modern 135 #25,481
2016 modern 160 #22,694

Geography

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Where Nicoles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), St Leonard Shoreditch, Ely Trinity, London parishes and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cotswold, East Cambridgeshire, Babergh and East Craigs North. 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 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Ely Trinity Cambridgeshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cotswold 011 Cotswold
2 East Cambridgeshire 005 East Cambridgeshire
3 Babergh 009 Babergh
4 East Craigs North City of Edinburgh
5 Babergh 004 Babergh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nicole

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nicole

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Nicole surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Nicole 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Nicole is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Nicole 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

Nicole falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nicole 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Nicole

The surname Nicole originated from France in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, which means "victorious people." The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 11th century in Normandy, where it was spelled Nicol or Nichole.

In the 12th century, the name appeared in the Domesday Book, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest. The name was listed as Nicol, referring to landowners who had migrated from Normandy.

During the 13th century, the name gained popularity in various regions of France, including Brittany and Burgundy. It was often associated with individuals from noble or aristocratic backgrounds, such as Nicole de Blois (1263-1322), a French noblewoman and countess of Nevers.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in historical records in the Low Countries, particularly in the region of Flanders. One notable figure from this period was Nicole Oresme (c. 1320-1382), a French philosopher, mathematician, and Bishop of Lisieux.

In the 15th century, the name spread to other parts of Europe, including Italy and Germany. In Italy, it was sometimes rendered as Niccolò, as in the case of Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527), the famous Italian Renaissance political philosopher, historian, and writer.

During the 16th century, the name was found in various parts of France, including the regions of Normandy, Burgundy, and Picardy. One notable individual from this period was Nicole Gilles (c. 1520-1584), a French chronicler and historian known for his work on the history of France.

In the 17th century, the name continued to be used in various parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Germany. One notable figure from this period was Nicole Steno (1638-1686), a Danish Catholic bishop and pioneer in the field of stratigraphy and paleontology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nicole families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nicole 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 67 Nicoles recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 67 5.37x
Angus 13 11.24x
Cambridgeshire 8 10.12x
Surrey 8 1.31x
Devon 6 2.31x
Fife 4 5.41x
Midlothian 4 2.39x
Stirlingshire 4 8.69x
Suffolk 4 2.63x
Aberdeenshire 3 2.59x
Lanarkshire 2 0.50x
Banffshire 1 3.86x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.32x
Channel Islands 1 2.70x
Hampshire 1 0.39x
Yorkshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 25 Nicoles recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.71x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 25 35.71x
Dundee 10 23.16x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 8 231.88x
Enfield 8 97.68x
Clerkenwell London 7 23.75x
Hornsey 7 44.33x
St Bartholomew Less 7 1093.75x
Exeter St David 6 270.27x
Mile End Old Town 6 30.44x
Battersea 5 10.88x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 5.94x
Falkirk 4 37.11x
Hadleigh 4 270.27x
Liff Benvie 3 17.08x
Stoke Newington London 3 30.83x
Wemyss 3 95.85x
Barony 2 1.96x
Croydon 2 5.92x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 4.62x
Banff 1 44.44x
Bow London 1 6.29x
Cupar 1 31.15x
Hendon 1 22.27x
King Edward 1 75.19x
Minstead 1 270.27x
Newhills 1 42.19x
North Bierley 1 14.97x
St Andrew Holborn 1 23.64x
St Anne Soho London 1 14.03x
St Clement 1 178.57x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 33.22x
Windlesham 1 87.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 4
Elizabeth 4
Mary 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Margaret 3
Adelaide 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Laura 2
Rachel 2
Ada 1
Eliza 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Hester 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Nelly 1
Oner 1
Rossaline 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
Charles 5
Edward 3
Henry 3
Robert 3
Francis 2
George 2
John 2
Samuel 2
Theopoluis 2
Alexis 1
Arthur 1
Broadbent 1
David 1
Donald 1
Edgar 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Oliver 1
Otto 1
Rowland 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Victor 1

FAQ

Nicole surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nicole surname in 1881?

In 1881, 128 people were recorded with the Nicole surname. That placed it at #17,079 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nicole surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016. That gives Nicole a modern rank of #22,694.

What does the Nicole surname mean?

Derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victorious people".

What does the Nicole map show?

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