NameCensus.

UK surname

Nicoll

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from the barony of Nicol in Kincardineshire or a diminutive of Nicholas.

In the 1881 census there were 2,726 people recorded with the Nicoll surname, ranking it #1,635 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,767, ranked #1,797, down from #1,635 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Letham and Glamis, Kirriemuir and Broughty Ferry West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nicoll is 3,774 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.2%.

1881 census count

2,726

Ranked #1,635

Modern count

3,767

2016, ranked #1,797

Peak year

2014

3,774 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nicoll had 2,726 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,635 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,767 in 2016, ranked #1,797.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,472 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Nicoll surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nicoll surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nicoll 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 1,692 #1,706
1861 historical 1,911 #1,523
1881 historical 2,726 #1,635
1891 historical 3,110 #1,514
1901 historical 3,472 #1,606
1911 historical 822 #5,359
1997 modern 3,421 #1,891
1998 modern 3,604 #1,879
1999 modern 3,610 #1,883
2000 modern 3,530 #1,922
2001 modern 3,437 #1,928
2002 modern 3,519 #1,926
2003 modern 3,501 #1,885
2004 modern 3,453 #1,916
2005 modern 3,471 #1,875
2006 modern 3,452 #1,887
2007 modern 3,496 #1,885
2008 modern 3,533 #1,879
2009 modern 3,623 #1,878
2010 modern 3,691 #1,886
2011 modern 3,633 #1,890
2012 modern 3,620 #1,860
2013 modern 3,691 #1,855
2014 modern 3,774 #1,830
2015 modern 3,760 #1,812
2016 modern 3,767 #1,797

Geography

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Where Nicolls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, London parishes, Montrose and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Letham and Glamis, Kirriemuir, Broughty Ferry West, Monikie and Montrose South. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Forfar Forfar
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 London parishes London 3
4 Montrose Forfar
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Letham and Glamis Angus
2 Kirriemuir Angus
3 Broughty Ferry West Dundee City
4 Monikie Angus
5 Montrose South Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nicoll

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nicoll

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Nicoll surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Nicoll household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Nicoll 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

Nicoll is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nicoll 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 Nicoll 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 Nicoll, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Nicoll

The surname Nicoll has its origins in Scotland, where it first emerged in the Middle Ages around the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Niocal," which is a variant of the more familiar "Nicol" or "Nicholas." The name ultimately traces its roots back to the Greek name "Nikolaos," meaning "victory of the people."

The earliest recorded instances of the Nicoll surname can be found in medieval Scottish charters and records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is a mention of a "Roger Nicoll" in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England.

The Nicoll surname is closely associated with several regions in Scotland, particularly the counties of Aberdeenshire, Angus, and Fife. It is believed that the name may have originated in one of these areas, perhaps derived from a place name that has since been lost or obscured over time.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the Nicoll surname. One of the earliest was Sir John Nicoll, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the 15th century and served as the Lord of Spynie and Sheriff of Banff.

In the 16th century, Robert Nicoll (c. 1514-1596) was a prominent Scottish priest and scholar who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. He played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation and was known for his efforts to promote education and literacy.

Another notable figure was William Nicoll (1655-1727), a Scottish Episcopal minister who served as the Bishop of Dunkeld and later the Bishop of Carlisle. He was a respected theologian and author, known for his defense of the Episcopal Church against the growing influence of Presbyterianism.

In the 19th century, Robert Nicoll (1814-1837) was a Scottish poet and journalist who gained recognition for his works such as "Poems" and "The Memoirs of Adam Black." Despite his short life, he left a significant literary legacy and is considered one of the most influential Scottish poets of his time.

More recently, Allardyce Nicoll (1894-1976) was a renowned Scottish literary scholar and critic. He served as a professor of English literature at various universities, including the University of London and the University of Birmingham. Nicoll was widely respected for his contributions to the study of English drama and theater history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nicoll families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nicoll 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. Angus leads with 1,489 Nicolls recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.55x.

County Total Index
Angus 1,489 60.55x
Perthshire 188 15.78x
Middlesex 146 0.55x
Fife 117 7.45x
Aberdeenshire 107 4.35x
Lanarkshire 95 1.11x
Lancashire 89 0.28x
Kincardineshire 76 23.51x
Midlothian 55 1.55x
Surrey 43 0.33x
Essex 33 0.63x
Morayshire 24 5.82x
Banffshire 21 3.81x
Caithness 21 5.78x
Renfrewshire 20 0.97x
Yorkshire 17 0.06x
Stirlingshire 16 1.63x
Hertfordshire 15 0.82x
Kinross-shire 14 20.86x
Cumberland 11 0.48x
Durham 10 0.13x
Bedfordshire 9 0.65x
Inverness-shire 9 1.14x
Kent 9 0.10x
Royal Navy 7 2.21x
Sussex 7 0.16x
Ayrshire 6 0.30x
Cheshire 6 0.10x
Buteshire 5 3.11x
East Lothian 5 1.42x
Hampshire 5 0.09x
Lincolnshire 5 0.12x
Dumfriesshire 4 0.68x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.11x
Herefordshire 3 0.28x
Leicestershire 3 0.10x
Northumberland 3 0.08x
Argyllshire 2 0.27x
Roxburghshire 2 0.42x
Selkirkshire 2 0.83x
Staffordshire 2 0.02x
Suffolk 2 0.06x
Wiltshire 2 0.09x
Worcestershire 2 0.06x
Anglesey 1 0.21x
Berwickshire 1 0.31x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.06x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.46x
Cornwall 1 0.03x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.14x
Gloucestershire 1 0.02x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.26x
Northamptonshire 1 0.04x
Peeblesshire 1 0.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 549 Nicolls recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.80x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 549 59.80x
Liff Benvie 196 52.51x
Forfar 127 95.38x
Arbroath 62 76.08x
Montrose 61 40.93x
Monifieth 60 69.08x
St Vigeans 43 32.40x
Brechin 42 43.46x
Kirriemuir 42 69.23x
Barry 41 138.94x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 36 7.83x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 36 2.52x
Ferry Port On Craig 29 112.19x
Fettercairn 24 174.55x
Barony 23 1.06x
Lochee 22 100.32x
Auchindoir Kearn 20 144.93x
Monikie 20 155.16x
Tannadice 20 174.67x
West Ham 20 1.73x
Chelsea London 19 2.38x
Mortlach 19 70.68x
Glamis 18 121.29x
Hackney London 18 1.21x
Errol 17 77.03x
Inverkeillor 17 111.48x
Marykirk 17 127.53x
Perth West Church 16 28.30x
Gorbals 15 29.44x
Islington London 15 0.58x
Murroes 15 219.62x
Aberdeen Old Machar 14 2.73x
Craig 14 58.95x
Dysart 14 13.23x
Govan 14 0.66x
Panbride 14 109.29x
Airlie 13 164.77x
Battersea 13 1.33x
Carmyllie 13 124.05x
Kinfauns 13 240.30x
Perth East Church 13 11.57x
Wick 13 11.07x
Auchtergaven 12 60.09x
Meigle 12 135.44x
Fowlis Wester 11 108.27x
Kinnettles 11 313.39x
Lintrathen 11 188.36x
Creich 10 284.09x
Duffus 10 27.52x
Glasgow 10 0.66x
Mains 10 47.85x
Perth Middle Church 10 22.32x
Blairgowrie 9 19.10x
Forgan 9 29.90x
Guthrie 9 223.33x
Hammersmith London 9 1.38x
Kensington London 9 0.61x
Laurencekirk 9 48.05x
North Leith 9 5.47x
Perth St Pauls 9 32.63x
Trinity Gask 9 250.00x
West Greenock 9 2.44x
Woodford 9 15.17x
Barrow In Furness 8 1.87x
Bendochy 8 123.27x
Bermondsey 8 1.01x
Bervie 8 41.78x
Blackburn 8 0.95x
Forgandenny 8 140.35x
Inverarity 8 101.27x
Latheron 8 13.16x
Old Monkland 8 2.35x
Bepton 7 286.89x
Cathcart 7 6.29x
Falkirk 7 3.05x
Fetteresso 7 13.82x
Great Amwell 7 38.17x
Lambeth 7 0.30x
Shoreditch London 7 0.61x
Strathmartine 7 64.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 28
Mary 21
Margaret 10
Annie 8
Jane 8
Eliza 7
Emily 7
Emma 7
Isabella 7
Agnes 6
Alice 5
Harriett 5
Sarah 5
Ellen 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Catherine 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Jessie 3
Rebecca 3
Sophia 3
Amy 2
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Christina 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Helen 2
Hellen 2
Julia 2
Lydia 2
Margrett 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
E. 1
E.M.A. 1
Eda 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth.Juele 1
Harriette 1
Henrietta 1
Honora 1
Jemima 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 23
William 22
George 16
John 16
Charles 9
Thomas 9
Robert 8
David 6
Alexander 5
Andrew 5
Edward 5
Henry 5
Joseph 5
Arthur 3
Peter 3
Adam 2
Chas. 2
Donald 2
Ernest 2
Eugene 2
Frederick 2
Harold 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Richard 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Bertie 1
Clement 1
Coward 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.W. 1
Geoffrey 1
Jesse 1
Leonard 1
Micheal 1
Percy 1
Richd. 1
S.J.L. 1
Tagluf 1
Vere 1
Wykeham 1

FAQ

Nicoll surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nicoll surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,726 people were recorded with the Nicoll surname. That placed it at #1,635 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nicoll surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,767 in 2016. That gives Nicoll a modern rank of #1,797.

What does the Nicoll surname mean?

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from the barony of Nicol in Kincardineshire or a diminutive of Nicholas.

What does the Nicoll map show?

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