NameCensus.

UK surname

Nielsen

A patronymic surname of Danish origin meaning "son of Niels," a Scandinavian form of Nicholas.

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Nielsen surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,247, ranked #4,787, up from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and All Saints Poplar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, Merton and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nielsen is 1,284 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1199.0%.

1881 census count

96

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

1,247

2016, ranked #4,787

Peak year

2010

1,284 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nielsen had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,247 in 2016, ranked #4,787.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 287 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Nielsen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nielsen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nielsen 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
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1881 historical 96 #20,248
1891 historical 107 #22,967
1901 historical 208 #14,760
1911 historical 287 #11,784
1997 modern 975 #5,615
1998 modern 1,052 #5,434
1999 modern 1,082 #5,357
2000 modern 1,106 #5,247
2001 modern 1,106 #5,145
2002 modern 1,123 #5,202
2003 modern 1,113 #5,122
2004 modern 1,135 #5,055
2005 modern 1,125 #5,042
2006 modern 1,136 #4,988
2007 modern 1,163 #4,937
2008 modern 1,182 #4,890
2009 modern 1,221 #4,867
2010 modern 1,284 #4,749
2011 modern 1,282 #4,705
2012 modern 1,231 #4,809
2013 modern 1,262 #4,786
2014 modern 1,274 #4,764
2015 modern 1,249 #4,808
2016 modern 1,247 #4,787

Geography

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Where Nielsens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, All Saints Poplar and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, Merton, Newcastle upon Tyne and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 003 North East Lincolnshire
2 Merton 003 Merton
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 029 Newcastle upon Tyne
4 North East Lincolnshire 007 North East Lincolnshire
5 Kensington and Chelsea 010 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nielsen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nielsen

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nielsen, 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 Nielsen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Nielsen 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, Nielsen 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

Nielsen 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

Nielsen falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Nielsen

The surname Nielsen is of Danish origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is a patronymic surname, meaning "son of Niels." Niels is a Danish form of the name Nicholas, which derives from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people."

The earliest recorded instances of the Nielsen surname can be traced back to the 15th century in Denmark. In some regions, the name was also spelled as Nielssen or Nielson. The surname was particularly common in the Danish islands of Zealand and Funen, as well as in the regions of North Jutland and Schleswig-Holstein.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the Nielsen surname was Peder Nielsen, a Danish clergyman and theologian who lived from around 1480 to 1542. He was known for his contributions to the Protestant Reformation in Denmark.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Nielsen surname began to spread beyond Denmark's borders. In Norway, the name was often spelled as Nielssen or Nilssen. In Sweden, it appeared as Nilsson or Nielsson.

One notable bearer of the Nielsen surname was Ludvig Nielsen, a Danish naval officer and explorer who lived from 1832 to 1891. He is known for leading several expeditions to Greenland and contributing to the mapping of the island's coastline.

In the 19th century, the Nielsen surname also gained prominence in the United States due to Danish immigration. One example is Adolphus Nielsen, a Danish-American businessman and politician who lived from 1857 to 1938. He served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Another individual of note is Niels Henrik David Bohr, a Danish physicist who lived from 1885 to 1962. He is renowned for his contributions to the understanding of atomic structure and quantum theory, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922.

The Nielsen surname has also been associated with various place names in Denmark, such as Nielstrup, Nielsby, and Nielsholm, which likely derived from individuals bearing the name who lived in or owned those localities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nielsen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nielsen 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 Nielsens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.35x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 22 2.35x
Lancashire 17 1.53x
Northumberland 11 7.90x
Cornwall 8 7.55x
Yorkshire 8 0.86x
Lincolnshire 5 3.34x
Fife 4 7.22x
Durham 3 1.08x
Midlothian 3 2.39x
Surrey 3 0.66x
Cheshire 2 0.97x
Glamorgan 2 1.23x
Berkshire 1 1.42x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.69x
Devon 1 0.51x
Gloucestershire 1 0.54x
Hampshire 1 0.52x
Kent 1 0.31x
Monmouthshire 1 1.48x
Renfrewshire 1 1.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 9 Nielsens recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.34x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 9 13.34x
Poplar London 9 50.93x
Toxteth Park 7 18.61x
Falmouth 6 160.00x
North Shields 6 215.83x
St Anne Soho London 4 74.77x
St George Hanover 4 32.73x
St George In East 4 62.79x
Great Grimsby 3 31.58x
Rotherhithe 3 25.93x
Burntisland 2 129.03x
Cardiff St Mary 2 22.27x
Clee With Weelsby 2 60.98x
Elswick 2 17.99x
Ferry Port On Craig 2 219.78x
Holy Trinity 2 8.96x
Holy Trinity St Mary 2 141.84x
Kingstonupon Hull 2 270.27x
Leith North 2 833.33x
Stranton 2 21.32x
Amble 1 158.73x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 33.90x
Birkenhead 1 6.07x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 11.34x
Cookham 1 45.66x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 32.36x
Gloucester 1 1666.67x
Goole 1 64.52x
Greenock Oldor West 1 500.00x
Inveresk 1 29.41x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 666.67x
Newport 1 30.96x
North Tawton 1 166.67x
Paddington London 1 2.90x
South Shields 1 40.32x
Southampton 1 666.67x
St Andrewthe Less 1 14.75x
St Blazey 1 107.53x
St Columb Minor 1 112.36x
Wallasey 1 142.86x
Whitby 1 31.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Niels 5
Ole 4
Peter 4
Jens 3
Christian 2
Claus 2
J.C. 2
John 2
Jorgen 2
Julius 2
N. 2
Adolph 1
Alfred 1
Anders 1
Andreas 1
Andrews 1
Bernt 1
Carl 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
E. 1
Eduard 1
Eilerk 1
Emanuel 1
Frederick 1
Gerald 1
H. 1
H.H. 1
Hans 1
Harry 1
Haus 1
Jacob 1
Jaegen 1
Jargen 1
Jeff 1
Johan 1
Johann 1
Joseph 1
L. 1
Ludvig 1
Ludwig 1
N.P. 1
Neils 1
R.P. 1
Severin 1
Sophas 1
Stephen 1
Stuon 1
T. 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Nielsen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nielsen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Nielsen surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nielsen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,247 in 2016. That gives Nielsen a modern rank of #4,787.

What does the Nielsen surname mean?

A patronymic surname of Danish origin meaning "son of Niels," a Scandinavian form of Nicholas.

What does the Nielsen map show?

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