NameCensus.

UK surname

Nikolov

A surname derived from the Bulgarian male name Nikola, meaning "victory of the people".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Newham and Tower Hamlets.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nikolov is 489 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

489

2016, ranked #10,141

Peak year

2016

489 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 489 in 2016, ranked #10,141.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Nikolov surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nikolov surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nikolov 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
1997 modern 10 #37,060
1998 modern 11 #36,908
1999 modern 10 #37,072
2000 modern 13 #36,635
2001 modern 14 #36,372
2002 modern 26 #35,338
2003 modern 50 #33,362
2004 modern 68 #31,880
2005 modern 73 #31,616
2006 modern 75 #31,733
2007 modern 132 #24,166
2008 modern 158 #21,690
2009 modern 212 #18,328
2010 modern 274 #15,705
2011 modern 269 #15,800
2012 modern 364 #12,564
2013 modern 411 #11,669
2014 modern 453 #10,830
2015 modern 476 #10,379
2016 modern 489 #10,141

Geography

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Where Nikolovs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 007 Shropshire
2 Newham 009 Newham
3 Tower Hamlets 028 Tower Hamlets
4 Waltham Forest 007 Waltham Forest
5 Waltham Forest 016 Waltham Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nikolov

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nikolov

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Nikolov surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Nikolov 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Nikolov is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nikolov 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

Nikolov falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nikolov is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Nikolov

The surname Nikolov is of Bulgarian origin, deriving from the personal name Nikola, which is the Bulgarian form of the Greek name Nicholas. The name Nicholas itself derives from the Greek words "niko" meaning "victor" and "laos" meaning "people," thus translating to "victor of the people."

The earliest recorded instances of the Nikolov surname can be traced back to the 14th century in the regions of present-day Bulgaria. During this time, the use of hereditary surnames was becoming more widespread among the Bulgarian nobility and upper classes, with surnames often derived from personal names, occupations, or geographical locations.

One notable historical figure bearing the Nikolov surname was Ivan Nikolov, a Bulgarian revolutionary who lived from 1859 to 1926. Nikolov played a significant role in the struggle for Bulgarian independence from the Ottoman Empire, participating in various uprisings and serving as a member of the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee.

Another prominent individual with the Nikolov surname was Petko Nikolov, a Bulgarian painter and art teacher who lived from 1877 to 1964. Nikolov's works, which often depicted scenes from rural Bulgarian life, are considered important contributions to the development of modern Bulgarian art.

In the realm of literature, Vera Nikolova (1914-1990) was a celebrated Bulgarian writer and poet. Her poetry collections, such as "Belite Prasti" (The White Stones) and "Ogledalo" (Mirror), explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, earning her recognition as one of the most influential Bulgarian poets of the 20th century.

The Nikolov surname has also been present in the field of sports. Hristo Nikolov (born 1967) is a former Bulgarian football goalkeeper who played for several clubs, including CSKA Sofia and Sporting CP in Portugal. He was also a member of the Bulgarian national team and participated in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Another notable bearer of the Nikolov surname was Evgeni Nikolov (1926-2007), a Bulgarian mathematician and computer scientist. Nikolov made significant contributions to the fields of numerical analysis and mathematical modeling, and his work played a crucial role in the development of computer technology in Bulgaria.

While the Nikolov surname has its roots in Bulgaria, it has since spread to other parts of the world, with individuals bearing this name found in various countries and cultures. However, the historical and cultural significance of the Nikolov surname remains deeply rooted in its Bulgarian origins and the rich tapestry of Bulgarian history and heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Nikolov surname: questions and answers

How common is the Nikolov surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 489 in 2016. That gives Nikolov a modern rank of #10,141.

What does the Nikolov surname mean?

A surname derived from the Bulgarian male name Nikola, meaning "victory of the people".

What does the Nikolov map show?

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