NameCensus.

UK surname

Nix

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Nicholas, or an occupational surname referring to a water sprite.

In the 1881 census there were 766 people recorded with the Nix surname, ranking it #4,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 875, ranked #6,427, down from #4,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dudley, Dowsby with Graby and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, East Cambridgeshire and Gedling.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nix is 1,019 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.2%.

1881 census count

766

Ranked #4,826

Modern count

875

2016, ranked #6,427

Peak year

1901

1,019 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nix had 766 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 875 in 2016, ranked #6,427.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,019 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Nix surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nix surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nix 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 484 #5,151
1881 historical 766 #4,826
1901 historical 1,019 #4,683
1997 modern 957 #5,682
1998 modern 997 #5,687
1999 modern 1,002 #5,705
2000 modern 962 #5,871
2001 modern 948 #5,828
2002 modern 953 #5,913
2003 modern 953 #5,822
2004 modern 940 #5,891
2005 modern 929 #5,885
2006 modern 923 #5,922
2007 modern 911 #6,032
2008 modern 916 #6,058
2009 modern 922 #6,140
2010 modern 924 #6,254
2011 modern 918 #6,232
2012 modern 904 #6,231
2013 modern 898 #6,353
2014 modern 907 #6,337
2015 modern 885 #6,396
2016 modern 875 #6,427

Geography

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Where Nix' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dudley, Dowsby with Graby, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, East Cambridgeshire, Gedling, South Kesteven and Rutland. 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 Dudley Staffordshire
2 Dowsby with Graby Lincolnshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 024 Wakefield
2 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire
3 Gedling 015 Gedling
4 South Kesteven 005 South Kesteven
5 Rutland 005 Rutland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nix

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nix

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Nix surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Nix 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Nix 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

Nix is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Nix

The surname Nix originated in Germany, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "nix," meaning a water sprite or goblin. This is likely a reference to the mythical creatures associated with rivers and streams.

In medieval times, the name Nix was prominent in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a 1287 document from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which mentions a "Conrad Nix" as a landowner.

The name Nix can also be traced back to certain place names. For instance, the village of Nixdorf in Saxony may have contributed to the surname's origins. Additionally, the variant spelling "Nicks" was found in records from the city of Cologne in the 14th century.

In the 15th century, the name Nix gained further prominence with the birth of Johann Nix (1470-1538), a German theologian and humanist scholar who served as the Bishop of Angers in France. Another notable figure was Wilhelm Nix (1573-1644), a German composer and organist known for his sacred works.

The Domesday Book, a medieval survey of landowners in England, does not contain any direct references to the name Nix. However, it is possible that some early variations of the name existed in England during that period.

Other historical figures with the surname Nix include:

1. Nathaniel Nix (1627-1688), an English merchant and member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. 2. Johann Samuel Nix (1680-1744), a German painter and engraver known for his landscapes and religious works. 3. John Nix (1737-1796), an American soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War. 4. Elizabeth Nix (1815-1889), an American pioneer and one of the first settlers in the Oregon Territory. 5. John Nix (1801-1879), an English cricketer who played for Kent County Cricket Club in the early 19th century.

While the surname Nix has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by migration and cultural exchange over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nix families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nix 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 92 Nix' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.22x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 92 1.22x
Lincolnshire 86 7.13x
Nottinghamshire 85 8.36x
Derbyshire 63 5.34x
Surrey 55 1.50x
Devon 42 2.68x
Essex 38 2.55x
Worcestershire 36 3.66x
Yorkshire 36 0.48x
Oxfordshire 27 5.80x
Warwickshire 27 1.42x
Sussex 23 1.81x
Cambridgeshire 22 4.61x
Huntingdonshire 19 12.69x
Kent 19 0.74x
Durham 17 0.76x
Northamptonshire 16 2.26x
Lancashire 15 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 7 1.54x
Dorset 6 1.21x
Staffordshire 6 0.24x
Glamorgan 5 0.38x
Leicestershire 5 0.60x
Shropshire 5 0.77x
Wiltshire 5 0.75x
Hampshire 3 0.19x
Royal Navy 3 3.34x
Norfolk 2 0.17x
Somerset 2 0.16x
Berkshire 1 0.18x
Channel Islands 1 0.45x
Cheshire 1 0.06x
Cornwall 1 0.12x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Northumberland 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Radford in Nottinghamshire leads with 32 Nix' recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.98x.

Place Total Index
Radford 32 61.98x
Dudley 25 20.88x
Islington London 22 3.01x
Nottingham St Mary 19 7.23x
Worth 17 184.18x
Thorverton 16 672.27x
Chobham 15 231.12x
Bethnal Green London 13 3.97x
Stockton On Tees 13 12.02x
Tibshelf 13 224.53x
Beswick 11 48.08x
Camberwell 11 2.28x
Lambeth 11 1.67x
Northfield 11 58.89x
Windlesham 11 159.19x
Aston 10 1.91x
Derby St Werburgh 10 14.67x
Oxford St Ebbe 10 72.94x
Derby St Peter 9 23.94x
Great Gonerby 9 289.39x
Hackney London 9 2.13x
Kettering 9 31.37x
Alfreton 8 22.31x
Chelsea London 8 3.52x
Coveney 8 634.92x
Derby St Alkmund 8 22.61x
Drypool 8 69.93x
Greasley 8 34.89x
Lenton 8 33.42x
Alwalton 7 853.66x
Deptford St Paul 7 3.53x
Greasbrough 7 70.92x
Great Burstead 7 129.15x
Honington 7 1521.74x
Milton 7 492.96x
North Ockendon 7 813.95x
Shoreditch London 7 2.14x
Solihull 7 51.21x
Somersham 7 192.31x
Westminster St John 7 7.62x
Clayhidon 6 392.16x
Darton 6 78.43x
Featherstone 6 71.51x
Grantham 6 38.19x
Laughton In Bourn 6 2857.14x
Melcombe Regis 6 29.25x
Oxford St Giles 6 27.00x
Simpson 6 314.14x
Snenton 6 15.03x
Tattershall Thorpe 6 750.00x
Westminster St 6 21.58x
Exeter St Stephen 5 609.76x
Gosberton 5 93.28x
Haydor 5 531.91x
St Marylebone London 5 1.24x
Warminster 5 34.22x
West Ham 5 1.52x
Wingfield South 5 158.23x
Witney 5 64.18x
Woolwich 5 5.26x
Ancaster 4 236.69x
Bicester Market End 4 46.78x
Birmingham 4 0.63x
Chatteris 4 32.81x
Fosdyke 4 325.20x
Kingskerswell 4 153.26x
Kingston On Thames 4 4.53x
Leake 4 72.46x
Lynsted 4 120.12x
Mundon 4 481.93x
Normanton 4 17.82x
Pickworth 4 677.97x
Purleigh 4 180.18x
Ratcliffe London 4 9.61x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 4 55.56x
Silverton 4 122.32x
Spittlegate 4 23.98x
Stillington 4 3076.92x
Uffculme 4 85.47x
Whitechapel London 4 5.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 52
John 50
Thomas 27
George 25
Henry 21
James 21
Charles 16
Edward 14
Samuel 14
Robert 11
Alfred 10
Frank 8
Frederick 8
Herbert 8
Joseph 7
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Benjamin 5
Harry 5
Richard 5
Adam 4
Sidney 4
Walter 4
Christopher 3
Philip 3
Edwin 2
Emery 2
Ernest 2
Fredric 2
Geo. 2
Luke 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Chas. 1
Clements 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Enoch 1
Fred 1
Frs.W. 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Josiah 1
Julius 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Richd. 1

FAQ

Nix surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nix surname in 1881?

In 1881, 766 people were recorded with the Nix surname. That placed it at #4,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nix surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 875 in 2016. That gives Nix a modern rank of #6,427.

What does the Nix surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Nicholas, or an occupational surname referring to a water sprite.

What does the Nix map show?

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