UK surname
A surname derived from the Old English personal name "Nics" or "Nicol", a diminutive of Nicholas.
In the 1881 census there were 85 people recorded with the Nixson surname, ranking it #21,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 92, ranked #32,035, down from #21,573 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Wicklewood and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nixson is 140 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.2%.
1881 census count
85
Ranked #21,573
Modern count
92
2016, ranked #32,035
Peak year
1911
140 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Nixson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Nixson surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 88 | #18,569 |
| 1861 | historical | 115 | #18,880 |
| 1881 | historical | 85 | #21,573 |
| 1891 | historical | 87 | #25,802 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 140 | #18,657 |
| 1997 | modern | 93 | #27,932 |
| 1998 | modern | 99 | #27,785 |
| 1999 | modern | 93 | #28,711 |
| 2000 | modern | 94 | #28,573 |
| 2001 | modern | 93 | #28,382 |
| 2002 | modern | 90 | #29,314 |
| 2003 | modern | 92 | #28,974 |
| 2004 | modern | 90 | #29,481 |
| 2005 | modern | 83 | #30,486 |
| 2006 | modern | 86 | #30,425 |
| 2007 | modern | 89 | #30,383 |
| 2008 | modern | 87 | #30,999 |
| 2009 | modern | 96 | #30,239 |
| 2010 | modern | 94 | #31,111 |
| 2011 | modern | 95 | #30,877 |
| 2012 | modern | 91 | #31,659 |
| 2013 | modern | 95 | #31,523 |
| 2014 | modern | 94 | #31,909 |
| 2015 | modern | 93 | #31,972 |
| 2016 | modern | 92 | #32,035 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Wicklewood, London parishes, Wigton and North Meols. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Wicklewood | Norfolk |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | Wigton | Cumberland |
| 5 | North Meols | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Nixson surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nixson, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Nixson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Nixson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Nixson is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nixson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Nixson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname NIXSON is of English origin, first appearing in the historical records of the 14th century. It is believed to derive from the Old English word "nic," which meant a small inlet or creek, combined with the word "son," indicating a person who lived near such a geographic feature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1327, where it is spelled "Nykessone." This suggests that the name may have originated in the southwestern regions of England, possibly in the county of Gloucestershire or its surrounding areas.
In the 15th century, variations of the name began to appear in various documents, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where it was written as "Nykson" in 1440. This indicates that the name had spread to other parts of England, likely due to migration and population movements.
The NIXSON surname is also found in several ancient manuscripts and historical records. For instance, it appears in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1674, which recorded households in England and Wales for taxation purposes. Additionally, the name is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror.
Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname NIXSON include:
1. William NIXSON (c. 1510 - 1588), an English merchant and alderman in the City of London. 2. John NIXSON (1678 - 1743), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Derbyshire, England. 3. Mary NIXSON (1720 - 1792), a renowned herbalist and author of "The English Housewife's Herbal" published in 1765. 4. Edward NIXSON (1832 - 1912), a British explorer and naturalist who led expeditions to the Amazon rainforest in the late 19th century. 5. Margaret NIXSON (1867 - 1944), an English suffragette and activist for women's rights, known for her involvement in the Women's Social and Political Union.
The NIXSON surname is deeply rooted in English heritage, with its origins dating back centuries and its early bearers hailing from various regions of the country. It has been carried by individuals from diverse walks of life, including merchants, landowners, authors, explorers, and activists, contributing to the rich tapestry of English history and culture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nixson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 27 Nixsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.74x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 27 | 2.74x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 1.33x |
| Dunbartonshire | 9 | 40.40x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.85x |
| Flintshire | 6 | 26.92x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.49x |
| Cambridgeshire | 5 | 9.52x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 2.73x |
| Norfolk | 5 | 3.92x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 1.62x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.40x |
| Radnorshire | 1 | 14.95x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cardross in Dunbartonshire leads with 9 Nixsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 335.82x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cardross | 9 | 335.82x |
| North Meols | 8 | 83.07x |
| Hammersmith London | 7 | 34.28x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 6 | 37.24x |
| Birkdale | 5 | 200.80x |
| Mold Hartsheath | 5 | 8333.33x |
| Putney | 5 | 132.28x |
| Wicklewood | 5 | 2380.95x |
| Widnes | 5 | 70.42x |
| Nantwich | 4 | 187.79x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 6.45x |
| Pendleton In Clitheroe | 3 | 810.81x |
| Rampton | 3 | 4285.71x |
| Elswick | 2 | 20.30x |
| Everton | 2 | 6.38x |
| Manchester | 2 | 4.52x |
| Wisbech St Peter | 2 | 76.05x |
| Bramhall | 1 | 131.58x |
| Hunslet | 1 | 7.81x |
| Knighton | 1 | 185.19x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.67x |
| Rhuddlan | 1 | 51.02x |
| Sharples | 1 | 93.46x |
| Streatham | 1 | 16.26x |
| West Linton | 1 | 769.23x |
| Westminster St | 1 | 32.68x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nixson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Nixson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Nixson households.
FAQ
In 1881, 85 people were recorded with the Nixson surname. That placed it at #21,573 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 92 in 2016. That gives Nixson a modern rank of #32,035.
A surname derived from the Old English personal name "Nics" or "Nicol", a diminutive of Nicholas.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nixson bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.