Surname Nicolson - Meaning and Origin

Nicolson: What does the surname Nicolson mean?

The surname Nicolson is of Celtic origin and it essentially means "son of Nicolas". It is derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, which is a combination of the words "nike" meaning "victory" and "laos" meaning "people". The name Nicolson is more common in Scotland, particularly in the Northern Isles and the Highlands, where it emerged during the Middle Ages. In the old tradition of patronymic names, ‘Nicol’, a variant of Nicolas, was altered to ‘Nicolson’ to indicate a family relationship or lineage. Therefore, a person carrying the surname ‘Nicolson’ was identified as the descendant or son of Nicol. This name also has various regional variations including Nicholson, Nickolson, and Nicolassen, among others. It is worth noting that, like many other surnames, spelling variations over centuries are common due to changes in language and handwriting styles.

Nicolson: Where does the name Nicolson come from?

Today, the Nicholson surname is most common in England, Scotland, and Ireland. It is also found in many other countries around the world, such as Canada, Australia, the United States, New Zealand, and South Africa.

The Nicholson surname has a long history in England, Scotland and Ireland. Records indicate that it first emerged in the Lancashire region of England in the late 12th century. From there, it spread to other areas in Great Britain and eventualy to other countries.

It is not known exactly where the name originated, but it is thought to be derived from an ancient English or Norman phrase meaning "son of Nicholas". This is why the Nicholson surname often features many different spellings. The most common spellings are Nicholson, Nickelson, Nicolson, Nickleson, and Nichelson.

Despite its long history in the British Isles, the Nicholson surname is very common today. It is the 94th most common surname in England and the 46th most common surname in Scotland. In Ireland, the surname is also common and is the 59th most common name. In Canada, it is the 401st most popular name, with the highest concentration in Ontaria.

Overall, the Nicholson surname is one of the most common surnames in the world, especially in Great Britain and Canada.

Variations of the surname Nicolson

The surname Nicolson is an occupational surname derived from the Middle English nickname for a son of Nicholas, as the name Nicholas means ‘people’s victory’. It originates from both Ireland and Scotland and its variations in spelling and surname include Niccolson, Nicolsonne, Nikkalson, Nickalason, Nickallson, Nicolasone, Nicolsonne, Nikland, MacNichol, Nichol, Nicholasson, Nicholasen, Nicolaisen, Nicolauson, Nicolsonne, Nicholsen, Nickolsen, Nicholls, Nichols, Nicholson, and more.

In Scotland, the Nicolson or MacNicol group of families are completely distinct from the Nichol or Nicoll families, both of which are found mainly in the Highlands and Hebrides. The handful of families which have the hereditary Chiefship of Clan Nicolson trace their ancestry back to Roibert MacNeacail of Cranstoun and Asserye in the early 14th century. MacNicol is considered to be a separate variant of the larger name Nicson/Nicolson, which have Scotland as their original homeland.

In Ireland, the surnames Nicholson and Nickson are derived from the Gaelic form MacNeachtain, or ‘son of Niachtain’. The name Niachtain means ‘gentle, kind, gentle spirit’, thus, the Irish bearers of the surname Niachtain adopted the English spelling of Nicholson. Conversely, the Irish bearers of the surname Nicholson may have adopted the Gaelic form MacNiachtain.

Today, the Nicolson surname, its variants and spellings are found throughout Europe, from the United States to Denmark to Australia and beyond.

Famous people with the name Nicolson

• Jack Nicholson: American actor and filmmaker. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Actor and three Golden Globe Awards.
• Claire Nicolson: British actress who played the role of Sybil Fawlty in the classic sitcom Fawlty Towers.
• Nicolson Allen: British stage and screen actor, best known for his roles in British films and television series in the 1930s and 1940s.
• Duncan Nicolson: British film composer, most recently known for his work on the Harry Potter franchise.
• John Nicolson: Member of the British Parliament for East Dunbartonshire since 2015.
• Gordon Nicolson: Scottish rugby player, never capped for his country but captained several clubs.
• Kate Nicolson: British figure skater, who represented her country at the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics.
• Thomas Nicolson: British journalist and broadcaster, who worked as a political columnist for The Times.
• David Nicolson: British motor racing driver, who won the 1988 British Formula 3000 Championship.
• Nathan Nicolson: Canadian actor, famous for his role as Dr. Brian Baird in the medical drama television series, Saving Hope.

Other surnames

Nicols