Surname MacNicol - Meaning and Origin
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MacNicol: What does the surname MacNicol mean?
The last name MacNicol is of Scottish origin and is derived from the personal name, Nicholas. "Mac" in Gaelic means "son of," thus MacNicol translates to "son of Nicol," or "son of Nicholas." The name Nicholas itself has Greek origins, and means "victory of the people." It was a popular name for boys in medieval Scotland, hence its widespread use as a surname. The moniker has various spellings including MacNicol, Nicolson, Nicholson, MacNichol, MacNickle, MacNickel, and many others. The MacNicol family is particularly associated with Argyllshire and the Isle of Skye in Scotland, implying a strong Highland lineage. Like many Scottish clan names, MacNicol carries with it a rich history woven into the social fabric of Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisMacNicol: Where does the name MacNicol come from?
The last name MacNicol (sometimes spelled MacNichol) is a Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic MacNíceallaigh. The name is thought to have originally meant "son of the follower of St. Nicholas". The MacNicol / MacNichol family name is still present in Scotland today, with concentrations around the Argyll and Bute region. A number of individuals with the MacNicol last name are also located in North America, descended from Scottish emigrants.
In Scotland, the MacNicol surname is particularly common in areas near the Kintyre Peninsula in Located in Western Scotland in the Argyll and Bute area. There are also several MacNicol surnames in some more remote areas of Scotland such as the Isle of Lunga and Parts of Argyllshire.
In certain areas of the United States, MacNicol is a fairly common surname, particularly in locations with a large Scottish American population. It is particularly common in states like Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. California, Oregon and Texas also have high concentrations of people with the last name MacNicol.
Outside North America, MacNicol also has some representation in Australia, Europe and South Africa. The MacNicol surname has a strong presence in Scotland, North America and other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname MacNicol
The surname MacNicol is derived from the Gaelic Mac Niocail meaning “son of Nicodemus”. Nicodemus was likely a diminutive form of a Gaelic personal name Niocaill meaning “victor of the people”. This surname is considered to both Scottish and Irish in origin, and is fairly widespread. Some variants and alternate spellings of the surname MacNicol include MacNickol, MacNicoll, MacNicolt, MacNicol, MacNichol, MacNicholl, MacNicle, MacNickels, and MacNickle. These variations are often found in the different parts of the world that different branches of the MacNicol family have settled.
In terms of surnames of similar origin, the variations of MacNicail, MacNicol and MacNickell are all derived from the same Gaelic personal name Niocaill from which MacNicol is derived. The Nicholson surname is thought to have derived from the Scottish patronymic MacNicol, and is also considered a variation of the MacNickel or MacNickol family. Other surnames derived from the same personal name include Nickells, Nickell, Nicol, Nichol, Nicholl, Nicholls, Nicholes, and Niccolls. All of these variants are likely to have descended from the same Gaelic personal name, but they have evolved over time due to changes in spelling, language and cultural influences from the various countries they have been borne in.
Famous people with the name MacNicol
- Peter MacNicol: American actor known for his roles in the films Sophie's Choice and Ghostbusters II
- Malcolm MacNicol: Scottish actor known for his roles in films Braveheart and The Brides of Dracula
- Clyde MacNicol: Canadian geologist and professor at UBC
- Donald MacNicol: Canadian mathematician and professor at the University of Toronto
- Peter MacNicol: American writer and journalist
- Constance MacNicol: Scottish poet and author of the collection Wildgoose
- Talia MacNicol: American television producer known for her work on shows like True Blood and Grey's Anatomy
- Alastair MacNicol: Scottish architect and author
- John MacNicol: Scottish artist and oil painter
- Neill MacNicol: Scottish actor known for his roles in the films The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Angels' Share