Surname Nicholes - Meaning and Origin
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Nicholes: What does the surname Nicholes mean?
The surname Nicholes is an Anglicized version of the Greek personal name 'Nicholas', which means 'victory of the people'. This name is composed of two elements: "nikē", which means 'victory' and "laos", which means 'people'. The name became popular due to the fame of two saints named Nicholas. The first was Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of Russia, sailors, and children, who is known as Saint Nicholas of Santa Claus. The second was the 4th-century bishop of Pinara in Lycia. Therefore, the surname Nicholes may denote 'descendant or follower of Nicholas'. It is important to note that surnames had different origins; while some were derived from the name of a clan or place, others originated from nicknames, occupation, and more.
Order DNA origin analysisNicholes: Where does the name Nicholes come from?
The last name Nicholes is found predominantly in English speaking countries today, though the origins of the name are from France and Germany.
In the United Kingdom, records of the name going back to the 13th century suggest it is mostly concentrated in areas in the west Midlands region such as Worcester, Shropshire, and Gloucestershire. The surname is also quite well represented in Scotland, mainly in the Lothian region.
The United States, which has the largest population of Nicholes, has the surname mostly concentrated in the South-eastern states. In fact, one of the earliest records of the name in America dates from 1651 in Virginia.
Australia and Canada also have a few hundred records. In Canada it is mostly found in Ontario, while in Australia it is most popular in New South Wales.
In New Zealand, the name is mostly found in the Wellington region.
Overall, the last name Nicholes is most commonly associated with the English language. However, variations of the name have been found in Romania, Hungary, Portugal, and Italy.
Variations of the surname Nicholes
Nicholes is a surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the given name Nicholas, which is a variant of the Greek name Nikolaos, which was derived from Nikos, meaning "victory of the people" or "to conquer”. It has many spelling variations, including Nicholls, Nichols, Nichol, Nicholls, Nicholes, Nickells, Nickels, Nicols, Nicholson, and Nicolson.
The variations of the name are likely to have arisen due to differences in dialect and pronunciation, and may also be heard in different countries due to immigration. In England, for example, the variations Nickells, Nickels and Nicols are more commonly heard, whereas in Scotland and Ireland, Nicholson and Nicolson are more popular.
In some cases, the surname Nickels may have also come from the occupation of nickel plater, an early industrial job which involved silver-plating metals with nickel. This is an example of an occupational surname, which was derived from the specific type of work that an ancestor practiced.
The variant of the name in various countries can tell us something about our ancestral origins if we look closely. For example, the surname Nichol has been recorded in Germany since the 16th century, which suggests that some ancestors had moved there from England, probably for economic reasons.
In other surnames, such as Nichols, Nicol, Nicholson, and Nicolson, we should look out for locations in Scotland and Ireland, as these forms of the name are most common in those countries. It is possible that some of our ancestors may have traveled from other areas of England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland, as the surname Nicholes has been found in all of these locations.
Famous people with the name Nicholes
- Maria Nicholes: Mexican singer and songwriter
- Aaron Nicholes: Professional American Football player for the San Diego Chargers
- Jack Nicholes: American actor, best known for his roles in The Young and the Restless, House of Cards and Elementary
- Trson Nicholes: Australian musician, from the popular folk-rock band Limp Bizkit
- William Nicholes: British actor, known for his roles in Doctor Who and Sherlock
- Rhonda Nicholes: American professional golfer and winner of multiple championships
- William Nicholes: American country music singer and songwriter
- Sarah Nicholes: British fashion designer and entrepreneur
- Lawrence Nicholes: American stock car racing driver, winner of multiple championships
- Emma Nicholes: Australian actress and vocalist, best known for her roles in Pirates of the Caribbean and The Alter Effect