Surname Nickolaus - Meaning and Origin
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Nickolaus: What does the surname Nickolaus mean?
The last name Nickolaus is of German origin and is most likely derived from the given name Nicolas, which is derived from the Greek name Nikolaos. The name Nikolaos meant “winner of the people” and was popularized through St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, sailors and merchants.
Nickolaus is an occupational surname that was likely originally bestowed upon someone who worked or sold goods and services associated with St. Nicholas. In Germany, there were many people who worked in the Saint's business and/or held positions in the Church that bore this surname as it spread throughout the region during the Middle Ages.
The name may have also been used by people who lived in places associated with St. Nicholas, such as churches, monasteries or shrines. This name may also have been used by those who lived near important churches or churches dedicated to St. Nicholas.
Today, the surname Nickolaus is not particularly common but it is still in use among people of German descent. It is sometimes also seen with alternative spellings such as Niklaus and Nicklaus. The name could be found in all German speaking countries as well as the other regions of Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisNickolaus: Where does the name Nickolaus come from?
Nickolaus is a surname found predominantly in Central and Eastern Europe, especially Germany and Austria. It may derive from the given name "Nikolai" or the Greek name Nikolaos. Historically, the name was popular among Germanic and Slavic peoples, and records mention the name dated as early as the thirteenth century.
Today, the surname is found in countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Outside of Europe, there are some recorded instances of the surname in North America and Australia, though these are more rare.
The majority of recorded Nickolaus ancestors can be traced back to German and Austrian roots. This is reflective of the former German Austro-Hungarian Empire that was in place until World War I. The empire, which included the countries of Austria and Germany, was the birthplace and home of many of the Nickolaus family lines.
In addition to its central and eastern European origins, the name also can be linked to the Jewish faith. Jewish families with the name of Nachmann and Nicklaussen can trace their descent to a family on the Rhine who adopted the name Nickolaus in the eighteenth century.
The name Nickolaus is still a widely found surname in Central and Eastern European countries today. It is also found sporadically outside of Europe, though this is less common. The majority of those with the name Nickolaus can trace their ancestry back to Germany and Austria, and a smaller percentage may have Jewish roots.
Variations of the surname Nickolaus
The surname Nickolaus can be spelled and pronounced in a number of different ways. The most common variants are Nikolaus, Nicolaus, Niklaus, and Nicholas. The spelling Nikolaus comes from the German spelling Niklaus, which in turn comes from the Greek spelling Nikolaos. Nikolaos is made up of two Greek words: "nikos” which means “victory”, and “laos” which means “people”, so Nikolaos literally translates to "victory of the people". Nikolaus is the Latinized version of the original Greek.
The surnames Nagel, Knauf, Klein, and Nickel are alternative spellings of the same surname. Nagel is the German version of the name, which comes from the Latin word “nagel”, meaning “nail”; Knauf is an alternate spelling of “Kneif”, which means “to pinch”; Klein is the German word for “little”; and Nickel is the German version of the surname and is derived from the nickname for Nikolaus.
There are also several other variations of the surname including: Nikolapoulos, Nikolopoulou, Nickolay and Nikodemou. In some regions, the groom may take the bride's surname during marriage. Thus, some surnames stemming from Nickolaus may involve additions such as -burg, -heim, -laus, -man, -stein or -wald.
Nickolaus is a popular surname found in many countries, particularly in North America, parts of Europe and the Middle East. Beyond the surname, Nickolaus is also a popular given name.
Famous people with the name Nickolaus
- Berti Nickolaus: Austrian alpine skier who competed in the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics.
- Charles Nickolaus: Swiss rower who competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
- Gus Nickolaus: Retired American professional basketball player.
- Jaimee Nickolaus: American high hurdler who qualified for the 1996 Summer Olympics.
- Jessie Nickolaus: American actor who has appeared in several movies and television series.
- Jason Nickolaus: American film and television producer who founded the production company Slice of Life Productions.
- Mary Nickolaus: Director of Wisconsin Elections and former administrator of the state's electronic voting system.
- Mike Nickolaus: American country music singer-songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist.
- Paul Nickolaus: American guitarist and songwriter.
- Thomas Nickolaus: German sculptor who specialized in wood and brass sculpture.