Surname Nikl - Meaning and Origin
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Nikl: What does the surname Nikl mean?
The last name Nikl is of German origin and is often found in the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. It is derived from the German word “nigeln”, which means “to jog” or “to move quickly”. It likely began as an occupational surname given to a person who frequently moved around in their job or had a job which required speed. Other variations include Nikl, Nickel, and Nikles.
The family name can also have its roots in the given name Nicholas, which is derived from the Greek name Nikolaos. It is made up of two words: “níke”, which means “victory”, and “laós”, which means “people”. Therefore, Nicholas is essentially interpreted as “victory of the people.”
The name Nikl may have also derived from the Middle High German word “nikken”, meaning “to cut”. This could have been used as a nickname for someone who was skilful with a knife, or a traditional family knife used for things like cleaning animals.
The etymology of the last name Nikl is complex and unclear. What is clear is that this family name likely began as an occupational name or surname derived from a given name. It is likely that its bearers were known for either their swiftness or for their skill with a blade of some kind.
Order DNA origin analysisNikl: Where does the name Nikl come from?
The last name Nikl is most commonly found in the Czech Republic, mainly in the northern and eastern regions including Moravian-Silesian, Hradec Králové, and Pardubický. Other regions across central Europe share this surname, including Slovakia, Austria, Germany, and Poland. In Slovakia, the most common area where this last name appears is the eastern region.
The origin of the Nikl surname is uncertain, however, the name is likely to have derived from a personal name Niklas, which was popular in the Middle Ages. It is also possible that the name is derived from the old Polish word ‘nić’, which translates to ‘thread’. This could indicate that the original family were linen workers or thread makers.
The Nikl surname continues to exist today in many parts of central Europe, but it is most commonly found in the Czech Republic. In the Czech Republic, there are approximately 5,100 people currently living with the Nikl surname. This name is not typical outside of this region, so if you encounter someone with the Nikl surname it is very likely that they have originated from this part of the world.
Variations of the surname Nikl
The surname Nikl is of Slovenian origin and is also found in other parts of Central Europe, including the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Hungary, and parts of Germany. It is one of the oldest names in the Slovenian language and is believed to derive from the word “nikati”, meaning to plough.
Variants of the surname Nikl include Nikal, Nikole, Nikoli, Nicle, Nicole, and Nikolich. There are also many spellings, including Nicl, Nkckl, and Nickel.
For those of Czech descent, the surname is shared with the more common Czech surname Nikl. However, Nikl is distinct from this spelling, and is of Slovenian origin rather than Czech.
The surname Nikl is also associated with a few other surnames. Niétl and Nikolić are most likely variants of Nikl, as they are often found in the same area of Central Europe as the Nikl surname. Neičlis, Nietlis, Niklas, and Nikley are also potentially surnames of the same origin. Although these names are less commonly found than the variants directly related to Nikl, they are likely derived from the same name.
In all, the surname Nikl has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It is a relatively ancient surname, and shows the diversity and complexity of surnames in Central Europe.
Famous people with the name Nikl
- Fabian Nikl: German footballer.
- Gustav Nikl: Czech sculptor and mixed media artist.
- Miroslav Nikl: Czechoslovakian footballer.
- Roman Nikl: Slovak rower.
- Robert Nikl: Czech novelist and playwright.
- Hiroshi Nikl: Japanese physicist and professor.
- Jan Nikl: Czech linguist and educator.
- Jiří Nikl: Czech settler and agriculturist.
- Libor Nikl: Czech composer and musician.
- Martina Nikl: Austrian professional musician.
- Stanislav Nikl: Czech professional footballer.
- Gabriela Nikl: Czech professional dancer.
- Petra Nikl: Czech freediver.
- Bernard Nikl: German film actor.
- Albert Nikl: Czech middle-distance runner.