Surname Nikula - Meaning and Origin

Nikula: What does the surname Nikula mean?

The last name Nikula is derived from the Finnish surname Niskanen or Niemelä, which are both derived from the Finnish word niska meaning "back of the neck". The name therefore literally means "of the neck" and is likely a descriptive name for someone who has an unusual or distinct neck shape.

Variations of the last name Nikula include Niemela, Niiskanen, Nikkula, and Niskala. In origin, it appears to have been a patronymic name, referring to the son of Niska. It is most commonly found in Finland, but is also found in Sweden, Estonia, and Karelia.

The Nikula surname is relatively rare. It may have started as a unique name for a single family, which either stayed within that family or was later adopted by other families. The surname could have been adopted as a nickname for a person with an unusual neck shape, as the literal meaning of the surname implies.

Out of all the theories regarding its origin, the most likely is that the Nikula surname is related to Niskanen or Niemelä. Whether the surname was passed down on a single family or adopted by others, the meaning of the last name Nikula stands for "of the neck".

Nikula: Where does the name Nikula come from?

The last name Nikula is commonly found in various parts of Europe, most notably Finland, Germany, and Austria. The majority of the bearers of the name live in Finland, with an estimated 7,800 people bearing the name in 2019, making it the 70th most common last name in Finland. The name Nikula is a Finnish surname, meaning "belonging to a Nikula" or "son of Nikula". Typically, it is the shortened version of the longer surname of Nikulainen, which is still found in modern Finland.

Historically, the most likely origin of the surname can be traced to an old Scandinavian given name, Nigul, which was shortened and changed to the modern form. Interestingly, German records dating back to 1316 have recorded a place name of Niklau, a village in the northeastern part of Germany. This suggests the surname might have originally been German.

Furthermore, records from 1659 show the first recorded entry of the surname Nikula in Germany being in Boizenburg, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, an area located in northern Germany. This coincides with Swedish immigrants who settled in northern Germany in the 17th century, which makes it likely the name was brought to the region from Finland at that time.

The last name Nikula is also slightly more common in Austria than in Germany, with around 560 people bearing the name. While Nikula is a rare name in other parts of the world, today it is most closely associated with Finland, Germany, and Austria.

Variations of the surname Nikula

The surname Nikula is of Germanic origin and has variants including Nicula, Nickula, Nickla, Nickel, Nicolls, Nikkula and Niquile.

The origin of the name dates back to the medieval period in Germany when individuals used to identify themselves by their locations or trades. The name Nikula has a patronymic origin and is derived from the personal name “Nikolaus”, a compound of the words “niot” (people) and “kaul” (powerful). The name Nikolaus itself was derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning 'victory of the people'.

The German spelling of the surname is Nikula. In Finland, the surname is spelled as Nikula, Nikkula or Nikulla. In the Netherlands, the surname is also spelt Nickel. In the United Kingdom, the surname is spelt Nicula, Nicolls or Niquile.

The Nikula surname is a variant of many similar surnames, including Nickelson, Nicholsen, Nicklin, Nicolson, Nicoletti, Nykulak, Nykula, Nykurak, Nykurla, Nikolay and Vaschuk.

Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to change, often due to local spelling customs, migration and unwritten rules of regularity. Over time, variations in spelling of the Nikula surname became more common.

Famous people with the name Nikula

• Santtu Nikula: professional ice hockey player.
• Jaakko Nikula: Finnish politician and former postmaster general.
• Antti Nikula: Finnish sculptor and painter.
• Jorma Nikula: Finnish high jumper and discus thrower.
• Pauliina Nikula: Finnish figure skater.
• Jyrki Nikula: Finnish diplomat who has served in the Foreign Service since 1994.
• Jussi Nikula: Finnish radio and TV presenter.
• Juha Nikula: professional ice hockey player.
• Tapio Nikula: Finnish ice hockey referee.
• Peter Nikula: Finnish football manager.
• Jukka Nikula: Finnish judoka and mixed martial artist.
• Essi Nikula: Finnish television actress and presenter.
• Paavo Nikula: Finnish former cross-country skier.
• Jani Nikula: Finnish football manager and former player.
• Aki Nikula: Finnish former professional ice hockey player.
• Kristiina Nikula: Finnish model and television personality.
• Christoffer Nikula: Finnish professional snowboarder.
• Joni Nikula: Finnish road and track cyclist.
• Aki Nikula: Finnish former professional ice hockey player.
• Joonas Nikula: Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender.

Other surnames

NikullaNikulskiNikulsky