Surname Nuckles - Meaning and Origin

Nuckles: What does the surname Nuckles mean?

The surname Nuckles is of English origin and it is a variant form of the common surname Nichols. It is patronymic in nature, meaning it derives from the name of a person's father or a paternal ancestor. Nichols is a derivative of the personal name Nicholas, which is from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory people". Therefore, Nuckles also carries this connotation. Surnames were developed as a way to distinguish between individuals with the same given name, especially within smaller communities. They often added information about the individual such as their occupation, location, or identifying characteristics. Consequently, the surname Nuckles can mean "descendant of Nicholas" or "people's victory". In different regions and at different times, the spelling of the surname has been adapted leading to several variants, including Nuckles.

Nuckles: Where does the name Nuckles come from?

Nuckles is an unusual last name that is not common today. The name itself is thought to possibly have originated in England, although its true origin is unclear. The first known record of the name dates back to 1378 in Pudsey, Yorkshire, England.

At the time of the 1881 UK Census, the name Nuckles was recorded in just one area of England, in a small village called Whitby. Records show there were a handful of families living in the area with that name.

In more recent history, the name Nuckles can be found in the United States. The earliest records of the name in the U.S. date back to the mid-1700s, where two Nuckles families settled in Pennsylvania. Since then, records show that the name has spread across the U.S. to areas such as West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, California and Texas.

Today, the name Nuckles is not especially common and is rarely found in any country. The Social Security Death Index lists only a handful of people with this surname, all from the United States. Although the exact meaning of the name and its origin is unknown, it is thought to be derived from an Anglo Saxon word for a brave warrior. Although it is not very common, those who still bear the family name can be proud of the strong legacy they carry.

Variations of the surname Nuckles

The surname Nuckles has a variety of different spellings and derived surnames. The original spelling of the surname is Nuckles and variations of that are Nuckoles, Nuckolls, Nukels, and Nuckels. The surname is a variation of the name Nicholas, and so variations include Nickels, Nickelson, and Nickleson. The spelling of the surname also has some Scottish and Irish origin, with variations of the surname being Nuckells, Nuckless, Nuckolls, and Nuccols. In some instances, the surname has evolved into Nuccio, Nuckole, Nucciole, Nunke, Nuechterlein, or Neukey.

The surname Nuckles is also believed to have a Dutch origin, with alternate spellings of the name including Nucklous, Nuckel, and Nuckelse. In some cases, the Dutch origin of the name has evolved into Nuckols and Nucklos. Additionally, the surname derived from the Germanic form of Nicholas is said to have evolved from Nuckels into Nuthell, Nuttall, Nuckall, and Nutkel.

Nuckles is a relatively uncommon surname, making up less than 1 percent of all surnames in the United States. It is most common in the Midwestern United States, particularly in Kentucky and Ohio. It is also present in some parts of Canada, mainly Ontario.

Famous people with the name Nuckles

• Mary Nuckles, a former American representative to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
• John Nuckles, a Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter.
• Levern “Bucky” Nuckles, former Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Rick Nuckles, a professional basketball coach.
• Charles Nuckles, a former professional tennis player.
• Earnest Nuckles Sr., a former professional football player with the Miami Dolphins.
• Carrie Nuckles, an American singer/songwriter.
• Seve Nuckles, an American architect who served as president of the American Institute of Architects from 1975 to 1976.
• Larry Nuckles, an American country music singer who has had five albums reach the Top 40 of the US Country album chart.
• Everett Nuckles, an American educator and public health advocate who helped establish the Nurse Family Partnership program.

Other surnames

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