This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Nicholas,' nick. Nick, with patronymic s Nicks, whence Nix. Nixon, of course, is Nickson; compare Dixon, Jaxon, Baxter.

Henry Nix Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

William Nix, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Margareta Nikeson, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

William Nicson, 1379: ibid.

1527. Thomas Nyxson and Johanna Scochyn: Marriage Lic. (London).

1586. Married — Benedict Nix and Elizabeth Cathron: St. Peter, Cornhill.

1635. Buried — Susan, d. Thomas Nixon: St. James, Clerkenwell.

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Nicholas.' This once popular fontname is the parent of a very large family; v. Cole, Collin, Nicklin, Nix, Nixon, &c. A large list of variants is given under Nicholes.

Nicholas le Hunte, Yorkshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

John fil. Nicholai, Salop, ibid.

1585. Humphrey Nicholas, Cambridgeshire: Register of the University of Oxford.

1703. Baptised — Elizabeth, d. John Nickless: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1730. — Robert, s. Thomas Nicholas: ibid.

Middle Latin Nicolas (from Gr. Νιχόλας) or late Latin Nicolaus, from Gr. Νιχόλαος;. The name came into mediaeval and modern use in honor of legendary S. Nicholas (Nicolaus), who is said to have lived in the fourth century. Nicholaus medicus Willelmi regis, 1201-07 (RAA., I, p. 27).

The "son of Nicholas," from the diminutive form "Nick." "The name was common on both sides of the Border, perhaps most so in Bewcastle in Cumberland; but as early as 1376 we find a William Nycson occupying lands in the district of Ermyldoune in Liddesdale" (Liddesdale, p. 181). William Nykson was one of the "borowis" for the earl of Douglas's bounds of the West March in 1398 (Bain, IV, 512). The following forms of this name are given by Armstrong: Singular: Nekson, Nexson, Nexsoune, Nicksoune, Nicson, Nikson, Niksoun, Niksown, Nixon, Nixoun, Nixson, Nixsone, Nixsoun, Nixsoune, Nycson, Nykson, Nyksone, Nyksoun, Nyksown, Nysson; Plural: Nekesonis, Nekesouns, Neksons, Nexsones, Nexsounes, Nicksons, Nicsons, Niksonis, Niksons, Nixones, Nixons, Nixsonis, Nixsons, Nycsons, Nyksons, Nysons, Nyxons, Nyxsonnes, Nyxsons (op. cit., p. 180).

= Nicolas, q.v.

This clerk, was cleped hende Nicholas. —Chaucer, The Millere his Tale, 13.

Mac Niocláis The name of a gaelicized branch of the Norman de Burgos, sometimes corrupted to Clausson. MIF 194; Map Mayo

“Conqueror of the People” in Greek. (“Nike” - Victory.)

(Welsh, English) Descendant of Nicholas (people's victory).

The Christian name. Hence the derivatives Nichol, Nicholls, Nicholson, Nicholay, Nix, Nicks, Nickson, Nixon, Nickels, Nicol, Nickoll, Nickerson, Nickisson, Nickinson.

Richard Nicholas, Normandy 1198 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae); Nicholas Nicolaus, Engl. 1198 (Rotuli Curiae Regis); John, Philip, Stephen Nichole, Engl. c. 1272 (Rotuli Hundredorum). The name in England included families of different origins.

Nicholls,Nichols. —Distributed over the greater part of England except in the north, where its place is supplied by Nicholson and Nichol. The great home is in Cornwall. It is afterwards frequent in Essex, Northamptonshire, Wilts, Devon, Gloucestershire, and Norfolk. If we include Nicholas, in most cases the original form of the name, Monmouthshire is especially distinguished by its frequency. Although in the majority of instances this name is, as just stated, evidently derived from Nicholas, the name of the patron saint of boys, sailors, and parish clerks in the early times (Bardsley), still it would seem probable that in the eastern part of England, as in Norfolk and Essex, it takes its rise from Nincole or Nicole, the Norman pronunciation of Lincoln. Lower, quoting Sir F. Palgrave, gives this explanation. This view is to some extent supported by the circumstance that, in the 13th century, Nicoll in various forms occurred commonly in this part of England—in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Lincolnshire (Hundred Rolls). Nicol and Nicoll are names found over a large part of Scotland, though rare or absent in the north.