This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Nicholas,' from Nichol or Nicol, the nick.; v. Nicholas. Nichol always held a fair place in popular favour, as our directories of to-day amply prove. But Collin (which see) was probably the greater favourite.

William fil. Nicoll, Salop, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

John Nicole, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Stephen Nichole, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Alicia Nicholmayden and Robertus Nichol-man (i.e. the servant of Nichol), 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Nichol Gurdelere, Close Rolls, 21 Edward III. pt.

John Niccolson, temp. Elizabeth: Calendar of Pleadings, temp. Elizabeth I.

1562. Baptised — Joane Nichollsonne: St Peter, Cornhill.

1575. Thomas Nicolls, Middlesex: Register of the University of Oxford.

Nycall Spyght, 1602: Nicolson and Burn, History Westm. and Cumb.

1687. James Nickleson and Ann Goodman: Marriage Alleg. (Canterbury).

1707. Married — Robert Nicholls and Elizabeth Moye: St. Antholin (London).

'son of Nic(h)ol,' q v. Maucolum fiz Nicol rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, 816). William Nicholai (Latin genitive) or Nycholayi was burgess of Glasgow 1419-21 (LCD., p. 241), Gilbert Nicholai was vicar of Auferde (Alford) in 1435 (REB., II, 52), and Patrick Nicholai, presbyter of Brechin, 1436, appears in 1448 as Patrik Nicholsone, perpetual chaplain of Caldhame (ibid., I, 82,106). Michael Nycholson leased pert of Parcy (Persie), 1443, and Gylbryd Nycholay in 1446 (Cupar-Angus, I, p. 120,128), Matthew Nicholay, witness in Aberdeen, 1489 (REA., II, p. 303), and John Nicholsoun was burgess of Dumfries, 1544 (Anderson). Ailleis Neclasson had remission in 1547 for his share in taking and holding the Casde of Akirgill, Caithness (OPS., II, p. 778), and Mallie Niclasson is recorded in the Boigis, 1663 (Caithness). The Nicolsons of Lasswade are an old family, knighted in seventeenth century. Sir William Nicolson (d. 1766), four times married, was father of twenty-three children. The Nicholsons of Skye have Englished their name from Macnicol, which see. Necolson 1474, Nicollsoun 1624, Nucolsone 1655, Nycholsoun 1483.

Diminutives of Nicolas or Nicholas, a personal name introduced into Britain by the Normans. The surname is derived from Greek ο Νιχόλαος, meaning 'victorious people.' David Nycholl was a frater of Cambuskenneth Abbey in 1546 (Laing, 505), and John Nuckall and Alexander Nuckall were 'quhyt fischeris' in Futtie in 1592 (CRA., p. 74). Alexander Nicol was 'gladiator civis Glasguensis' in 1603 (Retours, Lanark, 42), William Nuccol was tenant in the barony of Cannegleroch in 1640 (SCM., V, p. 228), and in 1650 James Nickle, upon Mt. Tasker, petitioned the Kirk Session of Auchterhouse to protect him against his mother who had abused him by banning, swearing, and cursing, and calling him a 'lieand limer' (Jervise, II, p. 4). George Nuckle was admitted deacon of Alyth in 1671 (DPD., II, p. 86), William Nuckoll was a tailzeor in Aberdeen in 1684, and David Nuckoll was maltman there in 1697 (ROA., I, p. 240,246). Nycholl 1537. In some instances Nicol may be a curtailed form of Macnicol, which see. (2) Probably from Lincoln in England. Weekley (p. 308) says "the Normans transformed Lincoln into Nicol, of very common occurrence in mediaeval chronicles." Richard de Nicole witnessed a charter by Eschina domina de Molle, c. 1165-75 (RMP., p. 75), and Richard de Nicol, most probably son of the preceding, witnessed another charter of the lands of Molle, c. 1225-35 (ibid., p. 77). Richard de Lincoln granted a portion of land in the territory of Molle, c. 1190, to the Abbey of Kelso, and in another charter of the same land he is mentioned as Richard de Nichole (Kelso, 161,165).

Dims. of Nicolas, q.v.

In the Hundred Rolls we find the forms Nicoll, Nicole, Nichole.

Nicole and Nicolle are common French surnames.

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

The son of Nicholas. Most families of this name trace to the counties of Northumberland and Cumberland. It is not improbable that they are descended from the great Anglo-Norman family of Fitz-Nigell or Nicholl. See Nicholl.

1. The patriarch of the Nicols, Macnicols, and Nicolsons, was Mackrycul or Gregall, lord of Assint, co. Sutherland, who flourished in the XII. cent. Skene thinks the clan Nicail of Gaelic origin. ii. 298. 2. See Nicholas.

Descended from Mackrycul, Lord of Assint in Sutherlandshire in the twelfth century.

[Knickell, M'Neacail, McNichol, Nicholson, Nicholls, MacKnaykyll, McNaykill, McNakill, McNaikell, Knacle, Knickell, Knickall, Kneacle, Kneakil, Knackle, Knicol, Nicol], contracted from MacNichol, 'Nicholas's Son'. It was formerly a common name in the Isle of Man, but has now almost disappeared.

Nicholson. —With few exceptions confined to the northern half of England, being most frequent in Cumberland and Northumberland, and afterwards in Durham and in the adjacent parts of Yorkshire. It is noticeable that Nixon, a contraction of this name, is also restricted to the northern half of England, being most numerous in Cheshire and Northumberland. From the north of England the Nicholsons and Nicolsons have extended into the Scottish border counties, especially into Dumfriesshire.