Nicolai History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
France
Italy

Early Origins of the Nicolai family

The surname Nicolai was first found in Holland, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. The name was first recorded in South Holland, a province of Holland, the most crowded province of the Netherlands. The principal cities are Rotterdam, Leyden and Shiedam. Noted is the famed castle of Teilengen where Jacqueline of Bavaria is buried. In their later history the surname became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family.

Early History of the Nicolai family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nicolai research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1586, 1716, 1756 and 1828 are included under the topic Early Nicolai History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nicolai Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Nicolai, Nicola, Nicolarts, Nicolas, Nicolay, Nicolau and many more.

Early Notables of the Nicolai family

From this era of Dutch history, those of this who distinguished themselves included

the Nicolai family of Holland

Nicolai Ranking

In the United States, the name Nicolai is the 14,806^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Nicolai is ranked the 3,102^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 2

Nicolai migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nicolai Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Anna Nicolai, who settled in America sometime between 1750 and 1753
Anna Nicolai, who landed in America in 1750-1753 3

Nicolai Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

I M Nicolai, aged 27, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1829 3
John H Nicolai, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1837 3
Jakob Nicolai, who landed in Brazil in 1846 3
J H Nicolai, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 3
Anna Maria Luise Nicolai, who landed in America in 1854 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Nicolai migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Nicolai Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss N. Nicolai, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Benvenue" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 24th February 1878 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Nicolai (post 1700) +

John George Nicolai, biographer of Abraham Lincoln
Rena Nicolai, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1956, 1964 5
Matthew Nicolai, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alaska, 2000 5
Gregory Nicolai, American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 2012 5
Charles H. Nicolai, American politician, Delegate to Maryland State Constitutional Convention, 1867; Member of Maryland State House of Delegates from Baltimore County, 1867-68 5
Norica Nicolai (b. 1958), Romanian lawyer and politician
Carl Otto Nicolai (1810-1849), German composer and conductor
Christoph Friedrich Nicolai (1733-1811), German writer and bookseller
Asmus Nicolai Clausen (1911-1943), German U-boat commander of the Second World War who is credited with sinking 23 ships
Johan Nicolai Madvig (1804-1886), Danish classical scholar and statesman

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html