| ![Show Contents]() MacNicoll History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
MacNicoll is an ancient Viking-Scottish name derived from from the personal name, Nicholas. MacNicoll is a patronymic surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. The surname MacNicoll arose out of the religious naming tradition. In Christian countries, the name Nicholas was popular, owing to the legends surrounding the 4th century Lycian bishop of that name. In Catholic countries in particular, this religious figure was revered. This accounts for its popularity as a surname in Scotland. The name Nicholas came from the Greek, Nikolaos, which means conqueror of the people. In Scotland, the earliest bearers of the surname MacNicoll lived on the Isle of Skye, which is located on the western coast. Early Origins of the MacNicoll familyThe surname MacNicoll was first found in on the Isle of Skye, where the first on record was Ottar Snaekollson who was the Chief of the MacNichols and attended the Council of Chiefs, held by MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, at Finlaggan on the Island of Islay about 1240. One of the first records of the name in Scotland was Maucolum fiz Nicol, who rendered homage to King Edward I of England in 1296 and the Nicholsons of Skye have Englished their name from Macnicol. 1 Early History of the MacNicoll familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacNicoll research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1263, 1500, 1607, 1645, 1655, 1694, 1698, 1705, 1713, 1718, 1720, 1725, 1727, 1728 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacNicoll History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. MacNicoll Spelling VariationsScottish names from the Middle Ages vary enormously in their spellings. This is a result of the fact that there were no universal standards like dictionaries for scribes to judge by. The recorded spelling variations of the name MacNicoll include MacNichol, MacNicol, MacNicoll, Nicolson, Nicholson, MacNicholas, MacNickle, MacNickel, MacNickell, MacNiccol, MacNychole and many more. Early Notables of the MacNicoll familyNotable amongst the Clan from early times was James Nicolson (d. 1607), Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland & Bishop of Dunkeld; Thomas Joseph Nicolson (1645-1718), a Roman Catholic bishop, Vicar Apostolic of Scotland (1694-1718); William Nicolson (1655-1727)...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacNicoll Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the MacNicoll family to Ireland
Some of the MacNicoll family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| MacNicoll migration to the United States | + |
Settlers found farms all along the eastern part of what would become the United States and Canada. They provided a base and a backbone that would strengthen two great nations in the making. In the 20th century, the ancestors of those brave Scots have rediscovered their heritage through highland games and Scottish historical societies. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Scottish name MacNicoll or a variant listed above, including:
MacNicoll Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Mabel Macnicoll, aged 40, who settled in America from Hastings, England, in 1919
- Malcolm A. MacNicoll, aged 8, who landed in America from Hastings, England, in 1919
- Marjorie E MacNicoll, aged 5, who immigrated to the United States from Hastings, England, in 1919
| Contemporary Notables of the name MacNicoll (post 1700) | + |
- Annabel MacNicoll Goldie DL (b. 1950), Baroness Goldie, a British politician, Leader of the Scottish Conservatives between 2005 and 2011
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Generositate
Motto Translation: By Generosity.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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MacNicoll migration to the United States 
Scotland
Ireland
England
