Contents [hide]

McNichol History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

McNichol History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The roots of the name McNichol come from the Viking settlers of ancient Scotland. The name was derived from from the personal name, Nicholas. McNichol is a patronymic surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. The surname McNichol 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 McNichol lived on the Isle of Skye, which is located on the western coast.

Early Origins of the McNichol family

The surname McNichol 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 McNichol family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McNichol 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 McNichol History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McNichol Spelling Variations

Medieval scribes most often spelled names by the way they sounded. spelling variations, are thus, very common in records dating from that time. Over the years, McNichol has been spelled MacNichol, MacNicol, MacNicoll, Nicolson, Nicholson, MacNicholas, MacNickle, MacNickel, MacNickell, MacNiccol, MacNychole and many more.

Early Notables of the McNichol family

Notable 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 McNichol Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McNichol family to Ireland

Some of the McNichol 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.

McNichol migration to the United States +

The Scottish settlers spread out along the fertile land of the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. They and many of their children went on to play important roles in the forging of the great nations of the United States and Canada. That heritage has been recovered by many in this century through Clan societies and other Scottish historical organizations. Archival documents indicate that members of the McNichol family relocated to North American shores quite early:

McNichol Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Robert McNichol, who landed in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774 2

McNichol Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Bernard, Charles, Daniel, David, Edward, and Patrick McNichol, who all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870
William Cameron McNichol, who arrived in Mississippi in 1880 2
Annie McNichol, aged 25, who landed in America, in 1894
Mrs. H. McNichol, aged 33, who settled in America, in 1895
Chas. McNichol, aged 43, who landed in America, in 1896
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McNichol Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Frank McNichol, aged 34, who immigrated to the United States from Liverpool, in 1904
Annie McNichol, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from Bushmills, Ireland, in 1907
Bernard McNichol, aged 22, who landed in America from Garvagh, Ireland, in 1908
James McNichol, aged 27, who immigrated to America from Brockaghbay, Ireland, in 1909
Minnie McNichol, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McNichol migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McNichol Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John McNichol U.E. who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 3

McNichol Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Howard McNichol, aged 19, who immigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1923

McNichol migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McNichol Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Donald McNichol, aged 35, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Palmyra" in 1839 4
Anne McNichol, aged 33, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Palmyra" in 1839 4
James McNichol, aged 30, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Palmyra" in 1839 4
Mary McNichol, aged 28, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Palmyra" in 1839 4
Mary McNichol, aged 2, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Palmyra" in 1839 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McNichol (post 1700) +

Brendon McNichol (b. 1966), American lap-steel/guitar player
Christina Ann "Kristy" McNichol (b. 1962), American two-time Golden Globe nominated, two-time Primetime Emmy Award winning "teen" actor
William J. McNichol, American Republican politician, Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 3rd District, 1919-26
William F. McNichol, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Nyack, New York, 1947
W. M. McNichol, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 5th District, 1922
James Patrick McNichol (d. 1917), American Republican politician, Member of Pennsylvania State Senate, 1905-17 (7th District 1905-06, 3rd District 1907-17) Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1908, 1916
Hugh J. III McNichol, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1980
Alexander McNichol, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maine, 1940
John "Johnny" McNichol (b. 1925), Scottish former footballer
Duncan McNichol (b. 1876), Scottish footballer
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The McNichol Motto +

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.

Citations +

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)
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PALMYRA 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Palmyra.htm