Contents [hide]

Nickerson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Nickerson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The origins of the name Nickerson are with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from the personal name Nicholas. The Latin form of this name was Nicolaus, and it was derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, which is derived from the words nikan, which means to conquer, and laos, which means people. 1 However, the name is best remembered by an American corruption of his name: Santa Claus. The surname Nickerson uses the patronymic suffix -son.

Early Origins of the Nickerson family

The surname Nickerson was first found in Cumberland and Northumberland where "most families of this name trace." 2

"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. From the north of England the Nicholsons and Nicolsons have extended into the Scottish border counties, especially into Dumfriesshire." 3

Early History of the Nickerson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nickerson research. Another 157 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1443, 1446, 1489, 1544, 1547, 1655, 1663, 1669, 1683, 1688, 1694, 1698, 1712, 1714, 1720, 1725, 1728 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Nickerson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nickerson Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Nickerson has been spelled many different ways, including Nicholson, Nichaelson, Nichalson, Nicherson and others.

Early Notables of the Nickerson family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Nickerson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nickerson Ranking

In the United States, the name Nickerson is the 1,837^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Nickerson is ranked the 976^th most popular surname with an estimated 5,541 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Nickerson family to Ireland

Some of the Nickerson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nickerson migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Nickersons to arrive in North America:

Nickerson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Nickerson, aged 33, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1637 aboard the ship "The Rose" 6
Mrs. Anne Nickerson, who landed in Boston in 1637 aboard the ship "The Rose" 7
Nicholas Nickerson, who landed in Boston in 1637 aboard the ship "The Rose" 7
Robert Nickerson, who landed in Boston in 1637 aboard the ship "The Rose" 7
Elizabeth Nickerson, who landed in Boston in 1637 aboard the ship "The Rose" 7

Nickerson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William P Nickerson, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 6
Alfred Nickerson, aged 18, who arrived in America, in 1893
A. Nickerson, aged 17, who arrived in America, in 1895

Nickerson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Edward G. Nickerson, aged 58, who arrived in America, in 1903
G. Nickerson, who arrived in America, in 1903
George Nickerson, aged 26, who arrived in America from Norfolk, in 1906
Alice Nickerson, aged 25, who arrived in America from Norfolk, in 1906
Albert Findsay Nickerson, who arrived in America, in 1906
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Nickerson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nickerson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Joseph Nickerson U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 8
Mr. Thomas Nickerson U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 8
Sgt. Eliud Nickerson U.E., (Elihud) who settled in Hamilton, Ontario c. 1786 8

Nickerson Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Charles Nickerson, aged 24, who arrived in Hillsborough, Canada, in 1916
Ernest Nickerson, aged 38, who arrived in Vancouver, Canada, in 1924

Contemporary Notables of the name Nickerson (post 1700) +

Thomas Gibson Nickerson (1805-1883), American 14 year old cabin boy aboard the whaleship Essex when is was sunk by a whale, inspiration for Herman Melville to write Moby-Dick
Thomas Nickerson (1810-1892), American businessman, 8th president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (1874 to 1880)
Henry Nehemiah Nickerson (1888-1979), American Boatswain's Mate Second Class in the United States Navy, recipient of the Medal of Honor
Denise Nickerson (b. 1957), American former actress, best known for her role as Violet Beauregarde in the movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Matt Nickerson (b. 1985), American professional ice hockey defenseman
Hardy Otto Nickerson (b. 1965), former American NFL football linebacker
Elmer B. Nickerson, American Republican politician, Member of New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Goffstown; Elected 1956 9
E. A. Nickerson, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Missouri State Constitutional Convention 15th District, 1875; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 1876 9
Don Carlos Nickerson, American politician, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, 1993-98 9
Benjamin R. Nickerson, American Republican politician, Speaker, Republican National Convention, 1868 9
... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Nickerson family +

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Nellie Nickerson (1857-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 10
Mr. Freeman Burnley Nickerson (1881-1917), Canadian Able Seaman aboard the HMCS Niobe from Shelburne County, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 10

The Nickerson 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: Per Castra ad astra
Motto Translation: Through the camp to the stars.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
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)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance