Show ContentsNicolas History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Nicolas family

The surname Nicolas 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 Nicolas family

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

Nicolas Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Nicolas family

More information is included under the topic Early Nicolas Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nicolas World Ranking

In the United States, the name Nicolas is the 6,636th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in Quebec, Canada, the name Nicolas is ranked the 884th most popular surname. 2 And in France, the name Nicolas is the 40th popular surname with an estimated 45,351 people with that name. 3


United States Nicolas migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nicolas Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Augustine Nicolas, (Austin, Austen), who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 aboard the ship "Fortune" 4
Nicolas Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Nicolas, who landed in Virginia in 1703 4
  • Claude Nicolas, aged 19, who arrived in Louisiana in 1719 4
  • Johannes Nicolas, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 4
  • Francois Nicolas, who landed in Annapolis, Maryland in 1763 4
  • Antoine Nicolas, who arrived in Mobile, AL in 1786
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Nicolas Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jose Nicolas, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1816 4
  • Alexander Nicolas, aged 29, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 4
  • Catalina Nicolas, aged 22, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1841 4
  • Nicolas Nicolas, aged 26, who landed in Missouri in 1849 4
  • William Nicolas, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1851 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Nicolas migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nicolas Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Etienne Nicolas who arrived in Quebec in 1750 from Aunis near Bordeaux

Australia Nicolas migration to Australia +

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

Nicolas Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Jane Nicolas, (b. 1825), aged 24, Cornish dairymaid departing from Plymouth21st December 1848 aboard the ship "General Palmer" arriving in Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia on 10th April 1849 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Nicolas (post 1700) +

  • François Nicolas de Salomon, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 6
  • Jean Nicolas, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 7
  • Paul Nicolas (1899-1959), French football player
  • Auguste Nicolas (1807-1888), French Roman Catholic apologetical writer
  • Jean Edouard Marie Nicolas (1913-1978), French football player
  • Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas (1799-1848), English antiquary, made a knight of the Royal Guelphic Order, and a chancellor and knight-commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1832
  • Frank Nicolas Piasecki (1919-2008), American engineer and helicopter aviation pioneer
  • Mr. David Nicolas Whal M.B.E., British recipient of Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to UK/France relations 8
  • Dr. Robert Nicolas Gent C.B.E. (b. 1960), British Consultant for Health Protection and Deputy Head for Emergency Response Department for Public Health England, was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Health Protection 9
  • Peter Nicolas Eastgate (b. 1985), Danish poker player, winner of the Main Event at the 2008 World Series of Poker

Prince of Wales colliery
  • Mr. Elias Nicolas (b. 1858), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 10


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  3. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  4. 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)
  5. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
  6. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, September 11) François Nicolas. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
  7. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, June 16) Jean Nicolas. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
  8. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 31 October 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1
  9. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
  10. Entombed in flood and flame (retrieved 3rd August 2021). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20120603025705/http://www.crosskeys.me.uk/history/prince.htm


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