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Nicolson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Nicolson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Scotland

The Nicolson surname comes from the German personal name Nikolaus.

Early Origins of the Nicolson family

The surname Nicolson was first found in Austria, where the family rose to prominence early in the mediaeval era. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation. The name refers to St. Nickolaus, the patron saint of seafaring merchants and the protector of children.

Early History of the Nicolson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nicolson research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1582, 1664, 1717, 1745, 1756, 1761, 1766 and 1787 are included under the topic Early Nicolson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nicolson Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Nicolson include Nickel, Nikel, Nickl, Nickle, Nickele, Nickels, Nickelsen, Nickelson, Nicol, Nicols, Nicolsen, Nicolson, Nichol, Nicholl, Nichols, Nicholls, Nicholson, Nichaelsen, Nickells, Nickell, Nichelmann, Nickelmann, Nichelman and many more.

Early Notables of the Nicolson family

Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Nicolson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nicolson migration to the United States +

Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Nicolson or a variant listed above:

Nicolson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mr. Ralph Nicolson, (Nichelson), aged 20, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 1
Richard Nicolson, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 2
James Nicolson, who arrived in Maryland in 1657 2
Samuel Nicolson, who settled in New Jersey in 1664 with his wife Anne
Elizabeth Nicolson, who landed in Maryland in 1680 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Nicolson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Kathrin Nicolson, aged 18, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774-1775 2
Finlow Nicolson, aged 16, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774 2

Nicolson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Francis Nicolson, who landed in New York in 1850 2

Nicolson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nicolson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Daniel Nicolson, aged 4 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Caithness-shire" departing from the port of Belfast, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 3
Mr. John Nicolson, aged 36 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Caithness-shire" departing from the port of Belfast, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle on 9th June 1847 3

Nicolson migration to Australia +

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

Nicolson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Arthur Nicolson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Planter" in 1839 4
Margaret Nicolson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Planter" in 1839 4
Robert Nicolson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Planter" in 1839 4
Ann Jane Nicolson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Planter" in 1839 4
James Nicolson, aged 24, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Omega" 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Nicolson 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:

Nicolson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Nicolson, (b. 1839), aged 24, Scottish farm labourer, from Stirlingshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Metropolis" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th June 1863 6
Mr. Angus Nicolson, (b. 1837), aged 26, Scottish farm labourer, from Inverness travelling from London aboard the ship "Sebastopol" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st May 1863 7
Agnes Nicolson, aged 14, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Soukar" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Nicolson (post 1700) +

Marjorie Hope Nicolson (1894-1981), American academic
R. D. Nicolson, American politician, Mayor of Selma, Alabama, 1952 8
Angus Nicolson (1942-2022), birth name of Aonghas MacNeacail, Scottish contemporary writer in the Scottish Gaelic language, born in Uig on the Isle of Skye
Nigel Nicolson OBE (1917-2004), British publisher, writer and politician, son of Harold Nicolson and Vita Sackville-West
John Nicolson (1899-1935), South African cricketer
Sir Harold Nicolson KCVO CMG (1886-1968), British diplomat, politician and writer, son of Arthur Nicolson
Gerda Nicolson (1937-1992), Australian actress
Sir Arthur Nicolson (1849-1928), 1st Baron Carnock, British diplomat and politician
Adela Florence Nicolson (1865-1904), British poet using the pen name Laurence Hope
Adam Nicolson (b. 1957), 5th Baron Carnock, British writer
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 50)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PLANTER 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Planter.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) OMEGA 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Omega.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). 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