Show ContentsNix History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the Nix family stretch back to the Strathclyde people of the Scottish/English Borderlands, who were the first to use their surname. It is derived from the personal name Nicholas, which was Nik, or Nikke in Old English.

Early Origins of the Nix family

The surname Nix was first found in Cumberland where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Nix family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nix research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1588, 1646, 1653, 1662 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Nix History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nix Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Nixon, Nicksoun, Nickson, Nicheson, Nickson and others.

Early Notables of the Nix family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • Robert Nixon, English legendary prophet of Cheshire, however, many accounts about him appear to be in conflict with each other, it is generally believed he may have lived in either the 15th or 17th ce...
  • John Nixon (1588-1662), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons, Member of Parliament for Oxford (1646-1653)

Nix Ranking

In the United States, the name Nix is the 1,194th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Nix family to Ireland

Some of the Nix family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Nix migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nix Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Edward Nix, who landed in New York, NY in 1836 2
  • Heinrich Ludwig Nix, aged 33, who landed in Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Joh. Dethardt", he died in 1850 2
  • Mrs. Joh. Nix,, (nee Breitenstein), German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Joh. Derhardt"
  • Miss Maria Louise Nix,, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Joh. Derhardt"
  • Henrietta R Nix, aged 25, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Nix migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nix Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Harmanus Nix U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 3

Australia Nix migration to Australia +

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

Nix Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Nix, British Convict who was convicted in Nottinghamshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 5th November 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)1836 4
  • Bridget Nix, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Rodney" 5

New Zealand Nix 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:

  • William Parfitt Nix, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Royal Albert" in 1871853
  • Mary Ann Nix, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Royal Albert" in 1871853
  • Lewis Nix, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Royal Albert" in 1871853
  • John William Nix, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Royal Albert" in 1871853

Contemporary Notables of the name Nix (post 1700) +

  • Bern Nix (1947-2017), American jazz guitarist
  • Charles "Buddy" Nix (b. 1939), American former General Manager of the Buffalo Bills (2010-2013)
  • Jayson Truitt Edward Nix (b. 1982), American Major League Baseball utility player for the Tampa Bay Rays
  • Robert Nelson Cornelius "N.C." Nix Sr. (1897-1987), American politician, first African American to represent Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives (1963-1979)
  • Robert Nelson Cornelius "N. C." Nix Jr. (1928-2003), U.S. Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court from 1984 to 1996
  • Wendi Nix (b. 1974), American ESPN analyst
  • Dyron Nix (1967-2013), American professional NBA basketball player
  • Laynce Nix (b. 1980), American Major League Baseball outfielder
  • Don Nix (b. 1941), American songwriter, composer, arranger, musician, and author
  • David Nix, American Republican politician, Chair of Aiken County Republican Party, 2000-04 6
  • ... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


Suggested Readings for the name Nix +

  • The Descendants of Edward Nix of Oglethorpe County, Georgia and Butler County, Alabama by Fern Sulphin Nix.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. 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
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1835
  5. South Australian Register Wednesday 21st February 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Rodney 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/rodney1855.shtml
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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