Nichols History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

England

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Nichols is one of the names carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest in 1066. It is based on the given name Nicholas. Nicholas derives from the Greek Nikolaos, which is made up of the words nikan, meaning to conquer, and laos, meaning people. 1

Early Origins of the Nichols family

The surname Nichols was first found in Cheshire, where Nicholas D'Albini, who was of the junior line of the Dukes of D'Albini in Normandy, settled in 1054, and his successor William became Baron of Malpas. Waleram Nicholai was listed in Suffolk in 1198 and Nicholaus was listed in Lincolnshire in 1147-1166. 1 By the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name was scattered as seen by: William filius Nicoll in Shropshire; and John Nicole and Stephen Nichole in Oxfordshire. 2

Some of the family were anciently found in the parish of St. Kew, Cornwall. "Trewane or Trewarne in this parish, was formerly a seat of the Nicholls family. The heiress of Nicholls, whose mother was a daughter of Sir Joseph Tredenham of Tregonan in St. Ewe, married Nicholas Glynn, Esq. and dying in 1771 without surviving issue, bequeathed her mansion and barton of Trewane to Thomas Glynn, Esq. of the borough of Helston." 3

Continuing our quest for family in Cornwall, we found this interesting geneological record: "Trereife [in the parish of Madern] has been the family estate of the Nicholls's from time immemorial. Dr. Nicholls, physician to George II. who opened the body of the king for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of his death, which he described in a paper addressed to the Royal Society, was second son of John Nicholls. This family intermarried with the families of Godolphin and Foote. William John Godolphin Nicholls, Esq. the last survivor of the elder branch of the family, died May 9, 1815, and bequeathed all his estates to his mother." 3

Early History of the Nichols family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nichols research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1307, 1500, 1542, 1550, 1555, 1559, 1584, 1587, 1589, 1590, 1616, 1619, 1624, 1630, 1640, 1642, 1648, 1658, 1664, 1668, 1672, 1673, 1678, 1681, 1683, 1687, 1699, 1712, 1727, 1756, 1778, 1779, 1818, 1850 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Nichols History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nichols Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Nicholl, Niccolls, Nichel, Nichol, Nicholls, Nichols, Nickel, Nickle, Nickles, Nicolls, Nicol, Nycol, Nuckles and many more.

Early Notables of the Nichols family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Blessed George Nichols (c. 1550-1589), an English Catholic martyr
Jonathan Nichols (1681-1727), 20th Deputy Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (1727)

Nichols World Ranking

In the United States, the name Nichols is the 153^rd most popular surname with an estimated 149,220 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Nichols is ranked the 848^th most popular surname with an estimated 6,317 people with that name. 5 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Nichols is the 729^th popular surname with an estimated 59 people with that name. 6 Australia ranks Nichols as 440^th with 8,567 people. 7 New Zealand ranks Nichols as 938^th with 794 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Nichols as 663^rd with 9,907 people. 9

Migration of the Nichols family to Ireland

Some of the Nichols family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 129 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nichols migration to the United States +

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Nichols or a variant listed above:

Nichols Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Nichols, who immigrated to Virginia in 1607
Roger Nichols, who landed in Virginia in 1635 10
Walter Nichols, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 10
Francis Nichols, who arrived in Connecticut in 1639 10
Fr Nichols, who landed in Virginia in 1641 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Nichols Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Frances Nichols, who arrived in Virginia in 1713 10
Clement Nichols, who arrived in New England in 1714 10
John Nichols, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 10
Thomas Nichols, who landed in Virginia in 1715 10
Emanuel Nichols, who arrived in America in 1760-1763 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Nichols Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James A Nichols, who landed in America in 1804 10
John Nichols, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1831 10
Mr. John Nichols, (b. 1810), aged 22, British settler departing from Plymouth aboard the ship "Andromeda" arriving in the United States on 10th May 1832 11
William Nichols, who landed in New York in 1834 10
Mr. T. Nichols, (b. 1816), aged 32, Cornish miner departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mountaineer" arriving in the United States on 29th May 1848 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Nichols migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nichols Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Nichols, who settled in Quidi Vidi, Newfoundland in 1708 12
Mary Nichols, who arrived in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1722 12
Joseph Nichols, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Thomas Nichols, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Ruth Nichols, who arrived in New Brunswick in 1783
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Nichols Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mary Nichols, who immigrated to Harbour Grace, Newfoundland in 1827 12
Jonathan G Nichols, who landed in Canada in 1828
Daniel Nichols, who arrived in Canada in 1831
Mr. Nichols, aged 30, a shoemaker, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Sarah" from Bristol, England
Mrs. Nichols, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Sarah" from Bristol, England

Nichols migration to Australia +

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

Nichols Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Nichols, English convict from Norfolk, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on April 1st, 1822, settling in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. John Nichols, (b. 1771), aged 60, English dealer who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 14 years for receiving stolen goods, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. Joseph Nichols, English convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. Robert Nichols, English convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Charles Kerr" on 6th June 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Elizabeth Nichols, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Henry Porcher" in 1838 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Nichols 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:

Nichols Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. W. Nichols, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sir Edward Paget" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th May 1853 17
Mr. George Nichols, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Nourmahal" arriving in Dunedin, Otaga, South Island, New Zealand on 5th May 1858 18
Mrs. Nichols, British settler travelling from London with 2 sons and 3 daughters aboard the ship "Nourmahal" arriving in Dunedin, Otaga, South Island, New Zealand on 5th May 1858 18
Mr. William Nichols, (b. 1856), aged 7, Cornish settler departing on 20th October 1863 aboard the ship "Tiptree" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 20th January 1864, travelling with William and Sarah Clarke 19
Miss C. Nichols, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Wild Duck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 20th December 1867 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Nichols (post 1700) +

Nichelle Nichols (1932-2022), born Grace Dell Nichols, an American actress, singer and voice artist best known as the communications officer Lieutenant Uhura aboard the USS Enterprise in the popular Star Trek television series
Richard Nichols (1926-2019), American Republican politician, U.S. Representative from Kansas 5th District, 1991-93 20
Don Nichols (1924-2017), American U.S. Army combat veteran, founder and former principal of the Shadow CanAm and Formula One racing team
J. Hugh Nichols (1930-2015), American politician, County Executive of Howard County, Maryland (1978-1986)
Brigadier-General Harold Floyd Nichols (1888-1983), American Assistant Chief of Staff (G-1), 6th Army (1946-1947) 21
Charles Augustus "Kid" Nichols (1869-1953), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1890 through 1906
Jennifer Nichols (b. 1983), American gold and bronze medalist archer at the 2007 Pan American Games
Joseph Edward "Joe" Nichols (b. 1976), American country music artist
Roger Nichols, American composer and songwriter who has written songs with Paul Williams and Tony Asher
Robert "Bobby" Herman Nichols (b. 1936), American professional golfer
... (Another 186 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Nichols family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Richard Sidney Nichols (1950-1985), American Sergeant from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 22

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Francis Roy Nichols (1923-1941), Australian Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class from Elderslie, Tasmania, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 23

HMS Hood

Mr. Thomas F Nichols (b. 1920), English Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from London, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 24

HMS Royal Oak

Wilfred Nichols, British Able Seaman with the Royal Fleet Reserve aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 25
Arthur Hill Nichols (1904-1939), British Shipwright 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 25

RMS Titanic

Mr. A. D. Nichols (d. 1912), aged 34, English Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 26
Mr. Walter Henry Nichols, aged 35, English Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 15 26
Mr. Alfred Nichols (d. 1912), aged 42, English Boatswain from Shirley, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 26

USS Arizona

Mr. John E. Nichols, American Radioman First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 27
Mr. Louis Duffie Nichols, American Seaman Second Class from Alabama, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 27
Mr. Alfred Rose Nichols, American Seaman First Class from Alabama, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 27
Mr. Bethel Allan Nichols, American Seaman First Class from Washington, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 27
Mr. Clifford Leroy Nichols, American Turret Captain First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 27

The Nichols 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: Fide sed cui vide
Motto Translation: Trust, but in whom take care.