Show ContentsNicholl History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Nicholl Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Nicholl

What does the name Nicholl mean?

The Nicholl surname comes from the German personal name Nikolaus.

Early Origins of the Nicholl family

The surname Nicholl 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 Nicholl family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nicholl 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 Nicholl History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nicholl 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 Nicholl 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 Nicholl family

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

Nicholl 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 Nicholl or a variant listed above:

Nicholl Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Nicholl, who settled in Virginia in 1663
  • John Nicholl and Daniel Nicholls, who both immigrated to Virginia in 1663
Nicholl Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William J. Nicholl, who sailed to New York in 1862
  • Mr. James Nicholl, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863

Nicholl migration to Canada +

Nicholl Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • William Nicholl, who settled in Prince Edward Island in 1838

Nicholl migration to Australia +

Nicholl Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Ellis Nicholl, British Convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 25th June 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 1
  • William Nicholl, aged 21, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Isle of Thanet" 2

Nicholl 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:

Nicholl Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Nicholl, aged 47, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
  • Janet Nicholl, aged 35, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
  • John Nicholl, aged 18, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
  • William Nicholl, aged 16, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
  • Charles Nicholl, aged 13, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Nicholl (post 1700) +

  • Samuel "Sam" Anderson Nicholl (1869-1937), American Major League Baseball player
  • Margaret Suzanne Nicholl (1897-1983), American missionary in the French colony of Ubangi-Shari
  • Louise Townsend Nicholl (1890-1981), American poet and editor
  • Don Nicholl (1925-1980), English-born, American screenwriter and producer
  • Christopher John "Chris" Nicholl (1946-2024), English-born former footballer and manager
  • Miss Elizabeth Joan Nicholl O.B.E., British Wing Commander for the Royal Air Force was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 17th June 2017
  • Mr. Ronald Gordon Nicholl M.B.E., British Firefighter was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service 3
  • William Nicholl (1868-1922), English rugby union footballer
  • Terence John "Terry" Nicholl (b. 1952), English football midfielder
  • ... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Donald W Nicholl (b. 1918), Welsh Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy Special Reserve from New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 4
  • Mr. George Nicholl, English 2nd Class passenger residing in Philadephia, Pennsylvania, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 5
  1. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
  2. South Australian Register Wednesday 25th October 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Isle of Thanet 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/isleofthanet1854.shtml
  3. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 4 July 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1
  4. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  5. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/

Houseofnames.com on Facebook