Nickson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland/England
Ireland

Etymology of Nickson

What does the name Nickson mean?

The roots of the Nickson 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 and literally translates as "son of Nick." 1

Early Origins of the Nickson family

The surname Nickson was first found in Cumberland, now known as Cumbria in the northern England, bordering the Scottish counties of Dumfriesshire and Roxburghshire to the north. "The name was common on both sides of the Border, perhaps most so in Bewcastle in Cumberland; but as early as 1376 we find a William Nycson occupying lands in the district of Ermyldoune in Liddesdale." 2 William Nykson was one of the "borowis" for the Earl of Douglas's bounds of the West March in 1398. 2

Across the border in England, we find: the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 including Henry Nix Oxfordshire; and William Nix, Oxfordshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 includes entries for Margareta Nikeson; and William Nicson. 3

In Nottinghamshire, we find Robert Nikkesune in 1309 and the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332 lists John Nickeson as holding lands there at that time. 1

Nixon is numerous in Ulster, especially in Counties Antrim and Fermanagh. The most notable immigrant family of the name settled in Co. Fermanagh in 1609. 4

Early History of the Nickson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nickson research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1588, 1619, 1620, 1646, 1653, 1662, 1665, 1677, 1811, 1853 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Nickson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nickson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Nixon, Nicksoun, Nickson, Nicheson, Nickson, Nekson, Nexson, Nexsoune, Nicksoune, Nicson, Nikson, Niksoun, Niksown, Nixon, Nixoun, Nixson, Nixsone, Nixsoun, Nixsoune, Nycson, Nykson, Nyksone, Nyksoun, Nyksown, Nysson; Plural: Nekesonis, Nekesouns, Neksons, Nexsones, Nexsounes, Nicksons, Nicsons, Niksonis, Niksons, Nixones, Nixons, Nixsonis, Nixsons, Nycsons, Nyksons, Nysons, Nyxons, Nyxsonnes and many more.

Early Notables of the Nickson family

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 centuries; John Nixon (1588-1662), an English politician...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Nickson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nickson Ranking

the United States, the name Nickson is the 15,395^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Nickson family to Ireland

Some of the Nickson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 181 words (13 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nickson migration to the United States +

Nickson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Nickson, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1683 6
John Nickson, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1683 with his wife Marjory and six sons and three daughters
Eliz Nickson, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1683 6

Nickson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Nickson, who arrived in Norfolk, Va in 1817 6
J N Nickson, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 6

Nickson 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:

Nickson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Annie Nickson, (b. 1845), aged 23, British cook travelling from London aboard the ship "Gainsborough" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd May 1868 7
Edward G. Nickson, aged 24, a carpenter, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dorette" in 1874 8
Mr. Edward Nickson, (b. 1850), aged 24, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Dorette" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th April 1874 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Nickson (post 1700) +

James Joseph "J. J." Nickson (1915-1985), American physician worked on the Manhattan Project as medical officer
George Nickson (1864-1949), Anglican bishop, Bishop of Jarrow (1906–1914) and Bishop of Bristol (1914–1933)
Elizabeth Nickson, Canadian writer and journalist, former European bureau chief of Life magazine
Susan Nickson (b. 1982), English television screenwriter, creator and writer of the BBC sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (2001–2011)
David Wigley Nickson (b. 1929), Baron Nickson, British businessman

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
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 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html