Contents [hide]

Nix History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Nix History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland/England
Ireland

Etymology of Nix

What does the name Nix mean?

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 and literally translates as "son of Nick." 1

Early Origins of the Nix family

The surname Nix 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 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, 1619, 1620, 1646, 1653, 1662, 1665, 1677, 1811, 1853 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, 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 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...
William Nix was a British sheriff who held the joint position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1619 to 1620

Nix Ranking

In the United States, the name Nix is the 1,194^th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 5

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 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.

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 6
Heinrich Ludwig Nix, aged 33, who landed in Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Joh. Dethardt", he died in 1850 6
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 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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 7

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 8
Bridget Nix, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Rodney" 9

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) +

William Donald Nix (1941-2024), American musician, songwriter, and producer, best known for his song "Going Down"
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
... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

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)
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
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1835
South Australian Register Wednesday 21st February 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Rodney 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/rodney1855.shtml