Nixson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland/England
Ireland

Etymology of Nixson

What does the name Nixson mean?

The roots of the Nixson 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 Nixson family

The surname Nixson 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 Nixson family

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

Nixson 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 Nixson 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 Nixson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Nixson family to Ireland

Some of the Nixson 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.

Nixson migration to the United States +

Nixson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Ralph Nixson, who arrived in Maryland in 1669 5

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.
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)