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Nicholson Family History

Nicholson Surname Meaning

English (northern) and Scottish: patronymic from the Middle English personal name Nic(h)olas or the vernacular form Nic(h)ol + son; see Nichol Nicholas . In Scotland the name was sometimes substituted for McNichol . Americanized form of Danish Norwegian and North German Nicolaisen or Nikolaisen or of the Swedish cognate Niklasson patronymics from equivalents of the personal name Nicholas .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022

Similar surnames: Nicolson, Nichols, Nickelson, Colson, Nichelson, Nicholes, Nichol

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Where is the Nicholson family from?

You can see how Nicholson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nicholson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Nicholson families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 63 Nicholson families living in New York. This was about 12% of all the recorded Nicholson's in USA. New York had the highest population of Nicholson families in 1840.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nicholson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Nicholson

What did your Nicholson ancestors do for a living?

View Census Data for Nicholson | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations In 1940

Laborer
16%
Farmer
14%
Salesman
5%
Carpenter
3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

Teacher
7%
Stenographer
6%
Maid
6%
Housekeeper
6%

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What Nicholson family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 635,000 census records available for the last name Nicholson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nicholson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search US census records for Nicholson
Passenger Lists
There are 88,000 immigration records available for the last name Nicholson. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.
View all Nicholson immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 83,000 military records available for the last name Nicholson. For the veterans among your Nicholson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Nicholson military records

Census Records

There are 635,000 census records available for the last name Nicholson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nicholson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Nicholson

Passenger Lists

There are 88,000 immigration records available for the last name Nicholson. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Nicholson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 83,000 military records available for the last name Nicholson. For the veterans among your Nicholson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nicholson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Nicholson family history

Discover More

What is the average Nicholson lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Nicholson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Nicholson in 1941 was 52, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nicholson

Browse profiles of historical people with the Nicholson last name