Surname Nickerson - Meaning and Origin
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iGENEA DNA Test: The Journey of Rediscovering the Nickerson Heritage and Its Impact on My Family Identity
Tracing back my roots through the complexities of my DNA with the help of the iGENEA DNA test has proven to be an unveiling journey into my family’s history and lineage. Unearthing my significant relatedness to the surname Nickerson, much against what I had perceived as my ancestral surname, has had a profound influence on my self-identity and my concept of family identity.
B. Nickerson
read moreNickerson: What does the surname Nickerson mean?
The last name Nickerson is of English origin and is believed to be derived from the personal name 'Nicholas'. The suffix '-son' is a patronymic indicator, meaning 'son of'. So, the name Nickerson could be translated roughly to mean 'son of Nicholas'. This was a common practice in many cultures where a father's first name would become the son's last name with an attached suffix, emphasizing lineage. Nicholas itself is a name of Greek origin meaning 'victory of the people'. Therefore, the inheritors of the last name Nickerson could potentially trace their ancestry back to a forebearer named Nicholas. The name is predominantly found in the United States, Canada, and England. It emerged as a way to distinguish people with common first names in regions where limited set of personal names were reused through generations. It's important to note that surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, and even physical characteristics.
Order DNA origin analysisNickerson: Where does the name Nickerson come from?
Nickerson is a common surname found mostly in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is also found in small numbers throughout Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In the United States, the surname is most concentrated in the northeastern states, particularly New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Nickerson is also present in other states, including Illinois, California, and Florida. In the UK, it is most common in London, followed by South East England.
Nickerson's roots can be traced back to England in the 1100s, originating in Devon. It derives from the Old English word for "son of Nicholas," with Nicholas being a common given name of the time.
Today, the Nickerson surname is still quite common. According to Ancestry.com, it is the 203rd most common last name in the United States, and the 511th most common last name in the UK. It's popularity has only slightly declined in the last century, and it is predicted to continue to remain a relatively popular surname for some time.
Variations of the surname Nickerson
Nickerson is a patronymic surname which originates from the Old Norse given name Nicor. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Nickerson include Nicolson, Nickolson, Nicholson, Nickoleson, Nicolson, Nicolsone, Nikolson and Nickoltone.
Nickerson is an Anglo-Scottish surname which is derived from the Norman personal name Nicor. This name was originally derived from the Germanic element nic, which means 'victory', and the Old Norse element har, which means 'army'. The variant of Nickerson is Nicholson which was found often in Scotland and Northern England in the Middle Ages.
The name Nickerson is found in England and the United States and other countries of North America, having arrived there from Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. The United States' first record of a Nickerson was in 1660, when William Nicolson sailed from England to Virginia. Nickerson later became the 25th most popular name in the United States.
Nickerson is a unique and fascinating name due to its many variants and spellings. Despite this, all versions of the name come from the same Norse origin and denote a 'victorious army.'
Famous people with the name Nickerson
- Amanda Nickerson: an American professor of School Psychology at the University at Buffalo who is a leader in research, practice, and policy addressing school safety and positive school climate
- Abraham Nickerson: a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
- Cassandra Nickerson: a Canadian rally car driver and the 2006 Canadian Rally Champion
- Keith Nickerson: an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s
- Jamey Nickerson: an American comedian, improviser, and actor from New York City
- Nicholas Nickerson: an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder
- Clara Nickerson: an American silent film actress
- Joe Nickerson: an American actor best known for his performances in films like Monsters University, Jurassic Park, and Goonies
- Barbara Nickerson: an American book editor
- George Nickerson: an American politician, community leader, Civil Rights activist, and former Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.