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Nichol Family History

Nichol Surname Meaning

Scottish and northern English: from the Middle English personal name Nic(h)ol(e), a vernacular form of Nic(h)olas (see Nicholas). Compare Nickel and Nicol.

In some cases also an American shortened and altered form of Greek Nikolas, its variant Nicolas or of any of various derivatives of the personal name Nikola(o)s ‘Nicholas’ including Nikolis (see Nicoli).

Compare Nicholas and Nicol.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Nichol family from?

You can see how Nichol families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nichol family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Nichol families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 764 Nichol families living in Northumberland. This was about 30% of all the recorded Nichol's in United Kingdom. Northumberland had the highest population of Nichol families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nichol surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Nichol ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Nichol. 15% of Nichol men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Nichol women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Nichol were Incapacitated and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Nichol | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    15%
  • Farmer
    9%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Nichol family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 89,000 census records available for the last name Nichol. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nichol census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Nichol

Passenger Lists

There are 12,000 immigration records available for the last name Nichol. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Nichol immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 8,000 military records available for the last name Nichol. For the veterans among your Nichol ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nichol military records

You've only scratched the surface of Nichol family history

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What is the average Nichol lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Nichol life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Nichol in 1949 was 41, and 70 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nichol

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Nichol ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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