Surname Nicely - Meaning and Origin

Nicely: What does the surname Nicely mean?

The surname Nicely is believed to have English origins, although it's not particularly common in England today. It is likely derived from the medieval English term "nisely," meaning "carefully" or "adroitly," and was possibly utilized as a nickname for someone who performed tasks skillfully and with precision. The actual name "Nicely" may have originated in the early 18th century in North America. The spelling variations of this name can also include Niceley, Nisly, and Niesley among others. Since it originated during times when surnames served as identifiers for jobs, traits, or places, the bearer of the surname might have been associated with such careful, meticulous attributes. Today, people with the surname Nicely can be found in various parts of the world, but it's most frequently encountered in the United States.

Nicely: Where does the name Nicely come from?

The last name Nicely is most common in the southeastern United States, particularly in the state of Virginia. In fact, the surname Nicely appears most commonly in both Virginia and West Virginia. According to the United States Census Bureau’s data from 2017, the states with the highest number of Nicely households are Virginia (924 households), West Virginia (313 households), Missouri (234 households), and Ohio (170 households). This same data source also showed that Nicely is the 8,384th most common surname in the United States.

Outside of the United States, the last name Nicely is most commonly associated with the United Kingdom. Specifically, it is most common in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Gloucestershire counties in England. Immigration records from the early 1700s through the 1900s indicate that many families bearing the name Nicely arrived in America from England during this time period.

Today, the Nicely surname is a part of many branches of the same family tree, especially across the Southeastern United States. With a rich history and a presence in multiple counties across the world, the Nicely family name will likely continue to be passed down for many generations to come.

Variations of the surname Nicely

Nicely is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. The name derives from the Old English word 'nith', meaning 'knee' or 'accommodating'. It is also synonymous with the Middle English word 'nices', meaning 'generous'.

The surname Nicely has many variant spellings that are found across the US, the UK, and other English-speaking countries. These include Niceley, Nickels, Nickells, Nickel, Nicolls, Nuckles, Nicolls, Nickels, Nicholls, Nicholl, Nickell, Nichol, Nickles, Nuckles, and Nichels.

Some of the surnames associated with Nicely have French roots. Nicot is a short form of the personal name Nicodemus, which derives from the Greek name Nikodemos, meaning “victory of the people”. DeNicola is an Italianitutes adoption of the same name. DeNicola, other variants, are traditionally found as first or last names in Italy.

Other spellings include the Dutch Niekel, and the German Nitzel. French spellings include Nissel and Nicault. These surnames are pronounced with a soft 'c' and the 's' sound is typically silent.

Due to immigration, variations of the name Nicely can be found in countries outside of England, France, and Germany. Additionally, there are many people who have changed the spelling of the name to fit their linguistic or ethnic preferences.

Famous people with the name Nicely

• Bob Nicely (retired professional baseball player).
• John Nicely (columnist).
• Jake Nicely (professional racecar driver).
• Rachael Nicely (actress; starred in the 2014 film I Origins).
• Seth Nicely (guitar player; frontman for alternative rock band Orphans of the Sky).
• Frederick Nicely (American jazz and swing guitarist).
• Caroline Nicely (entrepreneur and businesswoman).
• Bill Nicely (photographer and filmmaker).
• Jolene Nicely (author and blogger).
• Pamela Sue Nicely (artist and sculptor).

Other surnames

Niceley