Surname Nicklass - Meaning and Origin
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Nicklass: What does the surname Nicklass mean?
The surname Nicklass is of German origin and is believed to be a patronymic meaning "son of Nikolaus or Nicholas." It is most commonly found in the German states of Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt as well as in some parts of the United States, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.
The first known recorded instance of the surname is from the thirteenth century when it was used in the German form "Nicolauß." From this, a plethora of nicknames and variant forms of the surname eventually developed, such as Nickeless, Nikols, and Nicklels.
The name Nicholas is itself derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people". In the Old Testament of the Bible, Nicholas is one of the four original disciples of Jesus and was the first bishop of Myra, in modern-day Turkey. He is venerated as a saint, and is, among other things, the patron saint to sailors and children.
The origin and meaning of the surname Nicklass, thus, is linked to the original name Nicholas and refers to a family whose ancestor was associated with this name. It is a reminder of the religious connection between the ancestral line and the saintly qualities of the Nicholas name, and persists to this day as a lasting legacy in many places around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisNicklass: Where does the name Nicklass come from?
The last name Nicklass is most common today in Germany, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and some parts of Eastern and Central Europe. The name is of Germanic origin and translates as "son of Nicholas". It's likely the name originated in Germany, and later spread through migration into Scandinavian countries and beyond.
In Germany, Nicklass is ranked among the top hundred most popular surnames, and is most prevalent in large cities. It is thought to have been adopted by a number of aristocratic families in Germany during the Middle Ages, who may have had familial connections to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children.
In the United States, Nicklass is not a particularly common name. In its most recent census in 2017, the government found only 763 people nationwide using the Nicklass surname. This ranked Nicklass at #27,079 among all surnames in the country, placing it among the least common last names resting today.
In the UK, Nicklass is an even rarer surname. The Office of National Statistics identifies only 20 people with the name living in the UK today. This puts it at #79,477 out of all existing surnames.
Given the relative rarity of the name today, hundreds of years of immigration and migration have done much to disperse the popularity of "Nicklass" throughout the globe—from Germany to the United States and beyond.
Variations of the surname Nicklass
The surname Nicklass is an occupational surname of Germanic origin stemming from the old German nickname “Nickel” which was a common name among the nobility in the 13th century. The name is derived from the word “Nik” which means “victory” and “laos” meaning “people.” Therefore, Nicklass means “victorious people.”
Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the surname have evolved, leading to a variety of spellings such as Nickel, Nickell, Nickels, and Niklaas. Similarly, the surname has also taken on several nicknames and alternative surnames, including Nicholls, Nichols, Nicolai,Nicoli, andNickles.
In addition, the surname has also been anglicized in some regions, resulting in the spellings Niclass, Nicklas, and Nickless. Each of these versions has distinct geographical distributions of their own. For example, while the Niclas spelling is more common in the Netherlands, the Nickel spelling is more widespread in Germany.
Finally, the surname has also been adopted as a given name in many places across the world, and may be seen in such forms as Nicholas and Nicolas as well as Niklas and Nikolaus.
Famous people with the name Nicklass
- Philip Nicklass: Famously known for his role portrayal of Michael Schmidt in the 1990 TV movie 'Lethal Judgment'
- Sierra Nicklass: Canadian actress known for her roles in "Aftermath: The Station Fire" and "Romancing the Throne".
- Robert Nicklass: Following his graduation from Harvard Law School, Robert Nicklass went on to a career in law as a partner at the firm Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott.
- Nicklass Babinsky: A famous soccer player in Europe, Nicklass Babinsky is well-known for his style of goal-scoring and incredible kicks.
- Eric Nicklass: A lead actor in several 1990's television shows, Eric Nicklass is remembered for his roles in Picket Fences and The Cosby Mysteries.
- Paul Nicklass: Paul Nicklass is an artist who has used a range of various mediums and geometric shapes to create works in the 'Op Art' style.
- Anna Nicklass: Anna Nicklass is a Swedish fashion designer who has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Swedish fashion.
- Kevin Nicklass: Kevin Nicklass is an English actor who has had major roles in films such as Mindscape and TV shows such as House of Fools.
- Melissa Nicklass: Melissa Nicklass is an American figure skater who won the US Figure Skating Championship in the year 2006.
- Ryan Nicklass: Ryan Nicklass is a professional poker player from the United States. He has achieved remarkable success in a number of major tournaments.