Surname Nicolay - Meaning and Origin
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Nicolay: What does the surname Nicolay mean?
The last name Nicolay is an old French surname. It is derived from the Latin name Nicholas, which means “victory of the people”. The surname can be found in various spellings, such as: Nicolay, Nicolai, Collay, Collai, Nicollay, and Nicollet.
The family name Nicolay originates from France, but is also common to German, Swiss, Austrian, and Dutch cultures. The Nicolay surname is primarily found in France and Germany, but can also be found in other parts of Europe, North America, and other parts of the world.
The Nicolay surname is a patronymic name, meaning it is derived from the father’s given name, in this case, Nicholas. As with many surnames, the Nicolay surname developed over time, often depending on where a family was residing or what occupation they had.
The Nicolay surname is an ancient one, having been a well-established surname since the Middle Ages. The Nicolay family was an important one, especially in France. For example, Henry Nicolay was a French Protestant martyr who was martyred in 1598 in France’s Wars of Religion.
The Nicolay surname is still fairly common today, although it has not been carried on as much as other French names. It is believed to have died out in France, although it still exists in other parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisNicolay: Where does the name Nicolay come from?
Nicolay is a surname that is known to be found mostly in France, Switzerland and Holland. It could have its origin in the Lombardic language, and is derived from the personal name Nicolay. Nicolay is a patronymic name, which means it is derived from the name of a father or ancestor. This last name could have come from the given name Nicolas, which means "victory of the people".
In France, the last name is most commonly found in the regions of Normandy, Lorraine, and Champagne-Ardenne. In Switzerland, the last name is commonly found in the cantons of Zurich, Geneva, and Neuchâtel. In Holland, the last name is most commonly found in the provinces of Noord-Holland, Utrecht, Gelderland, and Friesland.
The last name may also be found in Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Spain, and other regions throughout Europe. There are also records of people with this last name in the United States, Australia, and Canada.
Today, the last name Nicolay is most commonly found in these locations, but it can be found in many other locations around the world. The last name Nicolay is popular, and many people with this last name can trace their ancestry back centuries.
Variations of the surname Nicolay
Nicolay is commonly spelled as Nicolai, Nikolay, Nikulai, Nicoli, Nikoli, and Nikoly. It is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Nicolai or Nicholas meaning "victory of the people," derived from the Greek Nikolas.
Nicolay is a popular surname across Europe, especially in Russia. Variations of this surname have been found in Germany, France, Scandinavia, and Poland. It is also common in countries of the former Soviet Union such as Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
In Germany, the variants of Nicolay include Nicolai, Nikoli, and Neukolai. In France, the variants include Nicol, Nicolle, Nicoly, Nicoli, and Nicolai. In Scandinavia, the variants include Nikula, Niklas, and Nielsen. In Poland, the variants include Nikolasak, Nickolay, and Niklys.
In the United States, the most common spelling is Nicolai. Other variants of Nicolay that can be found in the US include Nicoley, Nickels, Nickells, Nicholls, and Nicol.
Common surnames that are derived from Nicolay include the Russian variants Nikolaev, Nikolaevich, Nikonov, and Nikitin, the Polish Filipek and Mikolajczak, and the German Ludwig, Klenk, Klenkoff, and Klepikoff.
Famous people with the name Nicolay
- Johannes Nicolay (1734–1820), Norwegian clergyman, historian, and poet
- John G. Nicolay (1832–1901), American presidential secretary
- Theodor Nicolay (1834–1912), German physician, natural historian, and anthropologist
- Philippe Nicolay (1854–1921), Belgian ophthalmologist and creator of the 'Nicolay technique'
- Karl August Nicolay (1869–1953), German historian
- Frederic Nicolay (1872–1948), French soldier and explorer
- Auguste Nicolaï (1875–1948), French architect, designer, and sculptor
- Sofie Elisabeth Augusta Nicolay (1876–1965), Norwegian peace activist
- Herman Nicolay (1885–1974), Norwegian diplomat
- Hildegard Nicolay (1888–1968), German painter
- Gjel Nicolay Kristiansson (1894–1966), Norwegian educator
- Christiane Nicolay-LESSING (1899–1982), Swiss psychoanalyst
- Ole Nicolay Hansen (1907–1987), Norwegian painter
- François-Augustin de Nicolay (1916–1993), French writer, diplomat, and historian
- Jean Nicolay (1925–2012), French sculptor
- Niels-Henrik Nicolay (born 1933), Danish architect
- Jean-Christophe Nicolay (born 1942), French politician
- John Nicolay (born 1945), Canadian diplomat
- Henrik Nicolay (born 1947), Norwegian jazz musician
- Jørgen Nicolay Sandberg (born 1951), Norwegian hotel manager and author
- Michael Nicolay (born 1958), German journalist and author
- Jonas Nicolay Sandberg (born 1962), Norwegian science fiction writer
- Chris Nicolay (born 1969), American musician
- Steve Nicolay (born 1971), American writer, producer, and director
- Johannes Nicolay (born 1975), German singer-songwriters and actor