Surname Nikolaus - Meaning and Origin
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Nikolaus: What does the surname Nikolaus mean?
The last name Nikolaus is derived from the masculine given name Nikolaus, which means "victor of the people." The name is derived from the Greek word "nikos," meaning "victory," and "laos," meaning "people." This German name was popularized by Saint Nicholas of Myra, a 4th century Bishop of Myra in present-day Turkey. Saint Nicholas was known for his generous giving to the people of his time, and since then, the name Nikolaus has come to be associated with kindness and generosity.
In German-speaking countries, Nikolaus is well established as a name given to boys, and is actually the most popular name in Switzerland. It is also used in other language varieties such as Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Icelandic, Italian, Polish, Slovenian, Swedish and Croatian.
The name Nikolaus has various spelling variations, depending on the country or language variety, including Nicolao, Nikola, Nikolas, Nik, Nykkolás and Nikolo.
In some traditions, the name Nikolaus is celebrated during the Advent and Christmas period, when children treat Saint Nikolaus as the bringer of gifts. The night of the 5th December is known as the ‘Nikolausabend’, when the children await Saint Nikolaus amidst candlelight and treats. As such, the name Nikolaus today is seen as a bringer of good cheer, luck and fortune.
Order DNA origin analysisNikolaus: Where does the name Nikolaus come from?
The last name Nikolaus is most common in Central and Eastern Europe. It is particularly prevalent in countries such as Germany, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, and Czech Republic. In Germany, for example, statistics from 2020 show that Nikolaus is ranked as the 63rd most common surname.
Nikolaus is also found elsewhere in Europe, notably in Scandinavia and in countries such as France, Romania and Bulgaria. Regional variations of the name include Nikolaisen, Nikoleit, Niclaus, and Niklasen.
Outside of Europe, Nikolaus is found in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. According to the 2020 US census, the last name Nikolaus ranks as the 2,112th most common surname in the country. It is also relatively common in Canada, where it ranks as the 7,386th most common surname in the country.
Evidently, the surname Nikolaus is a widely-used given name throughout Europe and beyond. It is associated with the popular historical figure St. Nicholas of Myra, who is widely revered as the patron saint of children. Thus, it is likely to remain a popular choice of name for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Nikolaus
The variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Nikolaus are numerous. The surname can be seen in its German form, Nikolaus, as well as the Dutch version, Nikolaas. Another spelling of Nikolaus is Niclaus, while there are also double-barreled names, such as Nik-Niclaus.
The surname extends to numerous other spellings and origins, with variants including Nicolas, Nicolao, and Nicolo in French, Spanish, and Italian, respectively. There are also common spelling variations like Nicolaus, Nikolus, and Nicholas. Pet forms, such as Nickey, Nico, and Nica, can be seen as well.
The associated surnames are many, with Klein, Kleine, Kleinike, Kirch, Clausen, Claus, and Clauss amongst them. There are also the Ukrainian Nikolayev, Nikolaeff, and Nikol Storev, while the American Nikolauses may have originated from the latter.
Nikolaus is also one of the oldest of the surnames, with records indicating the first instance found in Bavaria during 1210. It has then spread to different parts of the world and is seen as a patronymic or family name, referring to a son of Nikolaus, the root name, due to its initial popularity as a given or baptismal name.
Famous people with the name Nikolaus
- Robert Nikolaus von Jacobs, German writer
- Julius August Nikolaus Freiherr von Reinholz, Prussian lieutenant general
- Wilfried Nikolaus Ferdinand Ernst Ernst von Kalterer, German noble
- Albert Nikolaus Baron von Hofacker, Bavarian lieutenant general
- Paul Otto Nikolaus Freiherr von Béthisy de Meriau, French officer
- Karl Nikolaus Freiherr Krieger zu Reininghaus, Austrian noble
- Josef Nikolaus Freiherr von Reischach, Bavarian general
- Julius Nikolaus August Eulenburg, Prussian noble and politician
- Jakob Nikolaus Greif, Austrian musician and composer
- Karl Nikolaus Graf von Hardegg, Austrian noble
- Florentine Nikolaus Graf von Öttingen-Wallerstein, Bavarian noble
- Wolfgang Nikolaus Graf von Neipperg, Austrian field marshal
- Johann Nikolaus von Jacquin, Austrian physician and botanist
- Sigmund Nikolaus Graf von Stadion, Austrian noble
- Philipp Nikolaus Eulenburg, German creator of the Eulenburg Affair
- Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek, Austro-Hungarian naval commander
- Johann Nikolaus Graf von Merveldt, German statesman
- Albin Nikolaus Dinorwig, German botanist
- Justus Nikolaus Zimmermann, German writer
- Alexander Nikolaus Herold, Prussian cavalry officer
- Friedrich Nikolaus Barnewitz, Hanseatic Botschafter in England
- Philipp Anton Nikolaus Graf Basselet von La Rosée, Bavarian general
- Georg Nikolaus von Naters, Swiss military officer
- Johann Baptist Nikolaus Mezger, Austrian historian
- Leonhard Nikolaus Kurschner, German political dancer