Nicholson is a patronymic name carried into the north of Ireland from Britain.
Where does the Nicholson name come from?
Nicholson means “son of Nicholas” — from the popular medieval personal name Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, “victory of the people,” the name of the saint who became Santa Claus. It is an English and Scottish patronymic, also written Nicolson, and in the Hebrides it rendered the Gaelic MacNeacail.
Nicholson in Ireland
The name came to the north of Ireland through English and Scottish settlement and became established in Ulster, where Nicholson families have long been part of the life of the province. As a settled name, Nicholson is found today across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Related Irish family names
You may also like Nelson, Newman, and Barry.
Carry the Nicholson name with you
We craft heritage gifts for thousands of Irish and Scottish family names — mugs, woven blankets, ornaments and more. To find yours, type it into the search bar at the top of the page, or browse the Nicholson collection here.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nicholson an Irish surname?
Nicholson is of English and Scottish origin and became a settled name in Ireland, especially in Ulster.
What does Nicholson mean?
It means “son of Nicholas,” from a Greek name meaning “victory of the people.”
Is there a Nicholson family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions; the crest and tartan artwork on our Nicholson products is created as decorative heritage artwork to celebrate the name.
