Origin and History of NICHOLSON

Description:

The Nicholson surname is of English origin, derived from the personal name 'Nicholas'. It is believed to have first appeared in the 14th century and is one of the oldest surnames in Britain. The earliest known recording of the name is that of William Nicholason, who appears in the 1273 Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. The name is derived from the Old French 'Nicolas', which is a form of the Greek name 'Nikolaos' meaning 'victory of the people'. The Nicholson family was originally from the East Riding of Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. Variations of the name include Nichol, Nicholl, Nicholls, Nicholsen and Nicolson. Cultural customs associated with the Nicholson surname include the celebration of the family name on St. Nicholas Day, which is celebrated on December 6th in many countries. The Nicholson coat of arms is a silver shield with three black wolves' heads. The crest is a black wolf's head. The family motto is 'Virtus Sola Nobilitas' which means 'Virtue is the only nobility'.