Surname Nickelsen - Meaning and Origin
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Nickelsen: What does the surname Nickelsen mean?
The last name Nickelsen is of German origin and is derived from the name “Nickel”. In the German language, Nickel is a diminutive of the given name Nikolaus, which translates to “victory of the people". This occupational last name was commonly held by blacksmiths who had a “nickwerk” or a forging and tool-making workshop. Nickelsen was also connected to the spiritual practice of worshipping gods and saints with coins.
Nickel is still a popular name among many German families and today Nickelsen is most common in parts of northern Germany, particularly near villages like Rostock and Schleswig. It is a relatively common family name in North America, Australia, and South Africa.
Nickelsen is generally associated with happiness, wealth, and progress. It's known to bring bestow luck and prosperity to the bearer. The Nickelsen family are often kind, loyal, and hardworking individuals. They are often, but not always, ambitious which leads them to great success. They are also highly respected in the German community for their commitment to family, friends, and community. Members of this family have made great contributions to society in the fields of industry, politics, science, and civil society.
Order DNA origin analysisNickelsen: Where does the name Nickelsen come from?
The surname Nickelsen is most commonly found in Scandinavia and its neighboring territories today, particularly in Denmark and Germany. It is also popular in the Baltics, USA and Canada, particularly in the Upper Midwest including Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Dakotas. The Nickelsen surname comes from a Danish patronymic name derived from the ancient Norse and Germanic name Nikulas, meaning "people of Nicholas".
Today, Nickelsen is predominantly a Danish surname and is said to have been first established in the 13th century with the arrival of Germanic settlers into Denmark. It has since become one of the most common surnames in Danish-speaking regions such as the Danish islands, Jutland Peninsula, and southern Scandinavian countries including Norway, Sweden, and Finland. In the USA, many immigrants with the Nickelsen surname arrived from Germanic-speaking countries in the mid to late 1800s.
Nickelsen is also popular in Canadian provinces, particularly British Columbia and Manitoba, where many Danish immigrants settled in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the UK, the Nickelsen surname is relatively uncommon and is rarely encountered aside from northern England, particularly in Yorkshire.
Variations of the surname Nickelsen
The Nickelsen surname originated in Germany and is a variation of the surname Nickel. The Nickel surname is most likely derived from either the German personal name Nikolaus, meaning “victor of the people” or from the Old High German for “corner of land.” Nickelsen is one spelling variation of the nickname, similar spelling variations of Nickelsen include Nickelsan, Nickelsin, and Nickelsun.
Variants of the Nickelsen surname that have more commonly surfaced during genealogical research include Nicklas, Nicklare, Nicklasen, Nickell, and Nikklesen. Surnames with an identical origin to Nickelsen, but a distinct spelling, include Nichol, Nicholl, Nicholls, Nicholds, Nicholsen, Nichols, Nicholson, and Nickel.
As with many surnames, Nicklsen is also subject to phonetic variants. Spelling variations of Nickelsan that have become phonetically similar include Nickelsen, Nickelesen, Nickelsen, Nickelsin, and Nickelsun.
Over the course of time, the Nickelsen surname has also been assimilated among many other cultures and as a result, other variant surnames have been derived including Czech variants Nicklas and Niklas, Danish Nicklesen, Dutch Nikkelsen, and Swedish Nicklasson and Niklasson.
Famous people with the name Nickelsen
- Wille Nickelsen: Danish-Norwegian singer-songwriter who achieved international fame with the duet "Ojos Negros" with fellow Norwegian musician and singer Ida Maria.
- Maria Nickelsen: Danish author and artist.
- Carsten Nickelsen: Danish composer and keyboardist.
- Thomas Nickelsen: Norwegian painter and sculptor.
- Flemming Nickelsen: Danish painter and illustrator.
- Kjeld Nickelsen: Danish actor and musician.
- Henrik Nickelsen: Norwegian painter and sculptor.
- Espen Nickelsen: international love guru and dating coach who has written several books on relationship advice.
- Tina Lyn Nickelsen: American writer, speaker, and life coach.
- Cornelia Nickelsen: Danish watch designer and entrepreneur.