Surname Nikolaas - Meaning and Origin
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Nikolaas: What does the surname Nikolaas mean?
The last name Nikolaas is a Greek name derived from the given name Nicolas, which in turn is derived from the Greek “nikē” meaning victory. This name is believed to have originated with the Apostles who were sent out to preach the gospel. According to Christian tradition, it was given in honour of Saint Nicholas who had a profound influence on the spread of Christianity across the world.
The surname Nikolaas is a patronymic name, meaning “son of Nicholas”. It is a popular surname in many countries, primarily due to the numerous Saints bearing this name and its variant spellings. The patronymic name is used in combination with the father’s given name to show relationship. This means that a person named Nikolaos was named after his father or ancestor who had the name Nicholas.
The word Nikolaas is typically translated as "victory of the people" or "victorious people." It is also symbolic of strength, determination, and resilience due to the victorious nature of its namesake. As the patronymic form of Nicholas, this name encourages people to honor the legacy of the saint and the Christian tradition associated with it.
Today, the last name Nikolaas is a reminder of courage and inner strength, representing the ideals of victory and success. It is a powerful symbol for those who bear this distinctive surname, as it allows them to take pride in both their cultural heritage and religious beliefs.
Order DNA origin analysisNikolaas: Where does the name Nikolaas come from?
The last name Nikolaas is most prevalent in the Netherlands, especially in locations along the western coast including the provinces of North Holland, South Holland, and Zeeland. It is also common in the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. Outside of the Netherlands, Nikolaas is also found in other European countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy.
Nikolaas is very likely derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, which in turn is related to the Greek word for victory. Therefore the name is thought to mean 'victory of the people'. The area where the name is most common is also the area where the Dutch culture and language developed, so the name is associated with that region since medieval times.
As for its use outside of Europe, Nikolaas is rare. It is, however, slowly becoming more popular, particularly in the United States among families of Dutch heritage or with Dutch interests. There are currently several thousand people in the US with the last name Nikolaas, mainly concentrated in California, Pennsylvania, and Texas, as well as a few in Indiana and Ohio. The name may prove to have increasing frequency as the Dutch-American population grows.
Variations of the surname Nikolaas
The name Nikolaas is a variant of the Greek personal name Nicholas and is derived from the Greek word Nikolaos, meaning “victory of the people”. It is related to the old and classical Niccolà, the name of the famed Niccolò Machiavelli, the Renaissance Italian politician, philosopher and author.
The variant spellings most commonly used for the name Nikolaas include Nicolas, Nicolaas, Nicolaos, Nikolas, Niko, Nikola, Nikólaos, Nobelus, Nicol, Nikolaus, Nicolai, Niko, Nikholas, Nikollas, and Nikoole.
The surnames of the same origin as Nikolaas can range from Nikolaou and Nikolaides in Greek, Nicholaiev and Nicholaievich in Romanian, Nikolaou and Nikolaou in Cyprus, Nikolaidis and Nikolaides in Greek, Nicolao, and Nicolau in Portuguese and Nicholo in Italian.
In the United States, the most common surname variants of Nikolaas include Nicolas, Nicholaus, Nikolai, Nikoletich, Nikoleit, Nicholson, Nickells, Nicolson, and Nickols. Other variants popular in other countries includes Niklason, Nikolsky, and Nikaila in Russia, and Nikolin in Croatia.
The name Nikolaas and the variants and surnames of same origin is popular in Europe, especially in countries such as Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Greece, Romania, and Portugal. It is also popular amongst Latin American countries including Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Chile, and Puerto Rico as well as in the United States and Australia.
Famous people with the name Nikolaas
- Nikolaas Tinbergen: Dutch biologist, ornithologist and animal behaviourist. Awarded the Nobel Prize in 1973.
- Willem Alexander Claus George Ferdinand: Monarch of Netherlands, popularly known as King Willem-Alexander.
- Matti Jasu Nikolaas Vanhanen: Prime Minister of Finland from 2003 to 2010.
- Nikolaas Van Rijn: Dutch architect and real estate developer.
- Nikolaasetta de Waal Malefyt: Dutch theater and film actress.
- Nikolaas De Decker: Belgian painter and etcher.
- Nikolaas Francken De Potter: Belgian historian and politician.
- Emanuel De Potter: Belgian lawyer and politician, father of Nikolaas.
- Nikolaas Bentinck: Dutch politician and industry executive.
- Niels Nikolaas Theunissen: Dutch ice skater and Olympic Winter Games champion.