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Nichols

NIH-kuhlz

Nichols (name) means a surname derived from the given name Nicholas. Example: “The Nichols family moved to the coast last summer.”

name
1
A surname derived from the given name Nicholas.
"The Nichols family moved to the coast last summer."

Word forms

Nicholses plural

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Test yourself on “Nichols” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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Can you complete this real example?

The _____ family moved to the coast last summer.

Etymology

From Nichol, a medieval form of Nicholas, plus the patronymic ending -s.

Frequently asked questions

What does “Nichols” mean?

The word “Nichols” means a surname derived from the given name Nicholas.

How do you pronounce “Nichols”?

“Nichols” is pronounced NIH-kuhlz (/ˈnɪkəlz/ in IPA).

How do you use “Nichols” in a sentence?

Here is “Nichols” used in a sentence: “The Nichols family moved to the coast last summer.”

What part of speech is “Nichols”?

“Nichols” is a name.

Is “Nichols” a common word?

“Nichols” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Is Nichols related to the surname Nicholson?

Yes, both Nichols and Nicholson derive from the given name Nicholas, though they use different endings to indicate descent, with Nicholson using "son" explicitly and Nichols using the shorter possessive "s" form. Both surnames point back to the same original first name.

Is Nichols spelled with or without a second "l"?

The standard spelling of this surname is Nichols, with one "l," though variant spellings such as Nicholls exist in some family lines. The variation reflects differing historical spelling conventions rather than a difference in meaning.

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