Surname MacNichol - Meaning and Origin
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MacNichol: What does the surname MacNichol mean?
The last name MacNichol has its origin in Scotland and Ireland. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac Neacail which means ‘son of Nicholas’. The name is also derived from the Gaelic first name MacNiceal which has its origin in the Norse name Nikul, or Nikulas. In some areas of Scotland, the name is recorded as MacNicol or McNeece.
The name MacNichol is a sept name, or family name that is associated with a particular clan or family. The common Gaelic clan associated with the name is Clan MacNeocail or Clan MacNicol of the Scottish Highlands. The clan is believed to have descended from a mesne ancestor and to have been active in the area around Lochbroom in Ross-shire before the beginning of the 19th century. Members of the clan were originally hereditary musical performers at the courts of the Lords of the Isles.
The MacNichol surname is still common today in Scotland and Ireland, and is found in populations across the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Those bearing the name are proud of their ancestry and family roots, and often trace relationships with other clan members using the genealogical records that are available.
Order DNA origin analysisMacNichol: Where does the name MacNichol come from?
The last name MacNichol is generally thought to have its origin in Scotland, probably from the Lowlands. It is not found with any great frequency today in Scotland itself; however, the name is still found in other parts of the British Isles, especially Northern Ireland and England. In recent years, many people with the surname MacNichol have emigrated to other countries, particularly the United States.
In the United States, the MacNichol surname is found in many states, and is especially common in the Midwestern states of Wisconsin and Illinois. The name is found in smaller numbers in many other states, including Ohio, Minnesota and Michigan.
The MacNichol name is also found in several other countries around the world, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Although the name MacNichol is not particularly common today, there are still many people who carry this name and a sense of kinship and shared identity has grown up around it. People who carry the MacNichol name tend to feel a great sense of pride and belonging, and often look out for one another.
Variations of the surname MacNichol
The surname MacNichol has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include MacNicoll, MacNickel, MacNicholl, and MacNichals. The Mac in these surnames is derived from Mac, which is an Irish and Scottish form of the Gaelic word meaning “son.”
In Scotland, the MacNichol family has been found in the counties of Argyll, Sutherland, Inverness-shire, Renfrewshire, and Perthshire. It is thought to be derived from the influential Clan Nicolson of Caithness, Scotland.
The MacNicolls of Northwest Ireland have their origins in County Donegal. The surname has been traced back to the 12th century, and was an anglicization of the Gaelic Mac Neachain, derived from the first name Neachan.
MacNichol is also a surname found in Ireland. It is an anglicization of the Gaelic MacHiciol, which was derived from the first name Mac Eich. This MacNichol family is of Tyronese origin and is found in Counts Galway, Mayo and Longford.
The MacNickels of Scotland are derived from the old Gaelic MacGniceall, meaning “son of the champion.” The original MacNickels of the 15th century were found in the Argyllshire region, with variant spellings including MacNickels, MacNeches and MacNeish.
Finally, MacNichals is derived from the Gaelic MacBartholamáin, which was found in the counties of Donegal and Tyrone. The MacNichals from Donegal are part of the ancient MacLochlainn dynasty, and the MacNichals from Tyrone of the O’Neill dynasty.
In conclusion, the surname MacNichol has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin from Scotland, Ireland and the British Isles. These variants include MacNicoll, MacNickel, MacNicholl, MacNichals, MacNickels, MacNeches and MacNeish.
Famous people with the name MacNichol
- Germain MacNichol: professional soccer player
- Jason MacNichol: former American football running back
- Bill MacNichol: former Canadian ice hockey player
- Mary MacNichol: HIV/AIDS activist and educator
- John MacNichol: Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler
- Kevin MacNichol: actor, producer, and creator of the award-winning trilogy "The Crogs"
- Les MacNichol: American television director
- Danae MacNichol: professional dancer and aerialist
- Derek MacNichol: world renowned viola player
- Rob MacNichol: five-time Grammy winner for Best Country Album