Explore the Family Name Nickerson
The meaning of Nickerson
1. English (Norfolk and Lincolnshire): variant of Nixon, in which trisyllabic Nickeson has been spelled Nickerson. 2. English: alternatively, a variant of Nicholson with /r/ substituted for /l/.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Nickerson in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname 'Nickerson' has seen some fluctuation in popularity between the years 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked 2162 in popularity, but by 2010 it had dropped slightly to a rank of 2283, marking a decrease of 5.6%. Despite this drop in rank, the actual count of individuals with the 'Nickerson' surname increased from 15,409 in 2000 to 15,970 in 2010, a growth of 3.64%. However, as a proportion per 100k people, the prevalence of the surname decreased by 5.25% during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,162 | #2,283 | -5.6% |
| Count | 15,409 | 15,970 | 3.64% |
| Proportion per 100k | 5.71 | 5.41 | -5.25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Nickerson
In terms of ethnic identity, the 'Nickerson' surname is primarily associated with White ethnicity, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, 78.60% of those with the surname identified as White, although this percentage dropped slightly to 76.02% by 2010. The second-largest ethnic group associated with the surname was Black, at 17.29% in 2000 and increasing to 17.98% in 2010. It’s also worth noting that the representation of Hispanic and individuals identifying with two or more races saw significant increases over the decade – up 67.27% and 51.08% respectively. The proportions of Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native identities remained relatively static, with minor changes over the ten-year period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 78.6% | 76.02% | -3.28% |
| Black | 17.29% | 17.98% | 3.99% |
| Hispanic | 1.65% | 2.76% | 67.27% |
| Two or More Races | 1.39% | 2.1% | 51.08% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.66% | 0.65% | -1.52% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.42% | 0.49% | 16.67% |
Nickerson ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Nickerson is British & Irish, which comprises 54.0% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (23.7%) and Scandinavian (4.1%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Eastern European, Spanish & Portuguese, Nigerian, and Ashkenazi Jewish.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 54.0% |
| French & German | 23.7% |
| Scandinavian | 4.1% |
| Other | 18.2% |
Possible origins of the surname Nickerson
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Nickerson have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 87.50% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 87.50% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 86.60% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 86.60% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 86.30% |
What Nickerson haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Nickerson is R-S764, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-S764 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L21 and R-CTS241, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Berryhill, Mccurry, Mclaurin, Seaton, Frizzell, Sweeney, Mclaren, Mcfarlane, Macpherson, Macfarlane.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Nickerson surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Nickerson have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Nickerson" Surname 40.5%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Nickerson" Surname 32.3%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Nickerson" Surname 24.8%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Nickerson" Surname 22.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Nickerson?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Nickerson are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition