Nicholls is a surname of English origin. It is one of the many patronymic surnames derived from the given name Nichol, a medieval variant of Nicol and ultimately Nicholas. The surname means "son of Nichol" and is most commonly found in England, particularly in the West Midlands and South West regions. The earliest recorded spelling dates to 1322 in Staffordshire, England, as evidenced by historical documents.Etymology and OriginThe root name Nicholas comes from the Greek Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people" (from nike "victory" and laos "people"). Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop from Anatolia, inspired widespread use of the name across Christian Europe. After the Norman Conquest, the name Nicholas was introduced to England, giving rise to many derivatives, including Nichol and Nicol. The patronymic form Nicholls follows the common medieval practice of adding -s to denote "son of." In some cases, the name may also originate from the nickname Nicholl used as a diminutive of Nicholas.Notable BearersMany individuals with the surname Nicholls have achieved prominence. Examples include Agnes Nicholls (1876–1959), an English soprano; Alan Nicholls (1973–1995), an English football goalkeeper; Alana Nicholls (born 1986), an Australian kayaker; Benjamin Nicholls (1864–1945), an English cricketer; and Bernard Nicholls (1877–1963), an English cricketer. In arts and entertainment, Allan F. Nicholls (born 1945) is a Canadian actor and film director. Anthony Nicholls and Arthur Nicholls are names shared by several individuals across different fields. Andy Nicholls (born 1962) is known as a soccer hooligan and writer. More recently, Anna Nicholls (born 1997) represents as an English cricketer.Distribution and VariantsToday, Nicholls is particularly common in England, Australia, and the United States, with significant concentrations in counties like Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Yorkshire. Variant surnames include Nichols and Nicholson, while other linguistic equivalents exist: Russian Nikolaev/Nikolaeva, Macedonian Nikolov/Nikolova, Serbian Nikolić, and Slovak Mikula.Meaning: "son of Nichol" (from the given name Nicholas)Origin: EnglishType: Patronymic surnameUsage regions: United Kingdom, Australia, United States