Scottish female form of Nicholas [q.v.], from Greek "victory (of the) people".
A correspondent [MA3] reports many uses of the forename Nicholas for girls, particularly in the early 19th century in the counties of Ayrshire and Dumfriesshire, Scotland. It does appear from the 1881 Census for the Lowlands of Scotland that Nicholas was more commonly a female name than a male name and the male equivalent thereabouts was more likely to be Nichol.
Another correspondent [GB] reports a monumental inscription in Macduff, Banffshire, Scotland where a mother and daughter are both named Nicolas. GB also notes an entry in the 1696 Poll Book for Kincardine O'Neill, Aberdeenshire, Scotland referring to "Dame Nicholas Burnett", the earliest use we have found so far.
In the 1841 Census of Aberdeenshire this usage occurs but less frequently, Nicolas being the more predominant female spelling. |
