Meaning “son of Nicol”, the Nicholson surname can trace its origins back as far as Greece where the word Nicol was derived from the Greek ‘Νικόλαος’, meaning, “victory people”. The name first came to Britain with the Normans and would go on to be used by two clans, the lowland Clan Nicholson, and the unrelated Clan MacNeacail of Skye.
The position of clan chief of Nicholson is currently vacant. However, Adam Nicolson, 5th Lord Carnock, could legitimately claim it should he desire.