Nichols is a common English surname that originated as a patronymic, meaning “son of Nicholas”. The name Nicholas itself derives from the Greek name Nikolaos, which means “victory of the people”. Nichols can be found throughout the English-speaking world, and is particularly prevalent in the United States. Notable people with the surname include actress Nichelle Nichols, journalist and author John Nichols, and football player Nicky Nichols. The name has also been used in fiction, with characters such as Inspector Nicholas Angel in the movie “Hot Fuzz”.
