NICE
Nice is a surname of English origin, recorded throughout the British Isles and more particularly in England. Its earliest known occurrence is in the early thirteenth century, with a variety of spellings including Nice, Nise and Niche.
The name is derived from the Middle English word nice, a term that in the fifteenth century conveyed a sense of playfulness or even foolishness. Consequently, a bearer of the surname may have originally been given this appellation as a nickname for a person who was regarded as somewhat clownish or simple, rather than as someone who was pleasant in the modern sense of the word.
Another possible derivation relates to the Middle English word meaning “oak”, suggesting that the name was originally a topographic reference to a person who lived near a prominent oak tree. A further hypothesis, supported by the existence of the surnames Nisbet and related forms, proposes that Nice could be a variant of a name derived from the Old English words næss (headland) and byge (bend), indicating someone who dwelt by a bend in a headland.
More recent scholarship proposes that Nice may also stem from the pre-7th century Old English word nich, meaning a nook or corner. In this interpretation the surname would describe an individual who lived in a small secluded area. Evidence for this is found in the earliest recorded bearer, Simon atte Nych of Somerset, whose name appears in a 1327 document.
The surname made its way to the New World at the start of the colonial era; George Nice was among the early settlers of the British colony of Barbados and was interred there on 2 May 1679. This illustrates the early overseas migration of families carrying the name.
Today, the surname remains relatively uncommon, yet it serves as an interesting example of how the meanings attached to a word can shift dramatically over time, as the English word nice itself has evolved from a medieval sense of simplicity or clownishness to the contemporary notion of kindness and refinement.
Typical given names associated with the Nice surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
- Stuart
Female
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Frances
- Jane
- Karen
- Katherine
- Laura
- Lisa
- Mary
- Rebecca
- Ruth
- Sarah
- Susan
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
- Nise
- Nici
- Niss
- Nies
- Nisco
- Noce
- Nisse
- Nicel
- Nyse
- Niec
- Ince
- Nic
- Nica
- Gnas
- Gnass
- Gnes
- Gnys
- Knass
- Knaus
- Knauss
- Knees
- Kneis
- Kness
- Knesz
- Kneuss
- Knez
- Kniaz
- Knies
- Kniese
- Knisz
- Knos
- Knose
- Knouse
- Knows
- Naas
- Naase
- Naaz
- Nace
- Naci
- Naess
- Naice
- Nais
- Naisa
- Naiz
- Nas
- Nasa
- Nase
- Nasi
- Naso
- Nass
- Nassa
- Nassau
- Nasse
- Nassi
- Nassie
- Nasso
- Nasu
- Nasui
- Naus
- Nause
- Nawse
- Naz
- Naze
- Nazia
- Nazie
- Neace
- Neas
- Nease
- Neaz
- Neece
- Nees
- Neese
- Neice
- Neis
- Neise
- Neiss
- Nes
- Nesa
- Nesci
- Nese
- Nesi
- Ness
- Nessa
- Nesse
- Nessi
- Neus
- Neuse
- Neuss
- Neys
- Nez
- Neza
- Nias
- Niass
- Niaz
- Niazi
- Nicie
- Niciu
- Nicke
- Nieass
- Niece
- Niese
- Niess
- Nis
- Nisa
- Nisey
- Nisi
- Nisio
- Nissa
- Nizio
- Noci
- Noice
- Noise
- Nos
- Nosa
- Nose
- Noss
- Nosse
- Nousia
- Nouss
- Noyce
- Noys
- Noyse
- Nsa
- Nuce
- Nuese
- Nuez
- Nus
- Nuss
- Nusse
- Nuza
- Nuzi
- Nuzzo
- Nys
- Nyss
- Nysse
- Nze
- Wynes
- Wyness
- Wynnes
- Wynness
- Wynns
- Wyns
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Nice in...
Braille
⠝⠊⠉⠑
Morse
-...-.-..
Semaphore
There are approximately 1,883 people named Nice in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,421st most common surname in Britain. Around 29 in a million people in Britain are named Nice.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Nice
- Phil Nice - Actor
- James Nice - History writer; music industry manager as James Nice
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.