Nix
A short surname most often taken as a form of Nicholas or Nick, meaning “Nick’s son” in origin.
The #1,438 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 12,456 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Nix is generally understood as a shortened or altered form of Nick, itself a pet form of Nicholas. In older English records, it could function like “Nick’s son,” with the ending simplified over time. The deeper root is Greek Nikolaos, meaning “victory of the people.”
History
Historical surname dictionaries treat Nix as a variant in the Nicholas family, alongside forms such as Nicks and Nixon. The name appears in medieval English records, and later spellings were often shaped by regional pronunciation and scribal variation. It is especially familiar in English and American records, though it may also occur independently in other naming traditions.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A notable bearer was the American composer and bandleader Henry Nix, though the surname is much older than any modern public figure.
From the historical record
“NIX, Nick's (Son) : v. Nick, Nicolas. William ^ix.—Hund. Rolls. NIXEY, an abnormal form = Nix (q.v.) + the E. dim. 'suff. -ey. NIXON, Nick's Son: v. Nick, Nicolas. William Nicson. — Yorks Poll-Tax, A.D. 1379. NOACK "I ( Eng. ) a contr. of AttenTOak,”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)