Nikolaou Surname Meaning

The Greek surname Nikolaou (Νικολάου) is a patronymic name, meaning it is derived from the given name of a male ancestor. The root Nikola- comes from the first name Nikolaos (Νικόλαος), which originates from the Ancient Greek words níkē (“victory”) and laós (“people”), translating to “victory of the people.” This name became especially prominent in Greece through the veneration of Saint Nicholas, one of the most beloved saints in Orthodox Christianity. The suffix -ou is a genitive marker meaning “of” or “belonging to.” Consequently, the surname Nikolaou signifies “the descendant of Nikolaos” or, more literally, “of the victorious one of the people.”