Nikolopoulos Surname Meaning

The Greek surname Nikolopoulos (Νικολόπουλος) 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 widespread in Greece through the veneration of Saint Nicholas, one of the most revered saints in Orthodox Christianity. The suffix -opoulos is a patronymic marker that developed during the Byzantine period and became especially common in the Peloponnese and southern mainland Greece, meaning “son of” or “descendant of.” Consequently, the surname Nikolopoulos signifies “the son of Nikolaos” or “the descendant of the victorious one of the people.”