Nix (surname)

For other uses, see Nix (disambiguation).

Nix (or Nicks) is a surname of English origin, which initially indicated that the person so named was the child of a person named Nicholas, traditionally shortened to "Nick".^[1] It is therefore closely related to Nixon and Nickson, which are derived from "Nick's son", and also related to Nicholl and Nicholson, derived from another variation of Nicholas.^[2]

Notable people surnamed "Nix"

Sports

Barry Nix, an English football (soccer) defender
Charles Nix (1873-1956), a British sport shooter who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics
Buddy Nix (born 1939), the former General Manager of the Buffalo Bills
Derrick Nix (1990), an American professional basketball player
Doyle Nix (1933–2009), an American football defensive back
Dwayne Nix (born 1946), an American football tight end
Dyron Nix (born 1967), former American professional basketball player
Emery Nix (1919-2005), an American football quarterback
Jacob Nix (born 1996), an American amateur baseball player
Jayson Nix (born 1982), an American professional baseball player
John Nix (1976), a former American football defensive lineman
Kent Nix (born 1944), a former professional American football quarterback
Kyle Nix (born 1986), an Australian-born English footballer
Laynce Nix (born 1980), an American professional baseball outfielder
Louis Nix (born 1991), an American football nose tackle
Lucas Nix (born 1989), an American football guard
Morgan Nix (born 1968), an Irish former Gaelic football player
Patrick Nix (born 1972), an American college football coach and former player
Peter Nix, English footballer, father of Kyle Nix
Matt Nix (born 1971), an American writer, producer, and director best known for creating Burn Notice
Roosevelt Nix (born 1967), American football player
Sunder Nix (born 1961), a 1984 Summer Olympics gold medalist in the men's 4x400 meter relay
Tyrone Nix (born 1972), an American defensive coordinator for the Middle Tennessee football team

Entertainment

Bern Nix, an American jazz guitarist
Cranford Nix (1969-2002), an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter
Don Nix (born 1941), an American songwriter, composer, arranger, musician, and author
Garth Nix (born 1963), an Australian writer who specializes in children's and young adult fantasy novels
Lori Nix (born 1969), a photographer and printer based in Brooklyn, New York
Martha Nix Wade (born 1967), an American actress sometimes credited as "Martha Nix"
Rosie Nix Adams (1958-2003), an American singer-songwriter born "Rosie Nix"
Willie Nix (d. 1991), Blues drummer active in Memphis, Tennessee in the 1940s and 1950s
Wendi Nix (born 1974), an American anchor and sports reporter for ESPN
The Nix brothers (Evan, born 1983, and Adam, born 1986), American film directors, producers, and musicians

Law and politics

Enoch T. Nix (1920–2001), Louisiana banker and member/president of the state board of education
Evett Dumas Nix (1861-1946), a United States Marshal in the late 19th century handling the jurisdiction that included the wild Oklahoma Territory
J. Kelly Nix (born 1934), Louisiana politician and businessman
Randy Nix (born 1956), a Republican member of the Georgia House of Representatives
Robert N. C. Nix, Sr. (1898–1987), the first African American to represent Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives
Robert N. C. Nix, Jr., a Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court from 1984 to 1996
Sheila Nix, an American political strategist, most recently serving as Chief of Staff to Jill Biden

Other

Alison Nix (born 1988), an American fashion model
James R. Nix, director of the Ellen G. White Estate since 2000
Kirksey Nix, reputedly the leader of the Dixie Mafia
Orville Nix (1911–1972), a witness to the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy
Walter Nix, involved in a McDonalds scam calling dispute

Fictional

David Nix, a character in the 2015 Disney film Tomorrowland
Nix, an evil cult leader portrayed in the movie Lord of Illusions
Nix, a supporting character in the video game Infamous 2.

Notable people surnamed Nicks

Hakeem Nicks (born 1988), an American football wide receiver
John Nicks (born 1929), figure skater
John I. Nicks (1822–1897), New York politician
Stevie Nicks (born 1948), singer

References

↑ Henry Harrison, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary (2013), p. 41.
↑ Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley, A dictionary of English and Welsh surnames (1901), p. 95:
Of the later period of New Testament history, few names were better represented than 'Nicholas,' but it was ' St Nicholas' of the fourth century who chiefly gave it its position. Owing to several well-known legends that connected themselves with this famous Archbishop of Myra, he became the patron saint of boys, sailors, parish clerks, and even thieves. Two of the most favoured curtailments of this name were 'Nicol' and ' Nick.' From the one we have derived our 'Nicholls' and 'Nicholsons;' from the other our 'Nixs,' 'Nicks,' 'Nixons,' 'Nicksons,' and 'Nickersons.' Judging from our surnames, 'Nick' was the more favoured term.