Nikula is a Finnish surname derived from the given name Niku, which is a Finnish form of Nicholas. The surname is patronymic in origin, indicating descent from a person named Niku. The root name Nicholas comes from the Greek Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people".Geographical DistributionAccording to 2014 data, the surname Nikula is most common in Finland, where 52.3% of all bearers reside, giving it a frequency of 1 in 2,320 people. It is also found in Ukraine (25.6%), the United States (6.4%), Sweden (4.3%), and other countries. Within Finland, it is particularly concentrated in Central Ostrobothnia (1 in 481), North Ostrobothnia (1 in 615), and Lapland (1 in 1,025).Notable BearersSeveral individuals have borne the surname Nikula. Jone Nikula (born 1970) is a Finnish television and radio personality. Paavo Nikula (1942–2024) was a Finnish politician. Pentti Nikula (1939–2025) was a Finnish pole vaulter who won a bronze medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics. Riitta Nikula (born 1944) is a Finnish art historian.Related SurnamesThe surname Nikula is related to other patronymic surnames derived from Nicholas in various languages, such as Russian Nikolaev and Nikolaeva, Macedonian Nikolov and Nikolova, Serbian Nikolić, and Slovak Mikula.Meaning: Son of Niku, a Finnish form of Nicholas (victory of the people)Origin: Finnish patronymic surnameType: SurnameUsage regions: Finland, Ukraine, United States, Sweden