Niklaus is a masculine Slavic

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a ...

and

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

. Niklaus comes from the Greek word ''nikolaos'' (νικόλαος), meaning victory of the people. It’s a variant of the likewise Greek-origin given name Nicholas. The traditional short forms of this name are

Nik Nik is a unisex given name and a short form of most names starting with ''Nik'', derived from Ancient Greek νικη (nike) meaning "victory". It may refer to: People: *Nik Bärtsch (born 1971), Swiss pianist, composer and producer * Nik Bonitto ( ...

and Klaus, being primarily used in

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

and

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...

. Notable people with the name include the following:

Given name

* Niklaus Aeschbacher (1917 – 1995), Swiss composer and conductor * Niklaus Bütler (1786–1854), Swiss painter *

Niklaus Dachselhofer Niklaus Dachselhofer (18 November 1595 – 12 February 1670, sometimes given as ''"Daxelhofer"'') was a Swiss politician in Bern. He became a member of the canton's Grand Council in 1628 and one year later also a member of the city council ...

(1595 – 1670), Swiss politician * Niklaus Franz von Bachmann (1740 – 1831), Swiss general * Niklaus Friedrich von Steiger (1729 – 1799), Swiss politician * Niklaus Gerber (1850 – 1914), Swiss dairy chemist * Niklaus Grunwald, American biologist and plant pathologist *

Niklaus Brantschen Niklaus Brantschen (born 25 October 1937 in Randa, Valais) is a Swiss Jesuit, Zen master of the White Plum Sangha line and founder of the Lassalle-Institute within the Lassalle-House in Bad Schönbrunn/Zug, Canton of Zug. He is co-initiator of ...

(born 1937), Swiss Jesuit, Zen master *

Niklaus Leuenberger thumb Niklaus Leuenberger (c. July 17, 1615 – executed 6 September, 1653 Bern) was one of the leaders of the rural rebellion that led to the Swiss peasant war of 1653 in Switzerland. He was nicknamed the "King of the Peasants" Leuenberger was ...

(1615 – 1653), Swiss peasant *

Niklaus Manuel Deutsch Niklaus Manuel Deutsch (''Niklaus Manuel'', c. 1484 – 28 April 1530), of Bern, was a Old Swiss Confederacy, Swiss artist, writer, mercenary and Swiss Reformation, Reformed politician. Biography Niklaus was most likely the son of Emanuel Aleman ...

(c. 1484 – 1530), Swiss artist * Niklaus Meienberg (1940 – 1993), Swiss writer and investigative journalist * Niklaus Niggeler (1817 – 1872), Swiss politician * Niklaus Pfluger (born 1958), Swiss Catholic priest *

Niklaus Riggenbach Niklaus Riggenbach (21 May 1817 – 25 July 1899) was the inventor of the Riggenbach rack system and the counter-pressure brake. He was also an engineer and locomotive builder. Niklaus Riggenbach, from Rünenberg, Basel-Landschaft, Swit ...

(1817 – 1899), Swiss inventor, engineer and locomotive builder * Niklaus Schilling (1944 – 2016), Swiss film director, cinematographer, and screenwriter * Niklaus Schurtenberger (born 1968), Swiss equestrian * Niklaus Stump (1920 – 2005), Swiss cross-country and Nordic combined skier * Niklaus Troxler (born 1947), Swiss graphic designer * Niklaus Weckmann (c. 1481-1526), German sculptor * Niklaus Wirth (born 1934), Swiss computer scientist

Middle name

Franz Niklaus König Franz Niklaus König (1765–1832) was a Swiss painter of genre art and portraits. After studying under Tiberius and Marquard Wocher, Sigmund Freudenberger and Balthasar Anton Dunker, he made a name for himself through dress pictures, rural ge ...

(1765–1832), Swiss painter

Surname

* André Niklaus (born 1981), German decathlete *

Stephan Niklaus Stephan Niklaus (born 17 April 1958) is a retired male decathlete from Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such ...

(born 1958), Swiss decathlete * Mandy Niklaus (born 1956), East German fencer

Fictional characters

* Brad Niklaus from '' Sunset Beach'' *Niklaus “Klaus” Mikaelson from ''

The Vampire Diaries ''The Vampire Diaries'' is an American supernatural teen drama television series developed by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, based on the book series of the same name written by L. J. Smith. The series premiered on The CW on September 10, ...

'' and '' The Originals''

Given name

Middle name

Surname

Fictional characters

See also