Nikolaou or Nicolaou (Greek: Νικολάου) is a surname. It is of Greek origin and a very common Greek Cypriot surname. Nicolaou translates to the "Victor of the People". "Niko" or "Nico" is derived from the Greek word "νίκη" for "victor" and "laou" is derived from the Greek word "λαός" which means "the people or the people of the country". Many Greek Cypriot surnames have an "ou" ending in them compared to main land Greece where Nicolaou may be spelt as "Nicolaos". There are two other variations of the surname Nicolaou which were given the prefix "hadji" (in greek "Χατζη") and the prefix Papa (in greek "παπάς") which was added as a prefix to the surname. Hadjinicolaou or Hatzinikolaou had the prefix "hadji" given to those who physically walked on foot and journeyed to the Holy land and were baptized in the River Jordan and means that at some point someone in the family many years ago was baptized in the River Jordan. Papanicolaou or Papanikolaou has the prefix "papa" given to those whose father had become a priest for the word "παπάς" in greek translates to priest, which means at some point in this person's lineage they have someone who was anointed to a priest.

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