The surname Nicola and its variants have their origin in the Greco-Byzantine name Nikolaos, compounded of nike ("victory") and laos ("people"), meaning "victor of the people". Its Latin form is Nicolaus, and the evolution into Italian gave rise to multiple surnames from its aphaeresis Cola or from affectionate and patronymic forms. In north-eastern Italy (especially Friuli), the form Cola and its dialect variants Colò (Veneto-Friulian), Colau, Culau (Friulian) gave rise to a long series of surnames, many of them derived from the name Nicola. This region produced a variety of forms such as: Colaetta, Colauin, Colavini, Collavini, Colaitti, Colavitto, Colao, Colavizza (of Slavic influence), Colon, Colonnello, Colosi, Colossi (from Nicolòs), Colosetti, Colovati, Colussi.

Also frequent are variants such as Culau, Culet, Culin, Culot (especially in Gorizia), all phonetically linked to the name Nicola. These forms, although varied in spelling and pronunciation, confirm the central role of the name Nicola in the formation of surnames of north-eastern Italy, with numerous phonetic, dialect and cultural adaptations. Related place names: Nicolosi (Catania), Nichelino (Turin). Below, the derived surnames are presented, classified into two main groups:

Surnames directly derived from the name Nicola

• Nicola: base form, direct patronymic of the personal name. Very frequent in southern Italy.
• Nicolò / Niccolò: medieval and Italian evolution of the Greek Nikolaos.
• Nicolai: plural patronymic form, typical of central Italy (Lazio).
• Niccolai: Tuscan variant of Nicolai.
• Nicoli: common in Trentino and Veneto; northern form.
• Nicolli: dialect variant of Nicoli.
• Niccoli: form with gemination, usual in Tuscany.
• Nicolao: learned and ancient form of the name.
• Nicolais: rare form, present in Salerno and its surroundings.
• Nicolazzo: augmentative form, from the South.
• Nicoletta: affectionate diminutive, also a feminine name.
• Nicoletti: diminutive plural patronymic, very widespread.
• Nicolucci: patronymic with the suffix –ucci, common in central Italy.
• Niccolucci: Tuscan variant of Nicolucci.
• Nicolich: Dalmatian or Venetian form with Slavic influence.
• Nicolino: affectionate diminutive.
• Nicolini: plural patronymic of Nicolino.
• Nicoletto: diminutive used in the north-east.
• Nicolello: dialect variant of Nicoletto.
• Nicolet: north-eastern form with the French suffix –et.
• Nicolella: Venetan variant with the suffix –ella.
• Nicolodi: northern surname, especially Trentino.
• Nicolato: patronymic with a Venetan suffix.
• Nicolicchia: affectionate form with the suffix –icchia.
• Nicorelli: Italianized form with the suffix –elli.
• Nicolussi: typical of Trentino and Tyrol, with Germanic influence.

Surnames formed by Cola + another name or word

• Colabella: Cola + Bello; affectionate nickname ("the handsome Cola").
• Colabello: same as the previous, with a masculine suffix.
• Colabatista: Cola + Battista; descendant of Nicola Battista.
• Colaberardino: literally means "son of Nicola Berardino" or "descendant of Cola di Berardino", that is, a double patronymic surname, indicating a compound filiation (name of the father and of the grandfather or great-grandfather).
• Colacicchi: Cola + Cicchi; affectionate form of Francesco.
• Colacicco: variant of Colacicchi.
• Colafati: Cola + Fati (Gr. fame, glory).
• Colafato: variant of the previous, common in Calabria.
• Colafemmina: Cola + Femmina; possible matrilineal filiation.
• Colaferro: Cola + Ferro; related to the trade of blacksmith.
• Colafrancesco: Cola + Francesco.
• Colagioanni: Cola + Giovanni.
• Colaiacovo: Cola + Jacopo.
• Colaianni: Cola + Gianni.
• Colajanni: Sicilian variant of Colaianni.
• Colaioli: dialect derivative, perhaps patronymic.
• Colalella: Cola + Lello (hypocoristic of Angelo).
• Colalelli: plural patronymic of Colalella.
• Colalillo: Cola + Lillo (another form of Angelo).
• Colamarino: Cola + Marino.
• Colamartino: Cola + Martino.
• Colamonaco: Cola + Monaco; indicates a monastic origin.
• Colamonici: plural of Colamonaco.
• Colamonico: intermediate variant.
• Colanardi: Cola + Leonardo.
• Colaneri: Cola + Nero; probable nickname for a dark complexion or hair.
• Colanero: variant of Colaneri.
• Colanieri: plural form.
• Colangelo: Cola + Angelo.
• Colangeli: plural of Colangelo.
• Colantoni: Cola + Antonio.
• Colantuno: dialect variant of Colantoni.
• Colantuoni: plural patronymic.
• Colantuono: form widespread in Campania.
• Colapietra: Cola + Pietra (archaic form of Pietro).
• Colapietro: Cola + Pietro.
• Colapinto
• Colaprete: Cola + Prete (priest).
• Colaruotolo: Cola + Ruotolo; combination with a secondary surname.
• Colarusso: Cola + Russo (red-haired or reddish hair).
• Colasanta: Cola + Santa; religious devotion.
• Colasante: same as the previous, masculine form.
• Colasanti: plural patronymic.
• Colasanto: generalized variant.
• Colasurdo: Cola + Sordo; physical trait.
• Colatrella: Cola + Trella (an unclear local diminutive).
• Colautti: Cola + the Friulian suffix –utti (sons of).
• Colautto: dialect variant.
• Colavecchi: Cola + Vecchio.
• Colavecchia: feminine or plural form.
• Colavecchio: same as the previous.
• Colavin: Cola + Vin (wine), a possible nickname.
• Colavini: plural or regional form.
• Collavin: dialect variant.
• Collavini: plural form.
• Colavitto: Cola + Vitto (Vito).
• Colaviti: same as the previous.
• Colavita: very widespread, base form.
• Colavitti: plural or regional variant.
• Colavolpe: Cola + Volpe (fox); nickname for cunning.