Nickerbocker
/ˈnɪk.ərˌbɒk.ər/noun
A New York City native or, historically, a descendant of the original Dutch settlers of New York.
Did you know?Washington Irving invented the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker for a mock-history of New York, and the name was so convincing it escaped the book and became a real cultural label.
Etymological Timeline
Early 17th Century
Dutch
Knickerbakker
“A surname or name type of uncertain origin, later associated with Dutch-American identity.”
1809
English
Diedrich Knickerbocker
“A fictional Dutch historian invented by Washington Irving for a satirical history of New York.”
19th Century
English
Knickerbocker
“A term for old Dutch families in New York, especially descendants of the original settlers.”
19th-20th Century
English
Nickerbocker
“A cultural label for New Yorkers, especially in literary, sporting, and commercial contexts.”
Modern English
English
Nickerbocker
“A historical or literary term associated with New York City and its Dutch colonial past.”