The name Nicorhynchus is derived from the Old English nicor (knucker, a kind of water dragon) and the Ancient Greek rhynchos ("snout"), in reference to its likely ecology as a fish-eating, flying reptile found in river and marine deposits.

A referred specimen from the Cambridge Greensand of England described in 2011 consists of a very large upper jaw tip which displays the tooth characteristics that distinguish N. capito from other species.

If the proportions of this specimen were consistent with species of Coloborhynchus, the total skull length could have been up to 75 cm (30 in), leading to an estimated wingspan of 7 m (23 ft).

[6] The describers of the genus, Holgado and Pêgas, had recovered Nicorhynchus within the subfamily Coloborhynchinae, which in turn was within the family Anhangueridae, sister taxon to Uktenadactylus.

[1] Siroccopteryx Tropeognathus Mythunga Ferrodraco Aerodraco Coloborhynchus Nicorhynchus Uktenadactylus Caulkicephalus Guidraco Ludodactylus Liaoningopterus Cearadactylus Maaradactylus Anhanguera