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Who are the Nicolaitans? Was Nicolas (one of the seven deacons) a believer of this doctrine?

Some of the Church Fathers thought the Nicolas of Acts 6:5, chosen as one of the seven men to serve in the church of Jerusalem, was the founder of this heretical sect. Irenaeus, however thought that it was just a misunderstanding of his teachings that had produced the Nicolaitans.

In the second century, in his treatise "Against Heresies", Irenaeus identified the Nicolaitans as those who are an "offshoot of the knowledge which is falsely so-called", mentioning that they "lead lives of unrestrained indulgence." There is no absolute proof that the heretic Nicolas was the same Nicolas,of the book of Acts from Antioch. However, Iranaeus supposed him to be so. Hippolytus (Haer. 7.24) underscores Irenaeus, adding that Nicolas had departed from true doctrine

St. Ignatius mentions the Nicolaitans too, this implies that there was in fact a heretical group existing at that time. Nicolas the deacon was perhaps confused with another Nicolas, the bishop of Samaria who was a heretic in the company of Simon Magus.

St. Clement of Alexandria (Str. 2.20) states that Nicolas was an ascetic, and then current Nicolaitans were not his true disciples.