NameCensus.

UK surname

Picard

An occupational surname referring to someone who collects pitch or tar, or a maker of picks and pickaxes.

In the 1881 census there were 123 people recorded with the Picard surname, ranking it #17,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 127, ranked #26,566, down from #17,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Woking and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Picard is 135 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.3%.

1881 census count

123

Ranked #17,506

Modern count

127

2016, ranked #26,566

Peak year

2014

135 bearers

Map years

2

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Picard had 123 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 127 in 2016, ranked #26,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 123 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Picard surname distribution map

The map shows where the Picard surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Picard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Picard over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 54 #23,577
1861 historical 51 #27,498
1881 historical 123 #17,506
1891 historical 82 #26,494
1901 historical 72 #26,162
1911 historical 70 #25,853
1997 modern 90 #28,360
1998 modern 99 #27,785
1999 modern 96 #28,326
2000 modern 111 #26,111
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 99 #28,082
2003 modern 91 #29,121
2004 modern 84 #30,244
2005 modern 97 #28,485
2006 modern 99 #28,453
2007 modern 100 #28,669
2008 modern 109 #27,533
2009 modern 113 #27,520
2010 modern 125 #26,448
2011 modern 113 #27,967
2012 modern 118 #27,250
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 135 #25,581
2015 modern 130 #26,093
2016 modern 127 #26,566

Geography

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Where Picards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras, Edinburgh and Battersea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Woking, Cornwall, Epping Forest and Waveney. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Battersea London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 006 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Woking 008 Woking
3 Cornwall 040 Cornwall
4 Epping Forest 008 Epping Forest
5 Waveney 015 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Picard

These lists show first names that appear often with the Picard surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Picard

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Picard, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Picard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Picard household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Picard is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Picard is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Picard falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Picard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Picard, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Picard

The surname Picard originates from the northern French region of Picardy, which lies along the English Channel. The name itself derives from the Old French word "picart", which means someone from Picardy. It is believed that the name emerged sometime during the medieval period, after the region of Picardy became more defined.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Picard surname can be found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, compiled by order of William the Conqueror. Here, a landowner named Radulfus Picardus is listed as holding lands in Lincolnshire, England. This suggests that the Picard surname had already spread from its French origins to England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Jean Picard (c. 1225-1307) served as the Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1285 to 1307. He played a significant role in the dissolution of the Templar Order and was eventually imprisoned by the King of France.

During the 15th century, a renowned French mathematician and astronomer named Jean Picard (1620-1682) made important contributions to the field of astronomy. He is best known for his precise measurements of the Earth's size and the calculation of the length of a meridian arc.

Another prominent individual with the Picard surname was the French playwright and actor, René Picard (1636-1711). He was a member of the Comédie-Française and wrote several successful plays during his lifetime.

In the late 18th century, a French-Swiss explorer named Jacques Picard (1768-1828) became the first person to ascend to a great height in a hot air balloon. His historic flight took place in 1784, reaching an altitude of over 9,000 feet.

Throughout history, the Picard surname has also been associated with various place names in France, such as Picardville, Picauville, and Picardie. These locations likely derived their names from the Picard surname or from the broader region of Picardy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Picard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Picard surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 70 Picards recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.74x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 70 5.74x
Surrey 12 2.02x
Lancashire 9 0.62x
Yorkshire 7 0.58x
Glamorgan 3 1.41x
Westmorland 3 11.20x
Channel Islands 2 5.54x
Dorset 2 2.50x
Midlothian 2 1.22x
Warwickshire 2 0.65x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.89x
Bedfordshire 1 1.58x
Cheshire 1 0.37x
Cornwall 1 0.72x
Durham 1 0.28x
Essex 1 0.42x
Kent 1 0.24x
Northumberland 1 0.55x
Pembrokeshire 1 2.58x
Staffordshire 1 0.24x
Sussex 1 0.49x
Wiltshire 1 0.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 18 Picards recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.56x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 18 26.56x
Shoreditch London 13 24.60x
St Marylebone London 12 18.44x
Battersea 9 20.06x
Castleton 5 34.60x
Mile End Old Town 5 25.99x
St Pancras London 5 5.10x
Bethnal Green London 4 7.55x
Islington London 4 3.39x
Westminster St James 4 31.92x
Kirkby Lonsdale 3 416.67x
Llandaff 3 42.49x
Manchester 3 4.61x
Bingley 2 26.01x
Clerkenwell London 2 6.95x
Coventry St Michael 2 20.24x
Epsom 2 69.20x
Paddington London 2 4.46x
Parkstone 2 215.05x
Ardsley 1 71.94x
Biggleswade 1 48.31x
Brighton 1 2.41x
Bromley 1 15.77x
Camberwell 1 1.28x
Castleford 1 22.73x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 29.50x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 31.15x
Hannington 1 769.23x
Haverfordwest St Thomas 1 128.21x
Hepburn 1 2500.00x
Hoose 1 200.00x
Ingleton 1 147.06x
Lanteglos 1 156.25x
Leeds 1 1.47x
Mountnessing 1 270.27x
Pocklington 1 87.72x
Slains 1 188.68x
St Maryde Castro 1 112.36x
St Peter Port 1 14.97x
Stockton On Tees 1 5.72x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 2.29x
West Derby 1 2.36x
Whitechapel London 1 8.32x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Picard surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 12
Ann 3
Emma 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Jane 2
Maria 2
A.M. 1
Blanch 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
F.A. 1
Fanny 1
Ferdinanda 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Irene 1
Jeannette 1
Kate 1
L.B. 1
Lena 1
Louise 1
Mabel 1
Margret 1
Marion 1
Mildred 1
Rachael 1
Rosa 1
Sophia 1
Trelie 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Picard surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 6
Charles 5
William 5
Henry 4
Alfred 3
James 3
Joseph 3
Ernest 2
George 2
Hugh 2
Walter 2
A.M. 1
Adolphe 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Douglas 1
E.A. 1
Ellis 1
Eugene 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.W. 1
Harry 1
J. 1
Jessie 1
Louis 1
Maximilian 1
Oswald 1
Peter 1
Raphael 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Salomen 1
Thomas 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Picard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Picard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 123 people were recorded with the Picard surname. That placed it at #17,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Picard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 127 in 2016. That gives Picard a modern rank of #26,566.

What does the Picard surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who collects pitch or tar, or a maker of picks and pickaxes.

What does the Picard map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Picard bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.