UK surname
French occupational surname derived from the Old French word "pichier" meaning woodpecker.
In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Pichard surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14, ranked #37,178, down from #25,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Felkirk, Trowbridge and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pichard is 265 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.4%.
1881 census count
57
Ranked #25,575
Modern count
14
2016, ranked #37,178
Peak year
1911
265 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pichard surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pichard surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 22 | #29,378 |
| 1861 | historical | 145 | #15,715 |
| 1881 | historical | 57 | #25,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 115 | #21,878 |
| 1901 | historical | 75 | #25,852 |
| 1911 | historical | 265 | #12,422 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 14 | #36,372 |
| 2002 | modern | 15 | #36,381 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 14 | #36,648 |
| 2005 | modern | 14 | #36,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 17 | #36,517 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 19 | #36,641 |
| 2013 | modern | 15 | #37,046 |
| 2014 | modern | 16 | #36,974 |
| 2015 | modern | 16 | #36,978 |
| 2016 | modern | 14 | #37,178 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Felkirk, Trowbridge, London parishes, Camborne and Bideford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Felkirk | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Trowbridge | Wiltshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Camborne | Cornwall |
| 5 | Bideford | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pichard surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pichard, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Pichard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pichard household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Pichard is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pichard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pichard, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Pichard has its origins in France, with records dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "pichier," which means "to dig or pierce." This suggests that the name may have been originally associated with an occupation related to digging or mining.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a document from the Abbey of Molesme in Burgundy, where a certain "Robertus Pichardus" is mentioned in 1182. This indicates that the name was already in use in the region during the latter part of the 12th century.
The name Pichard also appears in the Taxatio Ecclesiastica, a census of the ecclesiastical property in England and Wales conducted in 1291-1292. This suggests that the name had spread beyond the borders of France by the late 13th century.
In the 14th century, there are records of a noble family called the Pichards, who were landowners in the region of Anjou in western France. One notable member of this family was Jean Pichard, who served as a knight and councilor to the Duke of Anjou in the late 1300s.
Another early reference to the name can be found in the records of the University of Paris, where a certain "Guillelmus Pichardus" is listed as a student in the year 1407.
During the 16th century, the name Pichard gained some prominence in the literary world. François Pichard was a French poet and translator who lived from around 1520 to 1590. He is best known for his translations of works by classical authors such as Ovid and Virgil.
In the 17th century, the Pichard family produced a notable military figure in the form of Jean-Baptiste Pichard, a French general who served under Louis XIV. He was born in 1667 and gained fame for his role in the Nine Years' War against the Dutch and their allies.
As the name spread across Europe, it also took on various spellings and regional variations. For instance, in England, the name was sometimes spelled as "Picher" or "Pitcher," while in Germany, it became "Pichert" or "Picharz."
Throughout the centuries, the Pichard name has been associated with various professions and social classes, from laborers and artisans to members of the nobility and military leaders. This reflects the diverse origins and histories of those who have borne this surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pichard surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 20 Pichards recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.57x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 20 | 3.57x |
| Leicestershire | 8 | 12.76x |
| Devon | 7 | 5.95x |
| Durham | 5 | 2.97x |
| Shropshire | 5 | 10.23x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.45x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 1.05x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.40x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.80x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.13x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.55x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.18x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 14.84x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester Newarke in Leicestershire leads with 8 Pichards recorded in 1881 and an index of 2424.24x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leicester Newarke | 8 | 2424.24x |
| Ovenden | 7 | 281.12x |
| Newton Tracey | 5 | 25000.00x |
| Whitchurch | 5 | 526.32x |
| Darlington | 4 | 61.54x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 8.11x |
| Langwith | 4 | 40000.00x |
| Thornaby | 4 | 191.39x |
| Ansley | 2 | 1250.00x |
| Barony | 1 | 2.16x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 1 | 6.93x |
| Buckfastleigh | 1 | 185.19x |
| Cantley | 1 | 909.09x |
| Charles | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Chorley In Macclesfield | 1 | 263.16x |
| Claylane | 1 | 81.30x |
| Doncaster | 1 | 24.45x |
| Fylingdales | 1 | 357.14x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 7.42x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.18x |
| Leeds | 1 | 3.16x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 17.36x |
| Salt Enson | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 4.94x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pichard surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pichard surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Pichard households.
FAQ
In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Pichard surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 14 in 2016. That gives Pichard a modern rank of #37,178.
French occupational surname derived from the Old French word "pichier" meaning woodpecker.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pichard bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.