NameCensus.

UK surname

Pick

An English occupational surname referring to someone who used a pick or pickaxe in their work, such as mining.

In the 1881 census there were 1,927 people recorded with the Pick surname, ranking it #2,267 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,119, ranked #3,053, down from #2,267 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Bourn and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Kesteven and Boston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pick is 2,516 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.0%.

1881 census count

1,927

Ranked #2,267

Modern count

2,119

2016, ranked #3,053

Peak year

1911

2,516 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pick had 1,927 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,267 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,119 in 2016, ranked #3,053.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,516 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pick surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pick 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 1,188 #2,390
1861 historical 1,473 #1,923
1881 historical 1,927 #2,267
1891 historical 2,190 #2,138
1901 historical 2,259 #2,399
1911 historical 2,516 #2,039
1997 modern 2,231 #2,780
1998 modern 2,263 #2,848
1999 modern 2,291 #2,839
2000 modern 2,304 #2,801
2001 modern 2,212 #2,854
2002 modern 2,212 #2,902
2003 modern 2,148 #2,928
2004 modern 2,126 #2,950
2005 modern 2,087 #2,955
2006 modern 2,068 #2,992
2007 modern 2,065 #3,031
2008 modern 2,057 #3,067
2009 modern 2,098 #3,084
2010 modern 2,142 #3,087
2011 modern 2,078 #3,140
2012 modern 2,092 #3,061
2013 modern 2,114 #3,086
2014 modern 2,132 #3,078
2015 modern 2,119 #3,070
2016 modern 2,119 #3,053

Geography

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Where Picks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Bourn, London parishes, Berkeley and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Kesteven, Boston and Northumberland. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Bourn Lincolnshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Berkeley Gloucestershire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 029 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 South Kesteven 011 South Kesteven
3 Boston 002 Boston
4 South Kesteven 010 South Kesteven
5 Northumberland 019 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pick

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pick, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Pick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pick 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pick is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pick is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pick falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pick is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pick

The surname Pick is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English pre-7th century word "pic", meaning a pickaxe or a mattock, which was a tool used for digging or breaking up hard ground. The name is believed to have been an occupational surname, given to someone who worked as a laborer or digger, likely in mining or construction.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Pick is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1166, where it is listed as "Pik". This is one of the earliest records of surnames in England, as hereditary surnames were not widely used until after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, the name appears as "le Pyk", indicating that it was a descriptive surname referring to someone who used a pickaxe or mattock in their occupation. The earliest recorded instances of the name in its modern spelling, "Pick", date back to the late 13th century.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Pick was John Pick, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. Another early bearer of the name was Thomas Pick, mentioned in the Patent Rolls of 1396 for Warwickshire.

In the 16th century, the surname Pick began to be associated with specific locations, such as Pickworth in Lincolnshire and Pickhill in Yorkshire. These place names may have derived from the same Old English root as the surname, indicating areas where people worked as diggers or miners.

Notable historical figures with the surname Pick include Sir Robert Pick (1609-1679), an English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wootton Bassett in the 17th century. Another prominent individual was John Pick (1737-1805), an English engraver and painter who is known for his portraits and illustrations of literary works.

In the 19th century, George Pick (1815-1901) was a distinguished English historian and theologian who served as a professor at Owens College, now the University of Manchester. Meanwhile, Frederick Pick (1886-1944) was a German-born American composer and music educator who taught at the University of Chicago and wrote several operas and orchestral works.

William Pick (1892-1971) was a British artist and illustrator who is best known for his illustrations of J.R.R. Tolkien's works, including The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. His intricate drawings and paintings helped bring Middle-earth to life for countless readers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pick 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. Lincolnshire leads with 433 Picks recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.53x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 433 14.53x
Leicestershire 373 18.06x
Yorkshire 300 1.62x
Gloucestershire 191 5.23x
Middlesex 111 0.60x
Nottinghamshire 62 2.47x
Rutland 43 31.43x
Lancashire 39 0.18x
Monmouthshire 38 2.82x
Surrey 33 0.36x
Derbyshire 30 1.03x
Essex 28 0.76x
Kent 28 0.44x
Northamptonshire 26 1.48x
Warwickshire 25 0.53x
Devon 24 0.62x
Durham 18 0.32x
Cheshire 13 0.32x
Cambridgeshire 12 1.02x
Cornwall 8 0.38x
Glamorgan 8 0.25x
Huntingdonshire 8 2.16x
Somerset 8 0.27x
Norfolk 7 0.24x
Lanarkshire 6 0.10x
Suffolk 6 0.26x
Angus 4 0.23x
Northumberland 4 0.14x
Fife 3 0.27x
Hampshire 3 0.08x
Sussex 3 0.10x
Bedfordshire 2 0.21x
Staffordshire 2 0.03x
Wiltshire 2 0.12x
Worcestershire 2 0.08x
Berkshire 1 0.07x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.09x
Cumberland 1 0.06x
Dorset 1 0.08x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Perthshire 1 0.12x
Shropshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 81 Picks recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.08x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 81 16.08x
Bourn 68 282.63x
Leeds 50 4.80x
Kirton 34 285.00x
Llandogo 29 767.20x
Scalford 26 593.61x
Belgrave 25 53.63x
Earl Shilton 22 488.89x
Cromhall Cromhall Lygon 21 1071.43x
Burton Coggles 20 1219.51x
Brothertoft 18 1118.01x
Spalding 18 30.45x
Eaton 16 714.29x
Berkeley 14 68.86x
Bradford 14 3.13x
Hoby 14 707.07x
Billingborough 13 171.50x
Cromhall 13 714.29x
Holy Trinity 13 2.93x
Kensington London 13 1.26x
Mile End Old Town 13 4.42x
Aston 12 0.93x
Barkby 12 298.51x
Birmingham 12 0.77x
Boston 12 13.28x
Kimberworth 12 11.71x
Leicester St Mary 12 7.19x
Melton Mowbray 12 32.31x
Stoke Damerel 12 4.42x
Ulleskelf 12 409.56x
Spittlegate 11 26.69x
Sproxton 11 514.02x
St George Hanover 11 4.52x
Westbury On Severn East 11 13.32x
Wing 11 539.22x
Witham On Hill 11 887.10x
Bethnal Green London 10 1.24x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 2.91x
Deeping St Nicholas 10 114.68x
Lambeth 10 0.62x
Osbournby 10 316.46x
Radford 10 7.84x
Stamford St George 10 74.68x
Syston 10 51.71x
Baston 9 182.19x
Berkeley Ham Stone 9 542.17x
Bishopwearmouth 9 1.89x
Castle Bytham 9 215.83x
Coaley 9 191.49x
Deptford St Paul 9 1.84x
Frocester 9 517.24x
Great Grimsby 9 4.76x
Hallaton 9 196.51x
Leicester St Leonard 9 46.04x
Little Dean 9 171.43x
Marton Cum Grafton 9 386.27x
Newsham With 9 671.64x
Nottingham St Mary 9 1.39x
St Luke London 9 3.01x
St Marylebone London 9 0.90x
Badgeworth 8 124.81x
Barnsley 8 4.20x
Bourn 8 154.44x
Bristol St James St Paul 8 6.57x
Great Crosby 8 13.27x
Huntington 8 213.33x
Ingoldsby 8 343.35x
Irnham 8 441.99x
Market Overton 8 323.89x
Skelton In Guisbrough 8 16.02x
Skirbeck 8 47.90x
St Nicholas Lincoln 8 28.09x
Thirsk 8 37.56x
Thornbury 8 32.03x
Horbling 7 218.75x
Hulme 7 1.52x
Litchurch 7 5.96x
Plymouth Charles The 7 4.10x
Southcoates 7 6.83x
Walthamstow 7 5.29x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 137
John 117
Thomas 73
George 63
James 43
Charles 41
Edward 33
Henry 27
Alfred 23
Joseph 23
Richard 23
Arthur 21
Frederick 19
Samuel 18
Robert 15
Albert 12
Benjamin 11
Walter 11
Edwin 8
Stephen 8
Francis 7
Frank 7
Harry 7
Ernest 6
Fred 6
Daniel 5
David 5
Herbert 4
Tom 4
Christopher 3
Frederic 3
Jacob 3
Leonard 3
Percy 3
Austin 2
Bryan 2
Claus 2
Earnest 2
Edgar 2
Edmund 2
Elisha 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Horace 2
Laurance 2
Lionel 2
Simon 2
Thos. 2
Wortley 2
Earle 1

FAQ

Pick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,927 people were recorded with the Pick surname. That placed it at #2,267 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,119 in 2016. That gives Pick a modern rank of #3,053.

What does the Pick surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who used a pick or pickaxe in their work, such as mining.

What does the Pick map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pick 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.