NameCensus.

UK surname

Picker

A surname likely derived from an occupation involving picking or harvesting crops.

In the 1881 census there were 190 people recorded with the Picker surname, ranking it #13,270 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 245, ranked #17,049, down from #13,270 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, Newark and Sherwood and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Picker is 509 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.9%.

1881 census count

190

Ranked #13,270

Modern count

245

2016, ranked #17,049

Peak year

1861

509 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Picker had 190 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,270 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 245 in 2016, ranked #17,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 509 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Picker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Picker surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Picker 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 194 #10,662
1861 historical 509 #5,134
1881 historical 190 #13,270
1891 historical 348 #9,873
1901 historical 301 #11,627
1911 historical 314 #11,077
1997 modern 234 #15,939
1998 modern 246 #15,864
1999 modern 256 #15,557
2000 modern 250 #15,741
2001 modern 248 #15,606
2002 modern 263 #15,277
2003 modern 257 #15,341
2004 modern 245 #15,894
2005 modern 251 #15,590
2006 modern 244 #16,011
2007 modern 249 #15,943
2008 modern 252 #15,984
2009 modern 254 #16,230
2010 modern 261 #16,294
2011 modern 253 #16,493
2012 modern 246 #16,702
2013 modern 245 #17,025
2014 modern 249 #16,954
2015 modern 252 #16,705
2016 modern 245 #17,049

Geography

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Where Pickers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Friskney and Helpringham and Thorpe Latimere. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, Newark and Sherwood and Central Bedfordshire. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Friskney Lincolnshire
5 Helpringham and Thorpe Latimere Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 018 East Lindsey
2 Newark and Sherwood 011 Newark and Sherwood
3 Central Bedfordshire 011 Central Bedfordshire
4 Newark and Sherwood 009 Newark and Sherwood
5 East Lindsey 016 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Picker

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Picker

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Picker, 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 Picker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Picker 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Picker is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Picker 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

Picker falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Picker 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Picker

The surname Picker originates from England, with records dating back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "pikere," which referred to a person who picked or gathered items, such as fruits, vegetables, or other materials.

In some regions of England, the name was also associated with the occupation of a pickaxe or mattock user, someone who broke up and tilled the soil for agricultural purposes. This connection to the land and agricultural labor is reflected in the surname's early roots.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Picker can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1195, where a certain Willelmus le Pickere is mentioned. This suggests that the surname was already established in northern England by the late 12th century.

During the 13th century, variations of the name began to appear in various historical documents and records. In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, a Robert le Pykere is listed, while in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, a John Pykere is recorded.

The name Picker has also been associated with certain place names in England. For example, the village of Pickers Lea in Cheshire is believed to have derived its name from individuals bearing the surname Picker who lived or worked in the area.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Picker. One such figure was John Picker (c. 1510-1589), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Rochester from 1573 until his death. Another was William Picker (1642-1718), a prominent English barrister and judge who served as a Justice of the King's Bench.

In the 18th century, Samuel Picker (1701-1781) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the All Saints' Church in Northampton. During the 19th century, James Picker (1826-1901) was a successful industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Picker Engineering Company in Yorkshire.

Additionally, the name Picker has been associated with the arts and literature. For instance, Henry Picker (1857-1924) was an English painter known for his landscapes and seascapes, while Emily Picker (1875-1942) was a celebrated novelist and short story writer from Derbyshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Picker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Picker 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 93 Pickers recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.38x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 93 31.38x
Lancashire 25 1.14x
Nottinghamshire 23 9.21x
Middlesex 14 0.76x
Yorkshire 9 0.49x
Staffordshire 7 1.12x
Derbyshire 4 1.38x
Surrey 3 0.33x
Warwickshire 3 0.64x
Berkshire 2 1.44x
Leicestershire 2 0.97x
Worcestershire 2 0.83x
Essex 1 0.27x
Kent 1 0.16x
Suffolk 1 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dorrington in Lincolnshire leads with 19 Pickers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7600.00x.

Place Total Index
Dorrington 19 7600.00x
Helpringham 10 1666.67x
Hulme 9 19.60x
Shoreditch London 9 11.20x
Nottingham St Mary 8 12.38x
Ruskington 8 1052.63x
Barton Upon Irwell 7 42.27x
Fulbeck 7 1707.32x
Radford 7 55.16x
Croft 6 1764.71x
Friskney 6 638.30x
Welbourn 6 1714.29x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 7.54x
Aspull 4 77.37x
Boston 4 44.49x
Boultham 4 5714.29x
Branston 3 329.67x
Claylane 3 74.44x
Donington 3 283.02x
Evedon 3 6000.00x
Stretford 3 24.79x
Wainfleet St Mary 3 666.67x
Worksop 3 40.49x
Coningsby 2 235.29x
Lenton 2 34.01x
Skegness 2 235.29x
Snenton 2 20.39x
South Common Lincoln 2 1333.33x
St Pancras London 2 1.34x
Walcott 2 425.53x
Aston 1 0.78x
Austrey 1 434.78x
Barrow In Furness 1 3.34x
Beccles 1 27.55x
Bexley 1 17.89x
Bicker 1 217.39x
Birmingham 1 0.64x
Burslem 1 5.58x
Camberwell 1 0.84x
Chesterfield 1 9.19x
Dagenham 1 45.87x
Evesham St Lawrence 1 77.52x
Harthill Cum Woodall 1 142.86x
Heckington 1 88.50x
Horncastle 1 32.68x
Hornsey 1 4.27x
Islington London 1 0.56x
Kelham 1 1000.00x
Kidderminster Borough 1 7.06x
Lambeth 1 0.62x
Leasingham 1 416.67x
Leeds 1 0.96x
Leicester St Mary 1 6.02x
Lichfield St Chad 1 70.92x
Liverpool 1 0.75x
Loughborough 1 10.73x
Marton In Middlesbrough 1 149.25x
Navenby 1 163.93x
New Sleaford 1 52.63x
Newington 1 1.46x
Old Sleaford 1 303.03x
Rowston 1 714.29x
Speen 1 43.86x
St Botolph Lincoln 1 46.95x
St John Zachary London 1 1428.57x
Winkfield 1 43.29x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Picker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Picker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 190 people were recorded with the Picker surname. That placed it at #13,270 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Picker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 245 in 2016. That gives Picker a modern rank of #17,049.

What does the Picker surname mean?

A surname likely derived from an occupation involving picking or harvesting crops.

What does the Picker map show?

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