UK surname
A variant spelling of "Pickrell", referring to someone who lived near a body of water suitable for fish.
In the 1881 census there were 107 people recorded with the Pickerell surname, ranking it #18,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 38, ranked #35,537, down from #18,982 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pickerell is 131 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 64.5%.
1881 census count
107
Ranked #18,982
Modern count
38
2016, ranked #35,537
Peak year
1901
131 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pickerell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pickerell surname density by area, 1881 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 | 91 | #18,187 |
| 1861 | historical | 61 | #26,170 |
| 1881 | historical | 107 | #18,982 |
| 1891 | historical | 107 | #22,967 |
| 1901 | historical | 131 | #19,552 |
| 1911 | historical | 100 | #22,717 |
| 1997 | modern | 51 | #32,545 |
| 1998 | modern | 56 | #32,313 |
| 1999 | modern | 55 | #32,561 |
| 2000 | modern | 55 | #32,609 |
| 2001 | modern | 54 | #32,583 |
| 2002 | modern | 57 | #32,661 |
| 2003 | modern | 51 | #33,266 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 42 | #34,395 |
| 2006 | modern | 45 | #34,491 |
| 2007 | modern | 46 | #34,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 46 | #34,759 |
| 2009 | modern | 47 | #34,856 |
| 2010 | modern | 48 | #34,946 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 41 | #35,328 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 42 | #35,350 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 38 | #35,537 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Dudley, King's Lynn St Margaret and Lichfield St Michael. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 4 | King's Lynn St Margaret | Norfolk |
| 5 | Lichfield St Michael | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pickerell 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 Pickerell, 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 Pickerell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pickerell 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, Pickerell 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 Pickerell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pickerell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Pickerell is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "pyc," meaning a pickaxe or mattock, and "hyll," meaning a hill or mound. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked as a miner or quarryman, digging into hills or mounds with a pickaxe.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, which mentions a person named William Pickerell. This suggests that the surname was already in use by the 13th century, likely originating even earlier.
In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various records, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, which listed a John Pikerell. This variation in spelling, with the substitution of "i" for "y," was not uncommon during this period.
The Pickerell surname has been linked to several place names in England, such as Pickerell Green in Hertfordshire and Pickerell Grange in Lincolnshire. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the Pickerell surname or may have influenced the name's development.
One notable figure associated with the Pickerell surname was Sir John Pickerell, a 14th-century English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. He was born around 1330 and served under King Edward III, participating in campaigns in France and Scotland.
Another individual of note was William Pickerell, who lived in the late 15th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in 1491. His involvement in local politics suggests that the Pickerell family had gained some prominence by this time.
In the 16th century, the Pickerell surname appeared in various records, including the Parish Registers of Nottinghamshire, which listed the marriage of Robert Pickerell and Elizabeth Smyth in 1576.
During the 17th century, the Pickerell family seemed to have spread across different regions of England. For instance, the Parish Registers of Oxfordshire recorded the baptism of John Pickerell in 1622, while the Parish Registers of Staffordshire noted the burial of Thomas Pickerell in 1689.
As the centuries progressed, the Pickerell surname continued to be documented in various historical records, reflecting the family's presence and contributions throughout English history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pickerell 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. Staffordshire leads with 31 Pickerells recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 31 | 8.80x |
| Worcestershire | 20 | 14.68x |
| Surrey | 11 | 2.16x |
| Derbyshire | 9 | 5.51x |
| Glamorgan | 8 | 4.40x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.67x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.12x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.32x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 2.40x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 2.49x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 2.58x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.71x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 20 Pickerells recorded in 1881 and an index of 120.70x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dudley | 20 | 120.70x |
| Sedgley | 10 | 76.45x |
| Litchurch | 9 | 136.99x |
| Islington London | 7 | 6.92x |
| Burntwood Edial | 6 | 266.67x |
| Clapham | 6 | 45.98x |
| Llantwit Lower | 5 | 312.50x |
| Wolstanton Knutton | 5 | 232.56x |
| Burslem | 4 | 39.64x |
| Greenwich | 4 | 24.08x |
| Louth | 4 | 104.71x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 4 | 49.69x |
| Wandsworth | 4 | 39.80x |
| Barrow In Furness | 3 | 17.81x |
| West Bromwich | 3 | 14.87x |
| Blaenhonddan | 2 | 235.29x |
| Little Massingham | 2 | 4000.00x |
| Rushall | 2 | 96.62x |
| Bilston | 1 | 14.64x |
| Briton Ferry | 1 | 46.08x |
| East Rudham | 1 | 357.14x |
| Godalming | 1 | 31.25x |
| Lower Booths | 1 | 45.05x |
| Newark Upon Trent | 1 | 19.76x |
| Sporle With Palgrave | 1 | 384.62x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pickerell 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 Pickerell 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 Pickerell households.
FAQ
In 1881, 107 people were recorded with the Pickerell surname. That placed it at #18,982 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 38 in 2016. That gives Pickerell a modern rank of #35,537.
A variant spelling of "Pickrell", referring to someone who lived near a body of water suitable for fish.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pickerell 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.