UK surname
A surname derived from a wooden barrier for enclosures or defense.
In the 1881 census there were 198 people recorded with the Picket surname, ranking it #12,922 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23, ranked #36,457, down from #12,922 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, St George in the East and Winterbourne Bassett. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Picket is 266 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 88.4%.
1881 census count
198
Ranked #12,922
Modern count
23
2016, ranked #36,457
Peak year
1861
266 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Picket surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Picket 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 | 256 | #8,629 |
| 1861 | historical | 266 | #9,318 |
| 1881 | historical | 198 | #12,922 |
| 1891 | historical | 138 | #19,411 |
| 1901 | historical | 127 | #19,893 |
| 1911 | historical | 38 | #29,147 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 14 | #36,595 |
| 2000 | modern | 21 | #35,799 |
| 2001 | modern | 15 | #36,265 |
| 2002 | modern | 16 | #36,267 |
| 2003 | modern | 18 | #36,115 |
| 2004 | modern | 19 | #36,147 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 15 | #36,707 |
| 2007 | modern | 18 | #36,537 |
| 2008 | modern | 15 | #36,843 |
| 2009 | modern | 17 | #36,753 |
| 2010 | modern | 19 | #36,687 |
| 2011 | modern | 17 | #36,839 |
| 2012 | modern | 17 | #36,811 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 20 | #36,653 |
| 2016 | modern | 23 | #36,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, St George in the East, Winterbourne Bassett, Barking and London parishes. 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 | Greenwich | London (South Districts) |
| 2 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Winterbourne Bassett | Wiltshire |
| 4 | Barking | Essex |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Picket 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 Picket, 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 Picket surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Picket 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, Picket 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 Picket is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Picket, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Picket is believed to have originated in England, likely emerging in the late Middle Ages or early modern period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "pic" or "picc," meaning a sharp point or stake, which later evolved into the word "picket" referring to a fence or palisade made of pointed stakes driven into the ground.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York in 1273, where a William Piket is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the 13th century in certain parts of England.
In the 14th century, the name can be found in various records and manuscripts, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a John Pyket. The Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279 also mention a Henry Piket.
The Picket surname may have been initially associated with individuals who lived near or were responsible for maintaining picket fences or fortifications. It could also have been an occupational name for those who made or worked with pickets or stakes.
Over time, the name spread to various regions of England, with variations in spelling emerging, such as Pickett, Picket, and Pikett. Some notable individuals with the Picket surname include:
1. Sir Thomas Picket (c. 1545-1616), an English lawyer and member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. John Picket (fl. 1670-1690), an English actor and playwright active in the Restoration period. 3. William Picket (1786-1870), an English artist and engraver known for his landscape paintings. 4. Thomas Picket (1832-1891), an American Civil War soldier and recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Gettysburg. 5. Bill Picket (1870-1932), an American rodeo performer and one of the most famous Black cowboys in the early 20th century, known for his innovative bulldogging (steer wrestling) techniques.
While the Picket surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and other English-speaking countries, often through immigration and migration patterns.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Picket 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. Middlesex leads with 53 Pickets recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.70x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 53 | 2.70x |
| Oxfordshire | 21 | 17.35x |
| Lancashire | 14 | 0.60x |
| Lanarkshire | 12 | 1.89x |
| Surrey | 11 | 1.15x |
| Sussex | 9 | 2.72x |
| Buckinghamshire | 8 | 6.75x |
| Kent | 8 | 1.20x |
| Glamorgan | 7 | 2.05x |
| Wiltshire | 7 | 4.04x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.31x |
| Lincolnshire | 5 | 1.60x |
| Perthshire | 5 | 5.68x |
| Channel Islands | 4 | 6.88x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 1.00x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 0.60x |
| Angus | 3 | 1.65x |
| Essex | 3 | 0.78x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 0.78x |
| Hertfordshire | 3 | 2.22x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 1.36x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 0.66x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.40x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 0.68x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 0.99x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.25x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 0.71x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.38x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southleigh in Oxfordshire leads with 11 Pickets recorded in 1881 and an index of 4583.33x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Picket surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 14 |
| Elizabeth | 9 |
| Eliza | 8 |
| Ann | 5 |
| Harriet | 5 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Margaret | 3 |
| Maria | 3 |
| Susan | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Amelia | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Julia | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| (Mrs) | 1 |
| Adeline | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Betty | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Dina | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lavinia | 1 |
| Lousa | 1 |
| Maryann | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Roseanna | 1 |
| Rosey | 1 |
| Sopia | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
| W. | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Picket surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 10 |
| George | 7 |
| Charles | 6 |
| James | 6 |
| William | 6 |
| Frederick | 5 |
| Thomas | 5 |
| Henry | 4 |
| Joseph | 3 |
| Alfred | 2 |
| Edward | 2 |
| Jeremiah | 2 |
| Abraham | 1 |
| Albert | 1 |
| Ali... | 1 |
| Antoney | 1 |
| Charlie | 1 |
| Charly | 1 |
| David | 1 |
| Earnest | 1 |
| Elick | 1 |
| Ernest | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Fred | 1 |
| Fredk. | 1 |
| H. | 1 |
| Nimrod | 1 |
| Percival | 1 |
| Robert | 1 |
| Verrabl | 1 |
| W. | 1 |
| Walter | 1 |
| Zabluns | 1 |
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 Picket households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 19 |
| Laundress | 5 |
| Ag Lab | 3 |
| Charwoman | 3 |
| Domestic Servant | 3 |
| General Servant | 3 |
| Labourer | 3 |
| Ag Labourer | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Arsenal Labr | 1 |
| Boat Man | 1 |
| Boot Apprentice | 1 |
| Boot Assistant | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labour | 1 |
| Butcher Appc | 1 |
| Cab Propirtor | 1 |
| Cab Propirtor Wife | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carpenter's Lab | 1 |
| Carriers Lab | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Coachman (Dom) | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Corporal 66 Foot | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Cowman | 1 |
| Cutter (FHT) | 1 |
| Dom Servt | 1 |
| Domestic (Serv) | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Drayman | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Serv Indr | 1 |
| Farm Servant(Indoor) | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gate Keeper | 1 |
| Gen Dom Serv | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| Gen Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Gen Servt | 1 |
| General Lab | 1 |
| General Labr | 1 |
| Gentle Woman | 1 |
| Wife Of ... Master | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 198 people were recorded with the Picket surname. That placed it at #12,922 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016. That gives Picket a modern rank of #36,457.
A surname derived from a wooden barrier for enclosures or defense.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Picket 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.