NameCensus.

UK surname

Picking

An English surname derived from a town name meaning "lives by the peak or hill".

In the 1881 census there were 285 people recorded with the Picking surname, ranking it #10,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 319, ranked #14,121, down from #10,070 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Battersea and Ashwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Huntingdonshire and North Hertfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Picking is 543 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.9%.

1881 census count

285

Ranked #10,070

Modern count

319

2016, ranked #14,121

Peak year

1861

543 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Picking had 285 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,070 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016, ranked #14,121.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 543 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Picking surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Picking surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Picking 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 281 #8,028
1861 historical 543 #4,837
1881 historical 285 #10,070
1891 historical 444 #8,149
1901 historical 342 #10,608
1911 historical 375 #9,747
1997 modern 298 #13,593
1998 modern 348 #12,585
1999 modern 352 #12,552
2000 modern 350 #12,564
2001 modern 334 #12,789
2002 modern 335 #13,020
2003 modern 330 #12,971
2004 modern 339 #12,744
2005 modern 310 #13,518
2006 modern 304 #13,797
2007 modern 304 #13,927
2008 modern 310 #13,834
2009 modern 319 #13,832
2010 modern 332 #13,745
2011 modern 312 #14,230
2012 modern 306 #14,327
2013 modern 315 #14,245
2014 modern 315 #14,334
2015 modern 324 #13,965
2016 modern 319 #14,121

Geography

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Where Pickings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Battersea, Ashwell and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Huntingdonshire, North Hertfordshire, South Gloucestershire and Windsor and Maidenhead. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Battersea London (South Districts)
4 Ashwell Hertfordshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 010 Northumberland
2 Huntingdonshire 014 Huntingdonshire
3 North Hertfordshire 005 North Hertfordshire
4 South Gloucestershire 003 South Gloucestershire
5 Windsor and Maidenhead 001 Windsor and Maidenhead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Picking

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Picking

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Picking surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Picking household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Picking is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Picking is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Picking 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 Picking 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 Picking, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Picking

The surname Picking is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "pician," which means "to pick" or "to gather." This name first emerged in the early 13th century and was likely an occupational name given to individuals who worked as gatherers or pickers of various crops or materials.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Picking can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Pikking." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, reflecting regional dialects and phonetic adaptations.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was John Picking, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire in 1327. This historical record provides evidence of the name's presence in the East Midlands region of England during the 14th century.

In the 15th century, the surname Picking was also associated with certain place names, such as Pickingill in Yorkshire and Pickingleigh in Devon. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname Picking who settled in those areas, contributing to the establishment of local communities.

Notable individuals with the surname Picking include:

1. William Picking (1521-1587), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Nottingham. 2. Samuel Picking (1649-1718), a British mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of logarithms and the calculation of planetary orbits. 3. Mary Picking (1773-1854), a British author and poet known for her work on the education of children and women's rights. 4. James Picking (1820-1876), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Surgeons. 5. Thomas Picking (1842-1919), an English businessman and philanthropist who established the Picking Trust, a charitable organization supporting education and healthcare initiatives.

The surname Picking has also been recorded in various historical records, such as parish registers, tax rolls, and census records, further attesting to its longstanding presence in England and the surrounding regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Picking families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Picking 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. Middlesex leads with 67 Pickings recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.41x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 67 2.41x
Surrey 38 2.81x
Lancashire 34 1.03x
Hertfordshire 31 16.18x
Shropshire 18 7.49x
Cambridgeshire 17 9.65x
Lincolnshire 12 2.70x
Staffordshire 12 1.28x
Yorkshire 12 0.44x
Berkshire 6 2.88x
Warwickshire 5 0.71x
Derbyshire 4 0.92x
Devon 4 0.69x
Lanarkshire 4 0.44x
Cheshire 3 0.49x
Huntingdonshire 3 5.43x
Kent 3 0.32x
Northumberland 3 0.73x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.80x
Flintshire 2 2.68x
Oxfordshire 2 1.17x
Royal Navy 1 3.02x
Somerset 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashwell in Hertfordshire leads with 18 Pickings recorded in 1881 and an index of 1200.00x.

Place Total Index
Ashwell 18 1200.00x
Battersea 15 14.66x
Islington London 15 5.57x
Royston 13 797.55x
Haigh 10 869.57x
Mile End Old Town 10 22.79x
Bow London 9 25.43x
Manchester 9 6.07x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 9.04x
Great Grimsby 8 28.36x
Newington 8 7.79x
Lambeth 7 2.89x
West Derby 7 7.25x
Cookham 6 92.17x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 10.71x
Bradford 5 32.38x
Ercall Magna 5 290.70x
Hackney London 5 3.21x
Litlington 5 781.25x
Papworth St Agnes 5 3333.33x
Putney 5 39.46x
St Clement Danes 5 111.11x
Wrockwardine 5 94.70x
Birmingham 4 1.71x
Dalziel 4 41.37x
Eltisley 4 909.09x
Hunslet 4 9.31x
Plymouth Charles The 4 15.69x
Byker 3 14.67x
Ealing 3 12.08x
Great Gransden 3 491.80x
Kirkby In Ashfield 3 74.81x
Spitalfields London 3 14.35x
St George Hanover 3 8.27x
St George Martyr 3 63.97x
Streatham 3 14.54x
Temple Normanton 3 1578.95x
Tottenham 3 6.78x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.66x
Bowdon 2 81.97x
Caversham 2 58.31x
Hawarden 2 34.07x
Kensington London 2 1.29x
Salford 2 2.06x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 2 75.47x
St Pancras London 2 0.89x
Wellington 2 14.81x
Aston 1 0.52x
Bradford 1 1.50x
Burham 1 76.34x
Burton Upon Trent 1 4.56x
Cantelo 1 1428.57x
Chelsea London 1 1.19x
Clee With Weelsby 1 10.28x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.37x
Gillingham 1 5.11x
Grantham 1 17.27x
Haslington 1 57.80x
Hulme 1 1.45x
Kirmington 1 256.41x
Litchurch 1 5.71x
Little Bytham 1 344.83x
Nash 1 178.57x
Papworth Everard 1 833.33x
Royal Navy 1 3.53x
Shoreditch London 1 0.83x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 11.86x
St Giles Cambridge 1 44.05x
St Marythe Less 1 93.46x
Stanton Lacy 1 48.31x
Stone 1 8.33x
Wolverhampton 1 1.39x
Wroxeter 1 217.39x
York All Sts Pavement 1 312.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 11
Ann 8
Fanny 6
Florence 6
Sarah 6
Ellen 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Lucy 4
Martha 4
Emma 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Maggie 2
Margaret 2
Susan 2
Adelaide 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Clin 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Ellena 1
Esther 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
Laura 1
Lettie 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Lottie 1
Lucretia 1
Margerette 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
Joseph 12
Thomas 12
John 11
Charles 6
George 6
Richard 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Enoch 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
James 3
Walter 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Willm. 2
Brittain 1
Earnest 1
Fk. 1
Frederic 1
Jonathan 1
Louis 1
Maurice 1
Moses 1
Oliver 1
Phillip 1
Ralph 1
Thos. 1
Thos.W. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Isaac 1

FAQ

Picking surname: questions and answers

How common was the Picking surname in 1881?

In 1881, 285 people were recorded with the Picking surname. That placed it at #10,070 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Picking surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016. That gives Picking a modern rank of #14,121.

What does the Picking surname mean?

An English surname derived from a town name meaning "lives by the peak or hill".

What does the Picking map show?

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