The surname Pickler has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the old Scots word "pickler," which referred to a person who pickled or preserved food, particularly fish or meat. This occupation was common in coastal regions of Scotland, where fishing was a major source of sustenance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pickler can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century, where a person named William Pickler is mentioned as a resident of Inverness-shire. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the Scottish Highlands by that time.
In the 16th century, the Pickler surname appeared in various historical documents across Scotland, including the Registers of the Privy Council and the Commissariot Records of Edinburgh. Notable individuals from this period include James Pickler (c. 1520 - 1587), a merchant from Aberdeen, and Robert Pickler (c. 1560 - 1632), a landowner in Stirlingshire.
By the 17th century, the Pickler surname had spread to other parts of the British Isles, including England and Ireland. In 1642, a man named William Pickler was recorded as a member of the Merchant Taylors' Company in London, indicating that the name had gained a foothold in the English capital.
One of the most notable figures in the history of the Pickler surname was Sir John Pickler (1678 - 1751), a Scottish judge and landowner who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1737 to 1742. He was knighted for his service to the Crown and is remembered for his contributions to the legal system in Scotland.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Pickler surname continued to be found throughout the United Kingdom, with various branches of the family establishing themselves in different regions. One notable individual from this period was William Pickler (1805 - 1878), a Scottish-born author and educator who immigrated to the United States and became a prominent figure in the field of education in Ohio.
Other notable individuals with the surname Pickler include Mary Pickler (1858 - 1932), an American philanthropist and suffragist from Missouri, and Charles Pickler (1872 - 1957), a South Dakota politician who served as the state's governor from 1909 to 1913.
While the Pickler surname has its roots in Scotland and the British Isles, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, carried by generations of immigrants and their descendants.