NameCensus.

UK surname

Pickles

A surname derived from the pickle maker's trade or occupation.

In the 1881 census there were 6,086 people recorded with the Pickles surname, ranking it #721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,401, ranked #1,544, down from #721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Batley and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Craven and Pendle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pickles is 7,164 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 27.7%.

1881 census count

6,086

Ranked #721

Modern count

4,401

2016, ranked #1,544

Peak year

1911

7,164 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pickles had 6,086 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,401 in 2016, ranked #1,544.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,164 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Pickles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pickles surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Pickles 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 3,811 #748
1861 historical 3,623 #773
1881 historical 6,086 #721
1891 historical 6,115 #757
1901 historical 7,046 #783
1911 historical 7,164 #726
1997 modern 4,779 #1,371
1998 modern 4,888 #1,392
1999 modern 4,898 #1,398
2000 modern 4,830 #1,410
2001 modern 4,703 #1,414
2002 modern 4,782 #1,425
2003 modern 4,686 #1,416
2004 modern 4,646 #1,426
2005 modern 4,523 #1,447
2006 modern 4,507 #1,454
2007 modern 4,566 #1,449
2008 modern 4,552 #1,461
2009 modern 4,605 #1,480
2010 modern 4,696 #1,490
2011 modern 4,594 #1,497
2012 modern 4,494 #1,505
2013 modern 4,518 #1,521
2014 modern 4,496 #1,535
2015 modern 4,419 #1,547
2016 modern 4,401 #1,544

Geography

Back to top

Where Pickles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Batley, Bradford, Keighley and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Craven and Pendle. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 004 Bradford
2 Craven 007 Craven
3 Pendle 003 Pendle
4 Pendle 002 Pendle
5 Bradford 011 Bradford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Pickles

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Pickles

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pickles is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pickles is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pickles falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pickles 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 Pickles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pickles

The surname Pickles is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is thought to derive from the Old English word "piccil," meaning a small parcel or bundle, which later evolved into the modern word "pickle." The name likely referred to someone who either made or sold pickled vegetables or other preserved foods.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pickles can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the 13th century, where a Richard Pickel is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain references to individuals with the surname Pykyl and Pykel, which are believed to be variations of the same name.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Pikyl and Pykill, as evidenced by records in the Court Rolls of the Borough of Colchester. During this time, the name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire.

The Pickles surname has a long history, with notable bearers appearing in various historical records over the centuries. One such individual was John Pickles, a merchant and alderman of York, who lived in the late 16th century and was respected for his philanthropic efforts.

Another notable figure was William Pickles, a renowned English physician and epidemiologist born in 1885. He is remembered for his contributions to public health and his pioneering work in the study of infectious diseases.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in the form of Pickles in the parish records of Wigan, Lancashire. During this time, a family by the name of Pickles owned land near the town of Standish, which may have been the origin of the placename "Pickles Farm."

Other notable individuals bearing the Pickles surname include Samuel Pickles (1773-1849), a British Quaker and philanthropist; Thomas Pickles (1824-1892), an English cricketer; and Mary Pickles (1836-1923), a British trade unionist and suffragist.

The Pickles surname has a rich history spanning several centuries, originating from the humble roots of those involved in the trade of pickled and preserved foods. Despite its humble beginnings, the name has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Pickles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pickles 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. Yorkshire leads with 4,302 Pickles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.31x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 4,302 7.31x
Lancashire 1,410 2.00x
Middlesex 68 0.11x
Cheshire 59 0.45x
Durham 52 0.29x
Northumberland 23 0.26x
Surrey 19 0.07x
Berkshire 18 0.40x
Devon 12 0.10x
Lincolnshire 12 0.13x
Norfolk 11 0.12x
Westmorland 11 0.84x
Herefordshire 10 0.41x
Derbyshire 9 0.10x
Shropshire 9 0.18x
Gloucestershire 8 0.07x
Hampshire 8 0.07x
Northamptonshire 5 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.06x
Ayrshire 4 0.09x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.17x
Kent 4 0.02x
Lanarkshire 4 0.02x
Clackmannanshire 2 0.41x
Royal Navy 2 0.28x
Suffolk 2 0.03x
Sussex 2 0.02x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.03x
Cumberland 1 0.02x
Denbighshire 1 0.04x
Dorset 1 0.03x
Essex 1 0.01x
Flintshire 1 0.06x
Isle of Man 1 0.09x
Leicestershire 1 0.02x
Staffordshire 1 0.01x
Warwickshire 1 0.01x
Wiltshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Halifax in Yorkshire leads with 269 Pickles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.15x.

Place Total Index
Halifax 269 31.15x
Keighley 246 39.23x
Leeds 185 5.57x
Wadsworth 162 169.17x
Haworth 160 114.42x
Bradford 159 11.16x
Manningham 157 21.66x
Stansfield 146 67.44x
Horton In Bradford 133 14.48x
Bingley 124 33.10x
Trawden 123 279.04x
Colne 116 55.27x
Ovenden 113 43.16x
Burnley 112 18.88x
Dewsbury 104 17.24x
Thornton In Bradford 104 53.10x
Great Little Marsden 100 30.99x
Sowerby In Halifax 97 50.42x
Heptonstall 91 110.24x
Wilsden 90 148.96x
Habergham Eaves 88 13.67x
Batley 63 11.27x
Thornhill 63 36.70x
Hipperholme Cum 59 22.82x
North Bierley 59 18.58x
Spotland 56 7.15x
Warley 56 32.93x
Newchurch 55 9.54x
Idle 54 19.80x
Wakefield 54 11.96x
Shipley 53 17.36x
Allerton 52 69.34x
Southowram 52 28.96x
Bowling 50 8.58x
Langfield 48 46.63x
Carlton In Skipton 44 127.98x
Northowram 44 10.67x
Oldham 44 1.94x
Skircoat 42 18.10x
Thornton In Craven 42 88.96x
Midgley 41 65.40x
Todmorden Walsden 41 21.72x
Grassington 40 316.46x
Gomersal 38 13.84x
Hunslet 37 4.03x
Otley 36 25.20x
Pudsey 34 10.81x
Soothill 34 16.00x
Accrington 33 5.15x
Barnoldswick 33 40.19x
Heckmondwike 32 16.91x
Briercliffe Cum 31 132.76x
Wardleworth 30 7.45x
Holbeck 28 7.18x
Gorton 27 4.08x
Liverpool 27 0.63x
Liversedge 26 9.93x
Barnsley 24 3.96x
Clayton 24 16.67x
Worsthorne Cum 24 107.19x
Castleton 23 3.27x
Bramley In Bramley 22 9.77x
Hulme 22 1.50x
Blackburn 21 1.12x
Cliviger 21 52.94x
Foulridge 21 117.19x
Haughton 19 18.49x
Baildon 18 16.25x
Morley 18 5.88x
Kirkheaton 17 17.82x
Armley 16 6.17x
Lockwood 16 7.56x
Bury 15 1.86x
Church Coniston 15 75.95x
Clitheroe 15 7.23x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 15 7.14x
Shelf 15 26.70x
St Marylebone London 15 0.47x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 14 5.12x
Royton 13 6.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 484
Sarah 325
Elizabeth 215
Hannah 147
Ann 131
Martha 120
Annie 100
Alice 99
Emma 97
Ellen 82
Jane 78
Eliza 56
Ada 51
Clara 50
Margaret 49
Betty 37
Emily 37
Maria 37
Grace 36
Susannah 36
Edith 33
Harriet 32
Florence 28
Nancy 28
Ruth 20
Charlotte 19
Fanny 19
Louisa 18
Betsy 17
Frances 17
Susan 16
Isabella 15
Rebecca 15
Caroline 14
Sophia 14
Anne 13
Selina 13
Lydia 12
Rachel 12
Agnes 11
Harriett 11
Amy 10
Laura 10
Lucy 10
Sally 10
Esther 9
Gertrude 9
Julia 9
Lily 9
Susey 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 421
William 272
Thomas 188
James 186
Joseph 164
George 112
Henry 85
Arthur 74
Robert 66
Fred 58
Charles 55
Albert 46
Richard 45
Samuel 44
Herbert 40
Harry 38
Edward 36
Walter 36
Alfred 34
David 34
Benjamin 23
Tom 23
Frederick 22
Frank 20
Abraham 18
Sam 18
Edwin 16
Greenwood 16
Hartley 16
Joshua 16
Willie 16
Ernest 14
Smith 14
Thos. 14
Jonas 13
Isaac 12
Wm. 12
Jonathan 11
Michael 11
Philip 11
Joe 10
Francis 9
Stephen 9
Mark 8
Nathan 8
Eli 7
Jesse 7
Timothy 7
Geo. 6
Jas. 6

FAQ

Pickles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pickles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,086 people were recorded with the Pickles surname. That placed it at #721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pickles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,401 in 2016. That gives Pickles a modern rank of #1,544.

What does the Pickles surname mean?

A surname derived from the pickle maker's trade or occupation.

What does the Pickles map show?

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