Derricott last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Derricott is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Derricott.

Meaning of Derricott

A surname derived from an English location name, possibly meaning "the ridge by the oak trees".

Derricott, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Derricott surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Derricott in America

Derricott is the 44356th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Derricott surname appeared 485 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Derricott.

We can also compare 2010 data for Derricott to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 44356 43377 2.23%
Count 485 469 3.35%
Proportion per 100k 0.16 0.17 -6.06%

The history of the last name Derricott

The surname Derricott is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval era. It is thought to derive from the Old English words "deor," meaning "deer," and "cot," referring to a small dwelling or shelter. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived in or near a residence located in an area inhabited by deer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Derricott can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions a landed proprietor by the name of Robert de Dericote, whose holdings were situated in Leicestershire.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Dericote, Derycoate, and Derycote, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling that were common in medieval times. These variations often stemmed from regional dialects or the individual preferences of scribes who recorded the names.

In the 14th century, historical records mention a notable figure named John Derricott, who served as a member of the Parliament of England during the reign of King Edward III (1312-1377). This suggests that the Derricott family had achieved a certain level of prominence and influence by that time.

Another individual of note was Sir Thomas Derricott (1565-1628), a wealthy landowner and prominent figure in Gloucestershire. He was known for his philanthropic endeavors, including the establishment of a free grammar school in the town of Wotton-under-Edge.

In the 17th century, the name Derricott appeared in various parish records and legal documents across various counties in England, indicating the widespread distribution of the family throughout the country.

One notable bearer of the name was William Derricott (1670-1742), a renowned clockmaker from London who was known for his exceptional craftsmanship and innovative designs. His clocks were highly sought after by wealthy patrons of the time.

As the centuries passed, the Derricott surname continued to be represented in various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts. For example, Henry Derricott (1807-1883) was a respected scholar and author who wrote extensively on historical and literary topics.

While the origins of the surname Derricott can be traced back to medieval England, it is important to note that over time, families bearing this name have spread across different regions and countries, contributing to the rich tapestry of human history and cultural diversity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Derricott

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Derricott.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Derricott was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 36.29% 176
Non-Hispanic Black Only 59.79% 290
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 3.51% 17
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Derricott has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 36.29% 38.17% -5.05%
Black 59.79% 58.21% 2.68%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 3.51% 3.20% 9.24%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Derricott was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Derricott, please contact us.

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"Derricott last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 15, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/derricott-surname-popularity/.

"Derricott last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/derricott-surname-popularity/. Accessed 15 July, 2025

Derricott last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/derricott-surname-popularity/.

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