Duckett
An English occupational surname referring to someone who bred or kept ducks.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 8,569 Americans carry the last name Duckett. That puts it at #4,794 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.50 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 39,999 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Duckett surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
8.6K
1 in 39,999
Census rank
#4,794
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
7.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 7,375 bearers of the surname Duckett in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.50 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 4794th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Duckett, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.0%. The next largest groups are Black (33.0%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Duckett
The surname Duckett has its origins in England, emerging in the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "duket," meaning a small duct or stream. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a small watercourse or stream.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where a Robert Duckett is mentioned. The surname is also found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 for Oxfordshire, indicating its presence in multiple regions of England during this period.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as Duket, Duckette, and Duckete, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and record-keeping practices at the time. The Duckett spelling became more standardized in the 15th and 16th centuries.
One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Duckett (1613-1644), an English politician and landowner who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1633. He was a prominent figure during the English Civil War and supported the Royalist cause.
Another historical figure with the surname was William Duckett (1768-1842), an English Catholic priest and writer. He was known for his work on the history of Catholic families in England and his contributions to the preservation of Catholic heritage.
In the 18th century, the name was also associated with the Duckett family of Grayrigg, a prominent landowning family in Westmorland, now part of Cumbria. One member of this family, James Duckett (1697-1765), was a notable solicitor and landowner.
The surname Duckett has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Duckett's Green in Shropshire and Duckett's Farm in Hertfordshire, further cementing its ties to the English landscape and geography.
Other notable individuals with the surname Duckett include Sir George Duckett (1724-1768), an English baronet and politician, and Sir Norman Duckett (1905-1986), a British lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of Hong Kong from 1965 to 1973.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Duckett
Among Census respondents with the surname Duckett, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.0%. The next largest groups are Black (33.0%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Duckett bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Duckett surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White62.0%
- Black or African American33.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Two or more races2.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Duckett surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,944 | #4,794 | 3.0% |
| Count | 6,524 | 7,375 | 13.0% |
| Per 100K | 2.42 | 2.50 | 3.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Duckett bearers went from 6,524 to 7,375 (+13.0% change). The surname moved up 150 positions in the national ranking, going from #4,944 to #4,794.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Duckett
FAQ
Duckett surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Duckett?
The surname Duckett holds position #4,794 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 8,569 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.50 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Duckett surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Duckett, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.0%. The next largest groups are Black (33.0%) and Hispanic (2.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.