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

Palker, 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 Palker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Palker in America

Palker is the 125282nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Palker surname appeared 137 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 Palker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Palker 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.

The history of the last name Palker

The surname PALKER has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. The name is thought to have derived from the Old English word "palke," which referred to a park or enclosed area of land. It may also be linked to the town of Pauker in Yorkshire, which was once a prominent agricultural and hunting estate.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PALKER can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Palchere." This entry likely referred to an individual who worked as a park keeper or lived near a hunting ground. The name later evolved into various spellings, such as Palker, Palkere, and Paukere.

In the 13th century, a family by the name of PALKER held lands in the village of Edwalton, Nottinghamshire. Records from this time mention a Robert PALKER, who was a prominent landowner and benefactor to the local church.

During the 16th century, the name PALKER was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. Notable individuals from this period include John PALKER (c. 1520 - 1595), a successful merchant and alderman in the city of York, and Elizabeth PALKER (c. 1540 - 1612), who was renowned for her skill in embroidery and needlework.

In the 17th century, the PALKER family had established a strong presence in the town of Wakefield, West Yorkshire. One notable figure was Thomas PALKER (1635 - 1702), a respected scholar and author of several treatises on theology and philosophy.

The 18th century saw the PALKER name spread further across England, with families settling in various regions. One notable individual was William PALKER (1720 - 1789), a successful entrepreneur and landowner in the county of Lincolnshire.

As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, many individuals bearing the PALKER surname migrated to urban centers in search of employment. One prominent figure from this era was John PALKER (1845 - 1923), a skilled engineer and inventor who held several patents for innovative machinery used in textile manufacturing.

Throughout its history, the surname PALKER has been associated with various occupations, including land management, commerce, academia, and skilled trades. While its origins trace back to medieval England, the name has since spread across the globe, carried by individuals and families seeking new opportunities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Palker

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

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 Palker was:

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 Palker has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Palker was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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