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

Pickens, 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 Pickens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pickens in America

Pickens is the 2195th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pickens surname appeared 16,577 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Pickens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pickens 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 Pickens

The surname "Pickens" is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "pic" meaning "a sharp point" or "peak," and the suffix "-en," indicating a place or location. This suggests that the name likely originated as a place name, referring to a person who lived near a pointed hill or a place with a distinct peak.

The earliest recorded use of the name "Pickens" can be traced back to the early 13th century in Yorkshire, England, where it appeared as "de Pycken" in the Feet of Fines records of 1202. This spelling variation, "de Pycken," further supports the idea that the name originated as a place name, with "de" meaning "of" or "from."

In the 14th century, the name was recorded as "Pyken" in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, indicating a simplification of the spelling over time. During this period, the surname was also found in other regions of England, such as Suffolk and Nottinghamshire, suggesting the spread of the name across the country.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname "Pickens" was John Pickens, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327. Another notable figure was Sir Robert Pickens, a member of the English gentry who lived in the late 15th century and served as a knight during the Wars of the Roses.

In the 16th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as "Pickins," "Pyckens," and "Pykens," reflecting the inconsistencies in standardized spelling during that time. One individual of note was William Pickens, born around 1530 in Oxfordshire, who was a prominent merchant and landowner.

During the 17th century, the surname "Pickens" was found in several parish records across England, including in Lancashire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire. A notable bearer of the name was Thomas Pickens, born in 1624 in Derbyshire, who was a Puritan minister and author.

In the 18th century, the name continued to be prevalent in various regions of England, and several individuals with the surname "Pickens" made their mark in various fields. One such person was Andrew Pickens, born in 1739 in Pennsylvania, who was a prominent military officer and statesman during the American Revolutionary War.

Throughout its history, the surname "Pickens" has maintained a strong presence in England, while also being carried by individuals who emigrated to other parts of the world, including the Americas and Australia. Despite variations in spelling, the name's origins can be traced back to the Old English word "pic" and its association with a specific place or location.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pickens

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

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

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

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