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

Pickering, 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 Pickering surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pickering in America

Pickering is the 143149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pickering surname appeared 116 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 Pickering.

The history of the last name Pickering

The surname Pickerign originates from England, dating back to the late 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "piccere" and "ing", which translates to "the dweller at the small enclosure or field". This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived in a small, enclosed area or settlement.

The name is thought to have its roots in the county of Yorkshire, where it was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. This ancient manuscript, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of landholdings in England and provides valuable insight into the origins of many surnames.

One of the earliest known records of the name Pickerign can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it appears as "Pikeringes". This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages, as standardized spelling had not yet been established.

In the 13th century, the name Pickerign was associated with the village of Pickering, located in the North Riding of Yorkshire. This place name shares a similar etymology, derived from the Old English words "pic" and "ring", meaning a hill with a ring-shaped fortification or boundary.

Notable individuals with the surname Pickerign include Sir James Pickerign (1587-1667), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the English Civil War. Another prominent figure was John Pickerign (1614-1677), an English clergyman who became the Bishop of Ely in 1667.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Pickerign was also found in various records and manuscripts, such as the Parish Registers of Lincolnshire and the Hearth Tax Rolls of Yorkshire. This further solidifies the name's strong ties to the northern regions of England.

Other historical figures bearing the surname Pickerign include Richard Pickerign (1595-1678), an English merchant and landowner in Virginia, and Thomas Pickerign (1622-1685), a Puritan minister who served in Massachusetts Bay Colony.

It is important to note that while the surname Pickerign has a rich history and is well-documented in early records, its usage and prevalence may have changed over time, reflecting the ebb and flow of population movements and societal changes.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pickering

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

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 Pickering 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.

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

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

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