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

Pickett, 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 Pickett surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pickett in America

Pickett is the 1108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pickett surname appeared 31,611 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 11 people would have the surname Pickett.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pickett 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 Pickett

The surname Pickett is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the 11th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "pic," which means a sharp point or pick, and the diminutive suffix "-ett." It was likely an occupational name for someone who worked with a pick or pickaxe, perhaps in mining or construction.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pickett can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Pichet." This suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, the name was spelled in various ways, including "Piket," "Pyket," and "Pykett." This variation in spelling was common during this period, as standardized spellings were not yet established.

The Pickett surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Pickett's Cross in Shropshire and Pickett's Hill in Hertfordshire. These place names may have been derived from the surname or vice versa.

One notable bearer of the Pickett surname was Sir John Pickett (c. 1555-1616), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. Another prominent figure was Thomas Pickett (1758-1838), an American military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

George Edward Pickett (1825-1875) was a famous Confederate general during the American Civil War, best known for leading the ill-fated Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. This charge, which resulted in devastating losses for the Confederate forces, is considered one of the turning points of the war.

William Pickett (1870-1932) was a renowned American rodeo cowboy and one of the most famous individuals to bear the Pickett surname. He is credited with inventing the rodeo event known as "bulldogging," which involves wrestling a steer to the ground.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Digby Pickett (1857-1915), a British civil servant and colonial administrator who served as the Chief Secretary of Malta and the Governor of Hong Kong in the early 20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pickett

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

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

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

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