2000
#7,684
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,995
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.48
Rare Last name
Prickett
An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of spiked fences or enclosures.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,244 Americans carry the last name Prickett. That puts it at #8,535 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.24 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 80,762 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Prickett surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Prickett with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
4.2K
1 in 80,762
Census rank
#8,535
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,701 bearers of the surname Prickett in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.24 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 8535th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Prickett, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.7%) and Hispanic (3.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Prickett
The surname Prickett is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "prica," which means "to prick" or "to puncture." This name was likely given as an occupational surname to individuals who worked as prickers or prodders, possibly in trades such as tanning or wool combing.
The earliest known record of the name Prickett can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it appears as "Prickett." This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the late 13th century.
In the 14th century, the surname Prickett appeared in several historical records, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where it was recorded as "Prikkett." This variation in spelling was common during that time period.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Prickett was John Prickett, a merchant and Member of Parliament for Yarmouth in 1421. Another prominent figure was Robert Prickett, who was appointed as the Bishop of Chichester in 1459.
During the 16th century, the name Prickett was associated with several place names, such as Prickett's Hill in Gloucestershire and Prickett's Farm in Buckinghamshire. These place names suggest that the surname was well-established in various regions of England.
In the 17th century, one of the most notable individuals with the surname Prickett was John Prickett (1620-1685), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Summe of Christian Religion" and "A Treatise on the Church of Christ."
Another prominent figure was Abraham Prickett (1693-1769), a British architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Mary-le-Strand in London.
In the 18th century, James Prickett (1735-1806) was a renowned English engraver and artist known for his intricate copperplate engravings and illustrations.
During the 19th century, John Prickett (1808-1888) was a renowned English mathematician and educator who contributed significantly to the field of mathematics education.
Throughout its history, the surname Prickett has been associated with various professions, from merchants and clergymen to architects and mathematicians, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Prickett
Among Census respondents with the surname Prickett, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.7%) and Hispanic (3.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Prickett bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Prickett surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.4% · 3,346
- Two or more races3.7% · 138
- Hispanic or Latino3.1% · 113
- Black or African American1.4% · 53
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 29
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6% · 22
Timeline
Historical Census data for Prickett
Prickett appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#8,249
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,016
+21 bearers (+0.5%)
Per 100,000 1.36
Rank movement Down 565 places
2020
#8,535
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,701
-315 bearers (-7.8%)
Per 100,000 1.24
Rank movement Down 286 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #7,684 | 3,995 | 1.48 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #8,249 | 4,016 | 1.36 | +21 bearers (+0.5%) | Down 565 places |
| 2020 | #8,535 | 3,701 | 1.24 | -315 bearers (-7.8%) | Down 286 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Prickett surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,249 | #8,535 | -3.5% |
| Count | 4,016 | 3,701 | -7.8% |
| Per 100K | 1.36 | 1.24 | -9.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Prickett bearers went from 4,016 to 3,701 (-7.8% change). The surname moved down 286 positions in the national ranking, going from #8,249 to #8,535.
FAQ
Prickett surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Prickett?
Name Census estimates that about 4,244 living Americans carry the surname Prickett. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 80,762 residents.
How common is Prickett?
Prickett ranks #8,535 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.24 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 3,701 people with the surname Prickett. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (4,244), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.24 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.24 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Prickett.
Has Prickett become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Prickett went from 4,016 recorded bearers to 3,701. That is a decrease of 315 (-7.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #8,249 to #8,535.
What does the Census say about the background of Prickett?
Among Census respondents with the surname Prickett, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.7%) and Hispanic (3.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Prickett in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.4% (3,346 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Prickett appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (90.4%), Two or More Races (3.7%), Hispanic (3.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Prickett (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Prickett mean?
An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of spiked fences or enclosures. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Prickett (1.24 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Prickett?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.