Find out how popular the last name Rickerd is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Rickerd.
An English surname derived from the archaic word "rick" meaning a stack or bundle of hay.
Rickerd, 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 Rickerd surname is from the 2010 census data.
Rickerd is the 59470th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Rickerd surname appeared 340 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 Rickerd.
We can also compare 2010 data for Rickerd 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.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Rank | 59470 | 46153 | 25.22% |
Count | 340 | 435 | -24.52% |
Proportion per 100k | 0.12 | 0.16 | -28.57% |
The surname Rickerd is of Anglo-Saxon origin, tracing its roots back to England during the 8th century. It is derived from the Old English word "ricca," meaning powerful or rich, and "hierde," which translates to herdsman or shepherd. This combination suggests that the name was initially bestowed upon someone who was either a wealthy landowner or an influential herdsman in their community.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rickerd can be found in the renowned Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their estates commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a certain Ricardus, the Anglo-Norman variant of the name, who held lands in Somerset.
By the 13th century, the name had evolved into various spellings, including Rickard, Ricard, and Rickerd, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. In 1273, a document from the county of Sussex references a William Rickerd, a landowner in the village of Alfriston.
In the 14th century, the name Rickerd gained further prominence with the birth of John Rickerd (c. 1325-1390), a renowned scholar and theologian from Oxford. He authored several influential works on philosophy and theology, cementing the Rickerd name in academic circles.
The 16th century saw the emergence of Sir Thomas Rickerd (1510-1587), a prominent courtier and statesman during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as the Lord Lieutenant of Kent and played a pivotal role in the defense of England against the Spanish Armada in 1588.
Another notable figure bearing the Rickerd surname was Sir William Rickerd (1670-1745), a celebrated military commander who served in the War of the Spanish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant General and was knighted for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.
In the realm of literature, the name Rickerd is associated with the poet and playwright Thomas Rickerd (1795-1867), best known for his satirical works and dramatic productions that graced the stages of London's theaters during the Victorian era.
While the Rickerd surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by generations of descendants and immigrants. The name continues to hold significance as a testament to its rich Anglo-Saxon heritage and the notable individuals who have borne it throughout history.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Rickerd.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Rickerd was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 95.88% | 326 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 0.00% | 0 |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 1.76% | 6 |
Hispanic Origin | (S)% | (S) |
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 Rickerd has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
White | 95.88% | 94.02% | 1.96% |
Black | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
Asian and Pacific Islander | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
Two or More Races | 1.76% | 2.30% | -26.60% |
Hispanic | (S)% | 2.53% | (S)% |
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 Rickerd was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/rickerd-surname-popularity/">Rickerd last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Rickerd last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 8, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/rickerd-surname-popularity/.
"Rickerd last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/rickerd-surname-popularity/. Accessed 8 July, 2025
Rickerd last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/rickerd-surname-popularity/.
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