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

Ricketts, 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 Ricketts surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ricketts in America

Ricketts is the 2801st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ricketts surname appeared 12,862 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Ricketts.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ricketts 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 Ricketts

The surname Ricketts is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, and it is thought to be derived from the Old English personal name "Richard". This name itself is derived from the Germanic elements "ric" meaning powerful or brave, and "hart" meaning hardy or strong.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Ricketts can be traced back to the late 12th and early 13th centuries, with variations such as Rickett, Rikett, and Rykett appearing in various records and documents from that era. One notable early mention of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1197, which list a person named William Ricket.

In the 13th century, the Ricketts surname began to appear more frequently in various parts of England, particularly in counties such as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. The surname was often associated with certain place names, such as Rickett's End in Gloucestershire and Rickett's Marsh in Somerset.

The Ricketts family played a significant role in the history of Gloucestershire, with several members holding influential positions and owning substantial landholdings in the area. One notable figure was Sir John Ricketts, who lived in the late 16th century and served as a member of Parliament for Gloucestershire.

Another prominent individual with the surname Ricketts was Sir Compton Ricketts (1599-1669), an English soldier and politician who served as a Royalist commander during the English Civil War. He was captured by Parliamentary forces in 1645 and imprisoned in the Tower of London.

In the 18th century, the Ricketts family continued to be well-established in various parts of England, with several members achieving notable success in fields such as the military and the arts. One example is William Ricketts (1798-1869), an English painter and engraver who was elected as an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1842.

During the 19th century, the Ricketts surname also gained prominence in other parts of the world, particularly in the United States and Australia, as members of the family migrated and settled in these regions. One notable Australian figure was Henry Ricketts (1820-1900), a businessman and politician who served as the 12th Premier of Victoria from 1891 to 1892.

Throughout its history, the Ricketts surname has been associated with individuals of various backgrounds and professions, from military leaders and politicians to artists and entrepreneurs. While the name originated in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural diversity of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ricketts

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

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

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

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