Surname Pickering - Meaning and Origin

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V. Pickering

Pickering: What does the surname Pickering mean?

Pickering is an English surname of Old Norse origin. It is derived from the place name, Pickering, a town in North Yorkshire, England. The name is believed to mean "the people of Pykering" or the "settlement of Pykering," with "Pykering" being an Old English given name. It can be broken down into two parts: 'Pic' is believed to denote a pick or pike, a tool used for farming or as a weapon, and 'ering' meaning a 'place or settlement.' Therefore, it could also be interpreted as 'the place of the pick.'

This was a locational surname, meaning it was likely first given to the lord of the manor at Pickering, or to individuals who had moved from Pickering to another area, and were thereafter best identified by the name of their birthplace. Variations of the surname include Pickerin and Pickerings. Like many English surnames, it has been in use since the Middle Ages.

Pickering: Where does the name Pickering come from?

The last name Pickering is very common today, especially in some parts of the United Kingdom. There is a town in North Yorkshire, England, called Pickering that may be the source of the name. The first official record of the surname was in 1188, so it has been around for almost a thousand years!

The most populations of Pickering's today are in England, although a significant number can be found in Australia, Canada, and the United States. In England, the main concentrations are in two areas: the North of England and the South of England. In the North, it is mainly found in the counties of North Yorkshire, Lancashire, Durham, and Cumbria. In the South, more Pickerings are found in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Kent.

In the United States, the last name Pickering is most closely associated with the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Jersey. It is also common in some parts of Southern California and the Texas Panhandle.

In Canada, the regions with the most Pickerings are Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. The last name is particularly concentrated in the city of Toronto.

Overall, the last name Pickering is quite a common one, with people from all around the world claiming the name as their own.

Variations of the surname Pickering

The surname Pickering is an English habitational name derived from a place of the same name in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The placename itself is derived from Old Norse, Piekarr + ingr; meaning 'people living by a peak'.

Variants, spellings, and surnames for those of the same origin as Pickering include: Pykering, Pyckereng, Pyckerengge, Pekering, Pickring, Pickerin, Pikerin, and Pickrin.

Pickering was a popular Norman surname adopted by stature families when William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066. It has also been Anglicized after coming to the United States, and many American families spell their surname as Pickering.

Pickering has been a common English and American surname since the 11th century. It is the 24th most common surname in the UK, and 5,002 people share the name. In the United States, more than 346,000 people bear the surname, and it is ranked the 209th most common family name during the 1990 US Census.

Pickering can also be seen as a surname in other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa. This is most likely because of the immigration of those countries from the British Isles.

In conclusion, Pickering is an English habitational name derived from the North Riding of Yorkshire. There are many variants, spellings, and surnames that are of the same origin, including Pykering, Pyckereng, Pyckerengge, Pekering, Pickring, Pickerin, Pikerin, and Pickrin. Pickering is a popular surname in both the United Kingdom and the United States, as well in other countries that have experienced immigration from previous British occupation.

Famous people with the name Pickering

• Henry Pickering: American actor, first major star of American silent films.
• Edward Charles Pickering: American scientist, master astronomer, and director of the Harvard College Observatory.
• James Pickering: American actor and theatre director.
• Len Pickering: English footballer who played for teams including Tottenham Hotspur and Charlton Athletic.
• Colbran Pickering: Anglican clergyman and an educator in British India.
• Jack Pickering: English footballer who played for Sheffield United and Later Profilett.
• Robert Pickering: English politician and Member of Parliament for Lichfield.
• Thomas Pickering: American diplomat and career foreign service officer.
• Charles Pickering: American judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
• Paul Pickering: Australian historian and professor of Australian Studies at the Australian National University.
• William Pickering: English meteorologist who was credited with introducing the first daily weather forecast on the BBC News in 1926.
• Sir William Edward Ayrton Pickering: English electrical engineer and consultant who, in 1921, successfully investigated the death of newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister and former Field Marshal Count Takashi Kawakami.
• John Thomas Pickering: English architect and surveyor who designed the Henry VII Lady Chapel in the Westminster Abbey in the 1800s.
• Philip Pickering: English actor best known for roles in All Creatures Great and Small and Coronation Street.
• John Pickering: American jurist and the first Reporter of Decisions for the United States Supreme Court.
• Leonard Henry Charles Pickering: English Chairman of Pickering Brothers, a leading firm of land agents, surveyors and valuers.

Other surnames

Pickerill