Surname Pickle - Meaning and Origin

Pickle: What does the surname Pickle mean?

The surname Pickle is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English pre 7th Century word "pic", meaning a point, peak, or hill, with the diminutive suffix "-el". It was used as a topographic name to denote someone who lived by a pointed peak of a hill. The name could also be locational from a place called “Peak” in Derbyshire in England. Place names were often given to a Lord or former resident of a place who moved elsewhere. Variations of the surname include Pickel, Pickle, Pikel, Pykel, etc. Earliest records of the name date back to the 11th and 12th centuries in England. The surname, like many other English surnames, may have also immigrated to other countries, giving rise to various versions of the name in those regions over centuries. It's worth noting that in England, particularly under Norman influence, the suffix "-el" or "-le" was frequently used to create diminutives, indicating a smaller or younger version of something, which further supports the interpretation of Pickle as a smaller peak or hill.

Pickle: Where does the name Pickle come from?

The last name Pickle is quite common in the United States today. Specifically, the Social Security Administration (SSA) list Pickle as a top 1,000 surname in the country, making it the 732nd most common name for American citizens. Other countries have more of a rarity of the name - the United Kingdom only has 28 people who have the last name Pickle, Canada only has 212 people who have the last name, and Australia has only 193 people with the surname.

Most people with the last name Pickle reside in the Midwest and South of the United States. According to the SSA, the states with the most Pickles are: Kentucky, Illinois, West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Additionally, the states with the highest concentration of Pickles are Kentucky, South Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia and Tennessee. The city with the most Pickles is Pittsburgh with about 390 people with the surname.

Pickles have their roots in the United Kingdom with the surname originating from the 13th century. It is derived from an Old German word "pichel" and referred to someone who works as a bricklayer. The surname is thought to have originated from people who made objects and tools using clay and other materials.

Whatever the origin, the last name Pickle is still quite popular in the modern-day United States- so popular, in fact, that it is the 732nd most common name in the country.

Variations of the surname Pickle

The surname Pickle is believed to have originated as a nickname given to a person who appeared to have an uncanny ability to pickle vegetables. Pickle is derived from the Old English word "picle," meaning to preserve. The surname can also be spelled Pykle, Pickles, Pyckell and Pykles.

Variations of the surname Pickle include Pikle, Pickleman, Pickleson, Pickerin, Pickern, Pickernan, Pickering, Pickeringe, Pickron, Pykett, Pyke, Pyker, Pyklawe, Pyklen, Pyle, and Pykyle. Many of these variants are further regionalized, such as Pikle and Pyklen being more common in the United States, and Pickron and Pyker being more common in Britain.

There are also a number of alternate spellings and variants that evolved from other languages, such as Pickla, Pickler, Picklon, and Pikhal. By far the most common of these alternate spellings is Pikle, which is formed from the Dutch "pekel," which means pickled or salted.

Some of the other surnames that are believed to have the same origin as Pickle include Peckel, Peckell, Peke, Pekelman, Pekker, Pyklett, Pekletson, Picklett, and Pyklett.

The surnames and variants of Pickle can be found in many countries, including the United States, England, Scotland, Germany, Ireland, and other European countries. It is believed that those with the Pickle surname are descended from a common ancestor.

Famous people with the name Pickle

• Rick Pickle: known early in his career for his role in the film 'Cheaper by the Dozen' and more recently for his role in the BBC show, 'Hacker Time'.
• Fred Pickles: an English actor who has appeared in many films and television shows, such as 'Brideshead Revisited', 'Taggart' and 'Agatha Christie Poirot'.
• Jerry Pickles: a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and producer who has worked with artists such as Mariah Carey, Backstreet Boys, Celine Dion, and Aerosmith.
• Emma Pickles: a British comedian and actress who has featured in several British comedy shows such as 'The IT Crowd', 'The Armstrong & Miller Show' and 'Little Britain'.
• Joe Pickle: a visual effects supervisor renowned for his work on 'Twilight', 'The Hunger Games', 'Avatar', and 'Jurassic World'.
• Graham Pickles: an English theatre actor who starred as the lead in productions such as 'Romeo & Juliet', 'The Wars of the Roses' and 'Twelfth Night'.
• William Pickles: a musician and composer who has scored for a number of theatre, television and film productions, including the BBC's adaptation of 'The Snow Queen'.
• Dora Pickles: an American singer-songwriter and musician who has toured with the popular band, 'The Decemberists'.
• Amy Pickles: a British actress, singer and dancer who has appeared in several musicals, films and television shows, including 'Cabaret', 'High Society' and 'Mamma Mia!'
• Mark Pickles: a Canadian sprinter who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics and was also an Ontario provincial record holder.

Other surnames

PicklPicklerPickles