Surname Picket - Meaning and Origin

Picket: What does the surname Picket mean?

The surname Picket is of French origin, coming from the Old French word 'picois,' which refers to someone who used a pick or pickaxe, likely a miner or a quarry worker. Therefore, the surname most likely originally referred to someone's occupation. Alternatively, it may have originated from the Middle English word “piket," which means "pointed stake," referring to someone who lived by a pointed hill or a peak. In some cases, it may have been a nickname for a tall, thin person, similar to a picket or stake. Over time, the spelling of the surname evolved in various directions, leading to different versions such as Picket, Pickett, and Pykett. Regardless of spelling, all these surnames share the same roots and basic meanings.

Picket: Where does the name Picket come from?

The last name Picket is most commonly found in the United States today. By far, the largest concentration of people with this surname can be found in the state of Pennsylvania, where numerous ancestors of German descent bearing the Picket name first settled centuries ago. Subsequent migrations out of Pennsylvania during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries spread the name across the country, and today it can be found in all fifty states. In addition, Picket is also common in Canada and the United Kingdom, primarily in areas where English and Scottish immigrants settled.

In the United States, the last name Picket is particularly prevalent in the Midwest and Northeast, with especially large populations in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. Southern states such as Texas, Georgia, and Virginia are also prime locations for people with the Picket name. Despite its roots in Pennsylvania, in recent years the name has also become increasingly popular in California, Arizona, and parts of the Southwest.

The last name Picket is also popular among people of other ethnicities than German, including African American and Hispanic individuals. Consequently, those of African American or Hispanic descent with the last name Picket are likely to be descendants or relatives of individuals who adopted the name due to marriage or other familial connection to a Picket ancestor.

Overall, the last name Picket is widely distributed throughout the United States today, and its popularity shows no sign of faltering. Equal parts modern and historic, the name is a testament to the journey of our ancestor and the legacy they left behind.

Variations of the surname Picket

The surname Picket has many variants, spellings and associated names. It is a patronymic surname derived from the Anglo-Norman personal name "Picot". In forms where "pick" is used instead of "pic", this may be because of the name's association with the word "pickaxe".

Variants of the surname include Picot, Piccote, Piket, Piggot, Pickett, Pykett, Pickot and Pycott. A few other spellings are Pikitt, Pikitts and Piccoit.

The name is also found in the context of many different names, such as Pickering, Pickron, Picketts and Picksters. This is suggestive of the fact that the surname has been assimilated into different cultures. The Irish form of the name is O’Picode and in Scotland we find the form of Pickard.

In the Netherlands the surname is spelled as Piket or Piket-Lap and in Germany it is Pikkaert. In Sweden the surname is spelled as Piketh or Picket and in Norway we find the form Pickett.

In various places around the globe we also find the different spelling variations of the surname, such as Piquot in France and Picotti in Italy.

The surname Picket is an old and long-lasting name and it has existed in many forms for many centuries. Today, in many parts of the world, a variety of spellings, variants and associated names exist for those with this surname.

Famous people with the name Picket

• Bob Pickett: Former Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Salma Hayek Pinault: Actress, former model, producer, and director.
• Katy Perry: Singer and songwriter.
• Frederick Pickett: Union general during the American Civil War.
• Edgar Allan Poe: American poet, short story writer, editor, and literary critic.
• William Pickett: American actor and singer.
• Fannie Lou Hamer: African-American civil rights activist and leader.
• Diana Pickett: English singer and songwriter.
• Jack Pickett: American football player and coach.
• Alonzo Pickett: American Major League Baseball player.
• Jesse Pickett: American professional basketball player.
• Josh Pickett: American singer, songwriter and musician.
• John Robert Pickett: American college football and baseball coach.
• Charles Pickett: American journalist and longtime commentator on the political scene.
• Amber Pickett: Singer-songwriter, actress and dancer.
• Fortas Pickett: American character actor and film director.
• Forrest Pickett: American classical music composer and arranger.
• Harry Pickett: British-born, African American civil rights activist, journalist and author.
• Stephen Pickett: Film and television composer.
• Pete Pickett: Former defensive back in the NFL.

Other surnames

PickelPickelhauptPickelheimerPickelinPickellPickelsPickenPickensPickeralPickerdPickerelPickerillPickeringPickett