Surname Pick - Meaning and Origin
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Pick: What does the surname Pick mean?
The surname Pick is believed to have both Germanic and English origins. In terms of its Germanic aspect, it comes from the word "pic", meaning “pointed”, and could have been used to refer to someone who used a pick or pickaxe as an occupational name. Alternatively, it could be a short form of the personal name "Picken", meaning to peck or nibble, which indirectly implies a sense of inquisitiveness or persistence.
In England, the surname is typically associated with the northern counties where it is thought to derive from an Old English pre 7th century word "pic" or "pyc" meaning a "pick", "pickaxe" or similar tool. It was possibly used as a metonymic occupational surname for someone who used a pick or for someone who lived near a notable pick, pickaxe or some similar feature in the landscape.
As with most surnames, the exact origins and meanings can vary greatly due to geographic distribution and regional influences over time.
Order DNA origin analysisPick: Where does the name Pick come from?
Today, the last name Pick is commonly found in countries and regions throughout the world. In Europe, it can be found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Additionally, the last name Pick is present in other parts of the globe, such as in the United States, Canada, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand. The presence of the last name Pick is also seen in South Africa and various parts of Asia, such as India, China, Shengen Zone, and Japan.
The frequency of the last name Pick in different countries and regions varies depending upon the exact location. For instance, the frequency of the last name Pick in the United States and Canada is relatively low, while the frequency of the last name Pick in Israel is much higher. Similarly, the frequency of the last name Pick in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria is quite high due to the fact that those countries have a significant Jewish population, whereas the frequency of the last name Pick in other parts of Europe and the world is generally lower.
Although the exact origin of the last name Pick is unknown, it is believed to be derived from the German word "pick" which means hill. Thus, the last name Pick may have originally referred to someone who lived on a hill or was associated with one.
Overall, the last name Pick is common in many countries and regions around the world, though the exact frequency varies depending on the location.
Variations of the surname Pick
The surname Pick can have various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variants include Pic, Picc, Pique, Pyck, Peak, Peek, Pik, Picker, Pickard, Pickett, Picket, Pickles, Piks, Pikk, Peakman, Piker, Picket, and Pickerill.
Pick could be derived from the German and Dutch word “pick”, which means point or peak, or from the Middle English word “picke”, which means henchman or vassal.
Pick could also be an occupational name derived from the Old English word “pica”, which means to pick or peck, as in “pick berries” or “pick feathers”. Someone with this surname might have been a poultry farmer or a feather broker.
In some places, the name could be derived from the Czech or Polish words “pik” or “pyk”, both of which mean “axe”, indicating a woodsman.
The surname Pick also had prolific use in the British colonial region, particularly in America, where it was anglicized from the Germanic, Dutch, and Czech/Polish variants. It is likely that all these surnames derived from the same name, but developed several distinct spelling variations over time.
Famous people with the name Pick
- Barry Pick, former Secretary of State for Education and former Chairman of the Conservative Party in the UK
- Walter Pick, prominent Austrian neurologist
- Joe Pick, former NBA player
- Raymond Pick, French artist specializing in orientalism
- Herbert Pick, American athlete who won two silver and two bronze medals at the 1924 Summer Olympics
- Robert Pick, Canadian athlete who competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics
- Joshua Pick, Israeli sport shooter
- Eric Pick, English football player and manager
- Alfred Pick, German businessman and founder of the Pick Group
- Michael Pick, German politician and former Minister of Education, Science and Culture