Pickett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Pickett

What does the name Pickett mean?

The name Pickett was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. Pickett is based on the Old English given name Picot or Pigot. The surname Pickett was originally derived from the Old English word pic, meaning a hill with a sharp point at its top, and would originally have indicated that its bearer lived near such a landmark.

"Picot was a personal name is clear, for Picot, a chief tenant in Hampshire, and Picot de Grentebrig', both occur in Domesday [Book]. It is curious, too, to observe that two families in Cheshire, the Pigots and Pichots, ran side by side for some generations, and Dr. Ormerod long ago surmised that both sprang from one common ancestor - Gilbert Pichot, Lord of Broxton." 1

Another source notes that "the name of Pickett may be a corruption of Pickard, though we must remember that there is an estate of this name in the parish of South Perrott, Dorset." 2

Early Origins of the Pickett family

The surname Pickett was first found in Cheshire and Cambridgeshire where Picot of Cambridge (c.1022-1090), born in Saye, Normandy, was a Norman landowner and rose to become Sheriff of Cambridgeshire (c. 1071-1090.) His son Robert, became implicated in a conspiracy against King Henry I, fled the country and the family estates were forfeit. 3 "Pygot occurs in Leland's supposed copy of the Roll of Battle Abbey." 4

The Lincolnshire Survey listed Picotus de Laceles, temp. 1109 and later the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Picot de Flexbergh, Wiltshire; Elis Pyket, Buckinghamshire; and Walter Pycot, Cambridgeshire. 1

Another reference claims "the family originally came from Cheshire; William Pigott of Butley in the parish of Prestbury in that county, who died in 1376, was grandfather of Richard Pigott of Butley who married the heiress of Peshall." 5

Early History of the Pickett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pickett research. Another 208 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1109, 1210, 1333, 1630, 1640, 1645, 1657, 1686, 1697, 1713, 1716, 1719, 1720, 1734, 1777 and 1796 are included under the topic Early Pickett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pickett Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Pigott, Piggot, Piggett, Piggott, Piggot, Pigot, Picot and many more.

Early Notables of the Pickett family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Pigot (Pigott, Piggott) (1657-1686), an English cleric, academic and Fellow of the Royal Society; George Pigot, 1st Baron Pigot (1719-1777), former...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pickett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pickett Ranking

In the United States, the name Pickett is the 842^nd most popular surname with an estimated 34,818 people with that name. 6 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Pickett is ranked the 367^th most popular surname with an estimated 126 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Pickett family to Ireland

Some of the Pickett family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pickett migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Pickett or a variant listed above:

Pickett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Pickett, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1648 8
Susan Pickett, who landed in Maryland in 1658 8
Elizabeth Pickett, who landed in Virginia in 1658 8
Ell Pickett, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 8
Christopher Pickett, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 8

Pickett Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

J W Pickett, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1860 8
William Pickett, who arrived in Mississippi in 1875 8

Pickett Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Agnes Pickett, aged 33, who landed in America from Sydney, England, in 1907
Arthur H. Pickett, aged 24, who immigrated to America from Turnbridge Wells, England, in 1907
Cecil Pickett, aged 9, who landed in America from Sydney, England, in 1907
Arthur N. Pickett, aged 25, who landed in America from Turnbridge Well, England, in 1908
Annie Bertha Pickett, aged 34, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1911
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pickett migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pickett Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Francis Pickett, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Giles Pickett, aged 41, who arrived in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1774
Mr. Lewis Pickett U.E. born in Stamford, Connecticut, USA who settled in Kings County, New Brunswick c. 1783 passenger aboard the Union Transport 9
Mr. David Pickett U.E., (Picket) born in Stamford, Connecticut, USA who settled in Kings County, New Brunswick c. 1783 passenger aboard the Union Transport, he was a Treasurer and Judge for Court of Common Please, he died in 1826 9
Mr. Peter Pickett U.E. born in Stamford, Connecticut, USA who settled in Kings County, New Brunswick c. 1784 son of David Picket 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pickett migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Pickett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Pickett who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. William Pickett, English convict who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 29th April 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Edward Pickett, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 18th June 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Mr. Thomas Pickett, (b. 1821), aged 14, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 18th June 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1877 12
Mr. George Pickett, (b. 1821), aged 17, English brick maker who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 25th June 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1892 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pickett migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Pickett Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Pickett, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Northfleet" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, Via Wellington and Lyttleton in February 1854 14
Henry Pickett, aged 38, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 15
Ann Pickett, aged 34, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 15
Ellen Pickett, aged 14, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 15
Mary Pickett, aged 16, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Pickett (post 1700) +

Wilson Pickett (1941-2006), American R&B /rock and roll and soul singer and songwriter
George Edward Pickett (1825-1875), United States Army officer who became a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, one of the commanders at Pickett's Charge, a bloody Confederate offensive on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg that bears his name, eponym of Fort Pickett, near the town of Blackstone, Virginia.
Robert George "Bobby" Pickett (1938-2007), American singer, best known for co-writing and performing the 1962 smash hit novelty song "Monster Mash"
Cindy Lou Pickett (b. 1947), American actress, best known for her role as Katie Bueller, Ferris Bueller's loving and unsuspecting mother, in the 1986 American comedy movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off
John Coleman Pickett (1896-1983), American jurist, Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (1966-1983)
Jay Pickett (1961-2021), American actor, known for China Beach, Mr. Belvedere, Dragnet, Jake and The Fatman, Days of Our Lives, Perry Mason, and Matlock
Joseph C. "Joe" Pickett (b. 1956), American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1995 until his resignation in January 2019
LaSalle "Sallie" Corbell Pickett (1843-1931), American author and the wife of Confederate General George Pickett
Willie M. "Bill" Pickett (1870-1932), American cowboy and rodeo performer
Lucy Weston Pickett (1904-1997), American chemist and zoologist
... (Another 25 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Pickett family +

SS Newfoundland

Mr. Jonas Pickett (1893-1914), Newfoundlander from Fair Island, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time

The Pickett Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Tout foys prest
Motto Translation: Always ready.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th April 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Archives New Zealand Micro 5019. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Alfred. Retrieved from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ourstuff/Alfred1864.htm