Surname Parker - Meaning and Origin

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B. Parker

Parker: What does the surname Parker mean?

The last name Parker is an occupational surname of English origin. It was given to people who tended the park, such as the foresters and groundskeepers during the medieval ages. It symbolizes the protection of common land, especially as it relates to hunting and royal forests.

Parkers were the ones given the job of protecting lands, distributing food and resources, and caring for the animals that made their home there. Foresters also guided travelers, so the surname can also be seen as a sign of protection, guidance, and navigation.

The surname Parker has a strong connection to nature, as it was coined from the Middle English word 'parke' which means protected park. It is believed to come from Old French, where 'parc' means game preserve or a walled enclosure for animals.

In addition to the natural world, the name has come to embody characteristics like industriousness, reliability, loyalty, and determination. It is no surprise that the last name Parker has been passed on for centuries and has become one of the most popular surnames in the United States. It was even one of the top 500 most common surnames in England in 2019.

Parker: Where does the name Parker come from?

The last name Parker is a popular surname throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. In the United States, Parker is the 48th most common surname. It is particularly prevalent in southern states like Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee.

In the United Kingdom, Parker is the 37th most common surname. It is particularly common in London and the South East. In Australia, Parker is the 49th most common surname, and is particularly common in New South Wales.

Parker is an Anglo-Saxon name, meaning "player of the harp". It was likely first introduced to Britain by the Normans, but the name has had many variants over the centuries, including Parkin and Parke.

In the United States, Parker was originally most commonly found in colonial settlements in the South and Midwest. Over time, it has spread across the country, and is now fairly evenly represented in all fifty states.

Today, Parker is a fairly common last name found in many different countries around the world. It is particularly popular in the US, UK, and Australia, where it is the 48th, 37th, and 49th most common surname, respectively.

Variations of the surname Parker

The surname Parker is derived from the same origin and can take many different forms. Variations include Parkar, Parkers, Parkur and Parkour. Spellings can also differ, including Packer, Pakar, Pakor, Parkur, Parkar, Parkor and Parkour.

The frequency of the surname Parker is high in the United States and has been popular since the earliest records were established. This is likely due to the English origin of the name, as well as its common use among various branches of the military. In recent years, the spelling Parkour has become more popular in various youth subcultures, as its physical activity of the same name has increased in popularity.

In addition, surname variants of Parker include Parkes, Parkey, Parke, Parkere and Parkers, with Parke being among the more common variations. Parkes is the Irish form of the name Parker, while Parkeys is often used as an Americanized version of Parke, and Parkers is simply an extended form of Parker. Most of the variants are also used as surnames, with some such as Parke being more common in the United States than in the United Kingdom. Additionally, Parkers is used as a given name in some branches of the family.

Finally, there are also quite a few other surnames that developed from the surname of Parker. These include Parkington, Parkinson, Parkyn, Parkert, Palkens and Parkins, among many others. These surnames all derived from the same origin and share a set of connotations and historical meaning.

Famous people with the name Parker

• Sarah Jessica Parker: best known for her role in the HBO series Sex and the City.
• Alice Parker: a composer and arranger who works in jazz and classical music.
• Amy Parker: Canadian journalist and television personality.
• Fess Parker: American actor known for playing Davy Crockett in the Walt Disney Television Shows.
• David Parker Ray: an American serial killer also known as the Toy-Box Killer.
• Jason Parker: an American singer-songwriter who has released several albums in the Christian music genre.
• Robert Parker Jr.: an American wine critic and writer.
• Hilary Parker: an American businesswoman from Michigan and former Miss USA titleholder.
• Rachael Parker: a police records technician who was killed in the Las Vegas shooting in 2017.
• Louise Parker: a British actress, best known for her roles in the Carry On films.
• Mary-Louise Parker: an American actress, known for her awards-winning role in the TV series Weeds.
• Bonnie Parker: one half of the notorious criminal couple, Bonnie and Clyde.
• Florence Parker: among the first women elected to office in the United States, she served in the Maine State Legislature.
• Suzy Parker: an American actress and model, who was one of the first supermodels.
• Malcolm X Parker: a law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and former Associate Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.

Other surnames

ParkeParkersonParkesParkeson