Surname Pickral - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Pickral: What does the surname Pickral mean?
The last name Pickral is of English origin and is an habitational name derived from the place-name Peak’s Rill in Lancashire, England. The surname first appeared in the mid-13th century as Picardrill and was due to the people who lived at the Rill, meaning a rivulet or stream.
The spelling of the name is thought to have changed over time with various spellings including Packerell, Packrell, Peckerell, Percil, Prickle, Pickerell, Pecrille, Pickrell and Picral being recorded.
The Pickral surname is chiefly associated with Lancashire, specifically Lonsdale Hundred in the northwest of the county. However, the name was also established in the eastern and midland counties, particularly in Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.
The Pickrals are thought to be direct descendants of King Edward I or the Plantagenet family and may have been part of the Riseborough or Collar family from Kent.
The Pickral surname is an interesting example of how a straightforward place-name became an established family name. It is a testament to the family's connection with the land and its ability to maintain a strong identity across multiple generations.
Order DNA origin analysisPickral: Where does the name Pickral come from?
The last name Pickral can be found today throughout the United States and Canada. It is more commonly found in the southeastern part of the United States, particularly in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and North Carolina. However, the Pickral name is also scattered throughout other states and provinces in both the U.S. and Canada.
The name appears to have derived from Germany and is a modified spelling of the German name Pickel. This surname is thought to have originated in the 14th century in Saxony, Germany. The current spelling first appears in North Carolina's early records during the time of European immigration.
Tracing the family history through records, it is seen that Pickrals frequently married into other longstanding southern families. This has resulted in a wide dispersal of the Pickral name throughout the south, with records in many different states.
Pickral is not a very common name, and is usually found in rural areas; which is likely why it has stayed geographically localized. Even in these few areas where it is found, it is not generally a common surname. So, despite its appearance in a few court and census records, it is not a name that is frequently seen.
Variations of the surname Pickral
The surname Pickral is often spelled as Pickrell, Pickeral, Pickerel, Pickeralle, Pickrel, Pickerill, Pickeraly, and Pickarle. This surname is derived from the Old Norse given name Pigulf, which means “pig wolf”. This Old Norse given name is found in various spellings in Old English, Old High German and Middle Dutch, which further influences its various spellings.
The surname Pickral is believed to be of North Germanic origin, and is also commonly found in the northern part of England, Scotland, and Ireland. In some variations of the spelling, such as Pikerill, the name could possibly have been contracted from the Welsh Putrell. This Welsh name is derived from Welsh words meaning “son of a small cauldron” or “son of a potter”.
The surname Pickral has hung on since the 1200s when it appeared first as Pigulf. It was documented in London and the West Midlands around 1300. It has also been recorded in Scotland in 1626 and in Ireland in 1815. Records have also been located in America and Canada, which suggests the spelling variations of the surname may have been adopted by individuals moving to other countries.
Due to its long history and many spellings, the surname Pickral is easily found in many countries throughout Europe, America, Canada, and other parts of the world. It is also officially recognized by the College of Arms (the English heraldic authority) as an official surname.
Famous people with the name Pickral
- Andy Pickral: professional basketball player
- Barbara Pickral: singer and songwriter
- Brett Pickral: actor on “The Big Bang Theory”
- Charles Pickral: former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Dan Pickral: meteorologist and TV personality
- Jeffery Pickral: country music singer
- Jimmy Pickral: former NFL wide receiver
- Kenny Pickral: professional snowboarder
- Kerry Pickral: Grammy Award-winning producer and multi-instrumentalist
- Max Pickral: professional golfer
- Neal Pickral: Professional rodeo competitor
- Rhonda Pickral: cancer research advocate