Picard
A French surname meaning “someone from Picardy,” the historic region in northern France.
The #4,491 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 39,092 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Picard began as a regional byname for a person from Picardy, the historic province in northern France. The name ultimately comes from the French place-name Picardie, whose deeper origin is uncertain; one old explanation connects it with French pique, “pike,” plus the suffix -ard. In English records the surname appears as Picard and in related spellings such as Pickard and Pichard.
History
The name spread into England in the Middle Ages, where it was used for people identified as coming from Picardy. Historical English surname books note medieval bearers and also treat Pickard and Pichard as closely related forms. The surname later established itself in Britain and North America, though it remains recognizably French in form.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Some 19th-century writers thought the provincial name Picardy may have something to do with a pike, which gave the surname a vivid but uncertain folk explanation.
From the historical record
“PIATT, v. Pyett. PICARD (Fr.) I Picardian i.e. one from Picardy, Fr. Picardie, a province-name of doubtful origin, but almost certainly f. Fv. pique {pic), a pike (v. Pick'), with the dim. suff. -ard. The Soci6t6 des Antiquaires de Picardy, it appears, considers that Pfcari denoted a pike-man.; and it is surmised…”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)Notable people named Picard
- Jean-Luc Picard (b. 1940)
- Émile Picard (1856–1941)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.