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Origins of the Parker surname

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What does the name Parker mean?

The Parker surname is relatively common, and of English origin (where it is the 48th most prevalent name in the country, and has been found there since the medieval period). Parker is an occupational name and derives from the Old French 'parquier' (a term for a park keeper or gamekeeper), given to those who worked in these fields.

Alternative variations of the name Parker

Parker, Parkers, Perker, Parkar, Parcher

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Where do most Parkers live?

In 1921, most Parkers lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Parkers

How common is your surname?

42nd most common surname in the UK

We have 600,000 records for the Parker surname. The oldest one dates back to 1220.

Who were Parkers most likely to marry?

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Parkers.

What are the most common Parker first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Parker family members

Common jobs for Parkers

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Parkers in 1921
Dressmaker

2,554

Laundress

1,601

Cotton Weaver

1,457

Domestic Servant

1,385

General Servant Domestic

1,341

Common Male occupations for Parkers in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

2,769

Coal Miner

2,322

General Labourer

2,139

Farmer

1,788

Farm Labourer

1,681

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We found over 700,000 family trees with the Parker surname

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