Pinkerton

Pinkerton is a surname of Scottish origin that can be traced back to ancient times. The name is believed to derive from the Old English words "pink," meaning point or extremity, and "tun," meaning settlement or town. It likely referred to someone who lived near a hilltop or a prominent point in a town.

The Pinkerton surname has been documented in various regions of Scotland, particularly in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. The name became more widely known in the 19th century, due to the fame of Allan Pinkerton, a Scottish-American detective and founder of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency.

Members of the Pinkerton family have been involved in a range of occupations over the centuries, including farming, law enforcement, and private investigation. The surname is found in historical records, family trees, and contemporary society, with Pinkertons residing in various parts of the United Kingdom and beyond.

Today, the Pinkerton surname continues to be part of the rich tapestry of British surnames, carrying with it a sense of history and heritage.

There are approximately 1,083 people named Pinkerton in the UK. That makes it roughly the 6,935th most common surname in Britain. Around 17 in a million people in Britain are named Pinkerton.

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Alan
  • Andrew
  • David
  • James
  • John
  • Michael
  • Robert
  • Stephen
  • Stuart
  • Thomas
  • William

Female

  • Alison
  • Amanda
  • Ann
  • Elizabeth
  • Emma
  • Gillian
  • Jane
  • Jean
  • Karen
  • Margaret
  • Mary
  • Sarah
  • Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

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