Explore the Family Name Parker
The meaning of Parker
1. English: occupational name from Middle English parker ‘park-keeper’ (Old French parquier, parchier), an officer employed to look after deer and other game in a hunting park (see Park 1). This surname is also very common among African Americans. It has also been recorded since medieval times in Ireland. 2. Americanized form of French Paquet 2 or 3. 3. Americanized form of one or more similar (like-sounding) Jewish names.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Parker in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Parker" experienced a slight decline in rank between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, "Parker" was the 51st most popular surname, but it fell to the 56th position by 2010, marking a decrease of 9.8%. However, the total count of individuals with this surname increased from 324,246 in 2000 to 336,221 in 2010, a growth rate of approximately 3.69%. Despite this increase in absolute numbers, the proportion of the surname per 100,000 people saw a reduction of 5.17%, from 120.2 in 2000 to 113.98 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #51 | #56 | -9.8% |
| Count | 324,246 | 336,221 | 3.69% |
| Proportion per 100k | 120.2 | 113.98 | -5.17% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Parker
The ethnic identity associated with the surname "Parker" also underwent shifts during this time period, as shown by the Decennial U.S. Census data. The percentage of Parkers identifying as White declined from 71.49% in 2000 to 69.17% in 2010, while those identifying as Black increased slightly, from 24.09% to 24.79%. The proportion of Parkers identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander rose by 22.73%, albeit from a relatively small base of 0.44% to 0.54%. There was significant growth in the percentage of Parkers identifying as Hispanic - up from 1.46% in 2000 to 2.26% in 2010, an increase of 54.79%. Similarly, those identifying as two or more races rose from 1.67% to 2.35%, indicating a rise of 40.72%. The proportion of Parkers identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native also saw a minor increase from 0.85% to 0.88%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 71.49% | 69.17% | -3.25% |
| Black | 24.09% | 24.79% | 2.91% |
| Two or More Races | 1.67% | 2.35% | 40.72% |
| Hispanic | 1.46% | 2.26% | 54.79% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.85% | 0.88% | 3.53% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.44% | 0.54% | 22.73% |
Parker ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Parker is British & Irish, which comprises 54.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (20.7%) and Eastern European (3.6%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Nigerian, Italian, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Spanish & Portuguese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 54.1% |
| French & German | 20.7% |
| Eastern European | 3.6% |
| Other | 21.6% |
Possible origins of the surname Parker
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Parker have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 84.20% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 84.00% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 83.90% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 83.80% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 83.70% |
What Parker haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Parker is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L477 and R-S3933, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Brown, Smith, Wilson, Hill, Clark, Miller, Young, White, Green, Wright.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Parker surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Parker have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Parker" Surname 41.8%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Parker" Surname 25.7%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Parker" Surname 23.2%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Parker" Surname 19.2%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Parker?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Parker are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition