Pike is a

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

origin. In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, Pike is the 1138th most common surname (based on the 1990 census). In

England and Wales England and Wales () is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. The substantive law of the jurisdiction is Eng ...

, it is the 513th most common surname (based on a Sept 2002 database of the Office for National Statistics). In

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...

, Pike is especially common, ranking 22nd among all surnames there (based on the 1955 voters list, as reported by

E.R. Seary Edgar Ronald Seary (1908, in Sheffield, England – 1984) was an educator and writer of two influential and important books regarding the history of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Seary, son of Henry and Edith (Brunt) Seary was educated ...

in "Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland"). At the time of the British Census of 1881, its relative frequency was highest in

Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated Wilts) is a historic and ceremonial county in South West England with an area of . It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset to the southwest, Somerset to the west, Hampshire to the southeast, Gloucestershire ...

(7.3 times the British average), followed by

Dorset Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset (unitary authority), Dors ...

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...

Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...

Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire (; abbreviated Notts.) is a landlocked county in the East Midlands region of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west. The traditi ...

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean. The county town is the city of Gl ...

the Channel Islands The Channel Islands ( nrf, Îles d'la Manche; french: îles Anglo-Normandes or ''îles de la Manche'') are an archipelago in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two Crown Dependencies: the Bailiwick of Jersey, ...

and

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

. Retrieved 20 January 2014 The surname has many variations such as Pikes, Pykes, McPike, Picke, Pique along with Speight.

Derivation

The origins of the name are not entirely clear. Individuals may have adopted the surname based on physical attributes resembling Pike (the fish), an association with Pike (the weapon), or a

turnpike Turnpike often refers to: * A type of gate, another word for a turnstile * In the United States, a toll road Turnpike may also refer to: Roads United Kingdom * A turnpike road, a principal road maintained by a turnpike trust, a body with powers ...

(one of the early meanings of which was a turning pike, a horizontal timber that was mounted so as to be able to spin or turn (such turnpikes apparently served as barriers to prevent horses from accessing footpaths, and in other instances to block passage until a toll had been paid). It has also been speculated that the name Pike might be derived in some instances from the word "peak", such as when somebody resided at the peak of a hill (note, for instance, the usage of the word "pike" in the name of

Scafell Pike Scafell Pike () is the highest and the most prominent mountain in England, at an elevation of above sea level. It is located in the Lake District National Park, in Cumbria, and is part of the Southern Fells and the Scafell massif. Scafell Pi ...

, England's highest mountain).

Notable people with the surname

Albert Pike Albert Pike (December 29, 1809April 2, 1891) was an American author, poet, orator, editor, lawyer, jurist and Confederate general who served as an associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court in exile from 1864 to 1865. He had previously se ...

(1809–1891), American attorney, soldier, writer, and Confederate general * Alfred Pike (1917–2009), Canadian professional ice hockey player *

Austin F. Pike Austin Franklin Pike (October 16, 1819October 8, 1886) was a United States representative and Senator from New Hampshire. Born in Hebron, New Hampshire, he pursued an academic course, studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Merrimack Count ...

(1819–1886), United States senator * Bob Pike (surfer) (1940–1999), Australian surfer *

Bronwyn Pike Bronwyn Jane Pike (born 25 January 1956) is a former Australian politician. She was Minister for Education in Victoria in the Brumby Government, and was the Member of Parliament for Melbourne from 1999 to 2012. Early life Prior to enterin ...

(born 1956), Australian politician *

Burton Pike Burton Pike (June 12, 1930 - December 22, 2022)''Contemporary Authors Online'' (accessed March 26, 2016). was a translator of Robert Musil, as well as a distinguished professor emeritus of comparative literature and Germanic languages and literatur ...

(1930–2022), professor of Comparative Literature * Chris Pike (born 1961), Welsh footballer *

Chris Pike (American football) Christopher Holtz Pike (born January 13, 1964) is a former American football defensive tackle who played for three seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for North Carolina and Tulsa. He was drafted by the Phila ...

(born 1964), American football player *

Christa Pike Christa Gail Pike (born March 10, 1976) is an American convicted murderer, and the youngest woman to be sentenced to death in the United States during the post- Furman period. She was 20 when convicted of the torture murder of her classmate Colle ...

(born 1976), American murderer and the youngest woman to be sentenced to death in the USA during the post-Furman period *

Christopher Pike (author) Kevin Christopher McFadden (born November 12, 1955), known by his pen name Christopher Pike, is an American author. He is a bestselling author of young adult and children's fiction. Known for mystery-thrillers and supernatural horror aimed a ...

, pseudonym of Kevin McFadden (born 1954), American writer *

Dave Pike David Samuel Pike (March 23, 1938 – October 3, 2015) was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. He appeared on many albums by Nick Brignola, Paul Bley and Kenny Clarke, Bill Evans, and Herbie Mann. He also recorded extensively as lea ...

(1938–2015), American jazz musician *

Frank Pike (soccer) Frank Pike (26 March 1930 – 1 June 2010) was a Canadian soccer player and coach. Career Frank Pike was born in Plymouth, England, and played in midfield as an amateur for hometown club Plymouth Argyle F.C Coaching career Pike, as a Canadian ...

(1930-2010), Canadian soccer player *

Geoff Pike Geoffrey Alan Pike (born 28 September 1956) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. He spent the majority of his career at West Ham United. Pike played his early football in Thurrock and later with Gidea Park Rangers. He j ...

(born 1958), English footballer *

Geoffry Morgan Pike Geoffry Morgan Pike (who wrote as Geoff Pike and Pai Kit Fai) was an English-born, naturalized Australian writer and cartoonist. Early years Geoffry Morgan Pike was born in Tottenham, Middlesex on 17 October 1929, to parents Mildred and Robe ...

(1929–2018), Author and Cartoonist *

Henry Pike Henry Jon Pike (born 16 October 1987) is an Australian politician who is a member of the House of Representatives representing the Division of Bowman, Queensland, for the Liberal National Party of Queensland from 2022. He sits with the Liberal ...

(born 1987), Australian politician * Israel Pike (1853–1925), American baseball player *

James Pike James Albert Pike (February 14, 1913–) was an American Episcopal Church (United States), Episcopal bishop, accused heretic, iconoclast, prolific writer, and one of the first mainline, charismatic religious figures to appear regularly on televi ...

(1913–1969), American Episcopal bishop, Diocese of California *

James Pike (politician) James Pike (November 10, 1818 – July 26, 1895) was a U.S. Representative from New Hampshire and served with the Union Army during the American Civil War. Biography Born in Salisbury, Massachusetts, Pike pursued classical studies, then studied ...

(1818–1895), American congressman *

James Shepherd Pike James Shepherd Pike (September 8, 1811 – November 29, 1882) was an American journalist and a historian of South Carolina during the Reconstruction Era. Biography Pike was born in Calais, Maine, and was a journalist in the United States duri ...

(1811–1882), journalist criticized for distorting Reconstruction era in South Carolina *

Jennifer Pike Jennifer Elizabeth Pike (born 9 November 1989) is a British violinist. Early years and education Pike began playing the violin at the age of five, and after auditioning at the age of eight she gained a place at Chetham's School of Music in Ma ...

(born 1989), British violinist * Jenny Pike (1922–2004), Canadian photographer and Navy servicewoman * Jill Pike (born 1980), American radio personality * Jim Pike, American singer *

John Pike (settler) John Pike (1613–1688/89) was a founder of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey and a judge and politician of the early colony of New Jersey. Early life and education Pike was born in Wiltshire, England. He came to the Massachusetts Bay Colony ...

(1613–1688/1689), settler in Newbury, Massachusetts *

Jonathan Pike Jonathan Pike (born 1949 in Leatherhead, Surrey) is an English painter. An architectural painter, primarily a watercolourist, he also paints in oils. He specializes in views of Venice, Cuba, Rome, and Florence as well as London and Dublin. ...

(born 1949), British architectural painter *

Kenneth L. Pike Kenneth Lee Pike (June 9, 1912 – December 31, 2000) was an American linguist and anthropologist. He was the originator of the theory of tagmemics, the coiner of the terms "emic" and "etic" and the developer of the constructed language ...

(1912–2000), American linguist and anthropologist *

Lip Pike Lipman Emanuel "Lip" Pike (May 25, 1845 – October 10, 1893) the "Iron Batter", was an American who was one of the stars of 19th-century baseball in the United States. His brother, Israel Pike, played briefly for the Hartford Dark Blues during ...

(1845–1893), American star of 19th century baseball, 4x home run champion * Liz Pike (Born 1960), American politician, Republican, in Washington state * Maria Louisa Pike (died 1892), American naturalist * Martin Pike (athlete) (1920–1997), British sprinter * Martin Pike (English footballer) (born 1964), English footballer *

Martin Pike (Australian footballer) Martin Pike (born 14 November 1972) is a former professional Australian rules footballer, who played in four Australian Football League (AFL) premiership sides. A tough, versatile wingman, Pike has been described as a "natural player" of the ...

(born 1972), Australian rules footballer *

Matt Pike Matt may refer to: *Matt (name), people with the given name ''Matt'' or Matthew, meaning "gift from God", or the surname Matt *In British English, of a surface: having a non-glossy finish, see gloss (material appearance) *Matt, Switzerland, a mu ...

(Born 1972) American Guitarist and Vocalist *

Mervyn Pike Irene Mervyn Parnicott Pike, Baroness Pike, (16 September 1918 – 11 January 2004) was a British Conservative politician. The name by which she came to be known, Mervyn, had been the name of her father's best friend, who was to have been her ...

(1918–2004), British politician *

Natalie Pike Natalie Pike (born 4 April 1983 in Edinburgh, Scotland, raised in Berwick-on-Tweed and Stockport in England) is a British model and broadcaster, currently working as a presenter for Manchester City FC and BBC Radio Manchester. Early life ...

(born 1983), English model, winner of the Miss British Isles Competition in 2004 * Nicolas Pike (1818–1905), American consul and a naturalist * Olive Pike, the married name of

Olive Snell Olive Constance Snell (3 April 1888''1939 England and Wales Register'' – 23 May 1962)''England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1995'' was an English artist, known for her portraiture. Snell was ...

(circa 1888–1962), painter * Oliver Pike (cricketer) (born 1998), Welsh cricketer *

Oliver G. Pike Oliver Gregory Pike, Zoological Society of London, FZS, FRPS. (usually credited as Oliver G. Pike; 1 October 1877 – 17 October 1963) was a British naturalist, wildlife photographer, author and early nature documentary pioneer, specialisin ...

(1877–1963), wildlife photographer and film maker *

Otis G. Pike Otis Grey Pike (August 31, 1921 – January 20, 2014) was an American lawyer and politician who served nine terms as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York from 1961 to 1979. Early life Pike was born in ...

(1921–2014), United States Democratic politician *

Patrice Pike Patrice Pike (born August 4, 1970) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Sita KC Patrice grew up in Dallas, Texas, playing ukulele and violin. When she was 15, she began attending the Booker T. Washington High School for the Perfor ...

(born 1970), American musician * Peter Pike (disambiguation) *

Randy Pike Randall W. "Randy" Pike (September 30, 1953 – September 20, 2014) was an American politician. Born in Butler, Missouri, Pike graduated from Butler High School in 1972 and then went to Central Missouri State University. Pike was a Taxidermy ...

(1953-2014), American politician *

Rob Pike Robert "Rob" Pike (born 1956) is a Canadian programmer and author. He is best known for his work on the Go programming language and at Bell Labs, where he was a member of the Unix team and was involved in the creation of the Plan 9 from Bell La ...

(born 1956), Canadian software engineer, worked at Bell Labs as a member of the Unix team, now works for Google *

Robert Pike (settler) Robert Pike (16161706) was an opponent of the Salem witchcraft prosecutions of 1692. He was also involved in two other notable, public controversies prior to 1692. The first was his open criticism of the persecution of the Quakers, for which ...

(1616–1706), settler in Newbury, Massachusetts *

Rosamund Pike Rosamund Mary Ellen Pike (born 1979) is a British actress. She began her acting career by appearing in stage productions such as ''Romeo and Juliet'' and ''Gas Light''. After her screen debut in the television film ''A Rather English Marriage'' ...

(born 1979), British actress * Samuel Pike (c. 1717 – 1773), English minister *

Theodore Pike Sir Theodore Ouseley Pike KCMG (2 August 1904 – 27 December 1987) was an Irish colonial administrator and a rugby union international. Early life Pike was born in Thurles in County Tipperary in 1904. In 1904, Ireland was a part of the Unit ...

(1904–1987), Irish colonial administrator and international rugby union player *

Thomas Pike Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Thomas Geoffrey Pike, (29 June 1906 – 1 June 1983) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. He served in the Second World War as a night fighter squadron commander and then as a station commander. He was ...

(1906–1983), marshal of the Royal Air Force * Victor Pike (1907–1986), Bishop of Sherborne and international rugby union player * William Pike (−1591), Catholic martyr *

Zebulon Pike Zebulon Montgomery Pike (January 5, 1779 – April 27, 1813) was an American brigadier general and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado was named. As a U.S. Army officer he led two expeditions under authority of President Thomas Jefferson th ...

(1779–1813), American soldier and explorer for whom Pikes Peak is named

Fictional characters

Pike (Buffyverse character) This article lists the major and recurring fictional characters created by Joss Whedon for the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. For detailed descriptions, see individual character pages. Cast Main cast The following characters we ...

, in the movie version of ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', played by Luke Perry *Pike, in

Wings of Fire (book series) ''Wings of Fire'' is a series of Children's literature, children's High fantasy, epic dragon Fantasy literature, fantasy novels written by author Tui T. Sutherland and published by Scholastic Corporation, Scholastic Inc. Over 14 million copies ...

, one of the Sea Wings who attends Jade Mountain, but is also secretly protecting Princess Anemone who also attends Jade Mountain *Asa Pike, in the

Children of the Red King Charlie Bone is a series of ten children's fantasy, school and adventure novels written by British author Jenny Nimmo, first published by Egmont 2002 to 2010. It is sometimes called "the ''Charlie Bone'' series" after its main character. A ser ...

novels *Charles Pike, a ground skills teacher on The Ark who is elected chancellor of Arkadia, in season 3 of ''

The 100 The 100 may refer to: Arts and entertainment * 100 (DC Comics), fictional organized crime groups appearing in DC Comics * ''The 100'' (novel series), a 2013–2016 science fiction novel series written by Kass Morgan * ''The 100'' (TV series), 20 ...

'' * Christopher Pike (''Star Trek'') *

Ernie Pike ''Ernie Pike'' is a comics series written by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and originally drawn by Hugo Pratt, starring a World War II and Korean War reporter. It was first published in the magazine "'' Hora Cero"'' in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1957 ...

, in Argentinian comics novel, written by Hector German Oesterheld, drawn by Hugo Pratt *

Private Frank Pike Private Frank Pike is a fictional Home Guard private and junior bank clerk, first portrayed by actor Ian Lavender in the BBC television sitcom ''Dad's Army''. He was appointed as the platoon's information officer by Captain Mainwaring in The Ma ...

, naive young bank clerk and Home Guard private in ''Dad's Army'' and ''It Sticks Out Half a Mile'' *Gilbert Pike, husband of legendary Newfoundland colonial settler

Sheila NaGeira Sheila NaGeira, Sheila Mageila, Sheila Na Geira Pike, or Princess Sheila is a legendary 17th-century Irish noblewoman regarded in Carbonear, Newfoundland as an ancestor of the locally prominent Pike family. Legend The family legend first appeared ...

* Joe Pike, Elvis Cole's partner in a series of private-eye novels by Robert Crais * Langdale Pike (character), a minor character in ''The Adventure of the Three Gables'', a Sherlock Holmes story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle *Mallory Pike, a member of

The Baby-Sitters Club ''The Baby-Sitters Club'' (also known as BSC) is a series of novels written by Ann M. Martin and published by Scholastic between 1986 and 2000, that sold 176 million copies. Martin wrote the first 35 novels in the series, but the subsequent nove ...

in the eponymous series *Pike Trickfoot, a gnome cleric portrayed by Ashley Johnson on the web series

Critical Role ''Critical Role'' is an American web series in which a group of professional voice actors play ''Dungeons & Dragons''. The show started streaming partway through the cast's first campaign in March 2015. Campaign one ended in October 2017 after ...

. *Harrison Pike, a character in the 2007 Medal of Honor Vanguard game

References

{{surname, Pike English-language surnames