Tucker is an occupational surname originally derived from the Old English word 'tucian' meaning 'to full cloth', referring to a fuller of cloth, someone who thickened and hardened woolen cloth by beating and moistening it. As a surname, Tucker emerged in the 13th century and was initially used in the counties of Devon, Somerset, and Dorset in England. The name Tucker spread throughout the British Isles, and there is also an Irish version derived from the Gaelic word 'tuar', meaning 'a ghost or specter,' commonly found in the Ulster province of Ireland. Over time, the name has become a popular last name in the English-speaking world, particularly in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia.