Trickett's Cross, formerly part of the parish of West Parley, is thought to have taken its name from George Trickett ("c". 1834–1905), a nurseryman's labourer, listed at '1 Branch Road' on the 1871 West Parley census. Branch Road was the name of the road branching off towards Wimborne Minster (now known as 'Wimborne Road East'), converging with the main Poole to Ringwood at the point where Trickett set up home. As of 1871, the only other inhabitant of the district was Job Samuel Hames (1841-1909), also a nurseryman, and both men were listed side by side on successive censuses to 1901. It is likely they were employed at the 'Fern Down Nursery', marked just west of their two respective properties on maps from the 1880s.