UK surname
A French occupational surname for a father and son who worked together, or for a peer or equal.
In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Pair surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11, ranked #37,501, down from #32,416 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Charlton-near-Dover, Reay and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pair is 109 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.2%.
1881 census count
9
Ranked #32,416
Modern count
11
2016, ranked #37,501
Peak year
1861
109 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pair surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pair surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 49 | #24,448 |
| 1861 | historical | 109 | #19,693 |
| 1881 | historical | 9 | #32,416 |
| 1891 | historical | 45 | #30,747 |
| 1901 | historical | 39 | #29,799 |
| 1911 | historical | 18 | #31,542 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 11 | #37,501 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Charlton-near-Dover, Reay, St Pancras, Brading and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlton-near-Dover | Kent |
| 2 | Reay | Caithness |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Brading | Hampshire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pair surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pair, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Pair surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pair household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Pair is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pair is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pair, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname PAIR is of French origin and is believed to have emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "per," meaning "equal" or "peer." The name likely referred to someone who was considered an equal or a peer in a social or professional context.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Rolls of Parliament from the year 1305, which mentions a certain "William le Peer." This spelling variation reflects the transition from the Old French to the Middle English pronunciation of the name.
Another early reference to the name is in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records from the reign of King Edward I. These rolls contain the name "Robert le Peyr," using a slightly different spelling.
The Domesday Book, the famous survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname PAIR. However, it does mention several individuals with the first name "Pair" or "Paire," which may have been the precursor to the later adoption of the surname.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname PAIR is Richard Pair, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, around 1450. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of Parliament in the late 15th century.
Another notable figure was John Pair, a merchant and philanthropist born in London in 1575. He made significant contributions to the city's infrastructure and founded several charitable institutions during his lifetime.
In the 17th century, there was a family of Pairs who were influential in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Thomas Pair (1612-1683) was a wealthy landowner and served as the Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon in 1661.
The surname PAIR also has connections to various place names in England, such as Paire's Green in Surrey and Paire's Hill in Sussex. These place names likely derived from individuals or families with the surname PAIR who had settled or owned land in those areas.
One of the most notable individuals with the surname PAIR was Sir James Pair (1701-1784), an accomplished military officer who served in the British Army during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He was knighted for his service and is remembered for his pivotal role in several key battles.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pair surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 4 Pairs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.85x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 4 | 3.85x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 3.45x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 12.32x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 5.57x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Yorkshire leads with 2 Pairs recorded in 1881 and an index of 833.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Newington | 2 | 833.33x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 56.82x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 1 | 65.79x |
| Gorton | 1 | 102.04x |
| North Meols | 1 | 98.04x |
| South Hayling | 1 | 3333.33x |
| York St Maurice | 1 | 625.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pair surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pair surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Pair households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Coachman (Dom) | 1 |
| Cook (Dom) | 1 |
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Copper Smith | 1 |
| Genl Labourer | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Sick Nurse | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Pair surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 11 in 2016. That gives Pair a modern rank of #37,501.
A French occupational surname for a father and son who worked together, or for a peer or equal.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pair bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.