NameCensus.

UK surname

Peabody

An English locational surname derived from a place meaning "Pēot's dwelling," referring to someone who lived there.

In the 1881 census there were 256 people recorded with the Peabody surname, ranking it #10,885 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 271, ranked #15,874, down from #10,885 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Heston, Hayes and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Coventry, Oadby and Wigston and Walsall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peabody is 330 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.9%.

1881 census count

256

Ranked #10,885

Modern count

271

2016, ranked #15,874

Peak year

1911

330 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peabody had 256 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,885 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 271 in 2016, ranked #15,874.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 330 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Peabody surname distribution map

The map shows where the Peabody surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Peabody surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peabody over time

The 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1881 historical 256 #10,885
1891 historical 280 #11,665
1901 historical 323 #11,065
1911 historical 330 #10,669
1997 modern 299 #13,563
1998 modern 319 #13,330
1999 modern 305 #13,808
2000 modern 295 #14,070
2001 modern 287 #14,131
2002 modern 289 #14,341
2003 modern 281 #14,443
2004 modern 286 #14,312
2005 modern 276 #14,579
2006 modern 271 #14,880
2007 modern 266 #15,261
2008 modern 260 #15,648
2009 modern 262 #15,888
2010 modern 270 #15,896
2011 modern 271 #15,708
2012 modern 262 #16,001
2013 modern 266 #16,098
2014 modern 276 #15,788
2015 modern 271 #15,881
2016 modern 271 #15,874

Geography

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Where Peabodys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Heston, Hayes, London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Staveley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Coventry, Oadby and Wigston, Walsall, Newark and Sherwood and Chesterfield. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Heston Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Hayes Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Staveley Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Coventry 035 Coventry
2 Oadby and Wigston 003 Oadby and Wigston
3 Walsall 015 Walsall
4 Newark and Sherwood 001 Newark and Sherwood
5 Chesterfield 007 Chesterfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peabody

These lists show first names that appear often with the Peabody surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peabody

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Peabody, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Peabody surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Peabody household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Peabody is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Peabody is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Peabody falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Peabody is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Peabody, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Peabody

The surname Peabody has its origins in England, tracing back to the late medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Peabody, which is believed to come from the Old English words "pea" and "bodhi," meaning a dwelling by a pea patch or field.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1221, where a person named William de Peabody is mentioned. The presence of the "de" prefix indicates that the name referred to someone from the area known as Peabody at that time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Pebodi, Pebedye, and Pebedee, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that period. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 contain references to individuals named Adam de Pebedye and William de Pebedye, further solidifying the name's roots in that region.

During the 16th century, the name Peabody began to spread beyond its original geographical bounds. One notable individual from this era was John Peabody (c. 1545-1611), an English clergyman who served as the Dean of Ely Cathedral and was known for his theological writings.

The 17th century witnessed the emergence of several notable figures bearing the Peabody name. One such individual was Francis Peabody (1618-1705), a successful merchant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the City of London in the late 1600s.

As the Peabody family continued to prosper, they left their mark on various aspects of society. In the 19th century, George Peabody (1795-1869), an American businessman and philanthropist, became renowned for his significant contributions to education and social welfare. His legacy includes the establishment of the Peabody Trust, which funded housing and schools for the underprivileged in London.

Another prominent figure from the same era was Josephine Preston Peabody (1869-1922), an American poet and dramatist who gained recognition for her works, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning lyric drama "The Piper."

In the field of education, Endicott Peabody (1857-1944), an American educator and philanthropist, made significant contributions as the founder of the prestigious Groton School in Massachusetts and the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, which later became part of Johns Hopkins University.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse accomplishments associated with the surname Peabody, which has endured through the centuries and left an indelible mark across various domains.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peabody families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peabody surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 62 Peabodys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.48x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 62 2.48x
Staffordshire 33 3.91x
Leicestershire 32 11.56x
Northamptonshire 23 9.79x
Surrey 23 1.89x
Warwickshire 18 2.86x
Cheshire 14 2.54x
Derbyshire 14 3.58x
Lancashire 11 0.37x
Bedfordshire 10 7.73x
Gloucestershire 3 0.61x
Yorkshire 3 0.12x
Berkshire 2 1.07x
Glamorgan 2 0.46x
Sussex 2 0.48x
Durham 1 0.13x
Hampshire 1 0.20x
Hertfordshire 1 0.58x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heanor in Derbyshire leads with 14 Peabodys recorded in 1881 and an index of 239.32x.

Place Total Index
Heanor 14 239.32x
Leicester St Margaret 14 20.73x
St Pancras London 13 6.47x
Walsall Foreign 13 29.86x
Norwood 11 192.64x
Northampton Priory St 9 63.88x
Wigston Magna 9 245.23x
Lambeth 8 3.67x
Norton Canes 8 260.59x
St Marylebone London 8 6.00x
Willaston In Nantwich 8 470.59x
Bedford St Mary 7 210.21x
Harborne 7 25.91x
Warwick St Mary 7 127.97x
Battersea 6 6.53x
Camberwell 6 3.76x
Coventry St Michael 6 29.66x
Yelvertoft 6 1395.35x
Leicester St Mary 5 22.35x
Limehouse London 5 18.24x
Hampstead London 4 10.29x
Hillingdon 4 50.25x
Husbands Bosworth 4 563.38x
West Derby 4 4.61x
Burton Extra 3 62.11x
Chelsea London 3 3.99x
Clifton 3 12.12x
Ecclesfield 3 16.54x
Liverpool 3 1.67x
Luton 3 13.40x
Mile End Old Town 3 7.61x
Newton 3 13.13x
Birkenhead 2 4.55x
Braunston 2 217.39x
Clewer 2 26.04x
Ealing 2 8.96x
Hackney London 2 1.43x
Hoole 2 96.15x
Neath 2 22.60x
Northampton All Sts 2 25.09x
Penge 2 12.54x
Rugby 2 23.47x
West Bromwich 2 4.14x
Willesden 2 8.50x
Abbots Langley 1 39.06x
Acton 1 6.83x
Aldershot 1 5.83x
Aston 1 0.58x
Bowdon 1 45.66x
Brandon And Bretford 1 270.27x
Brighton 1 1.18x
Croydon 1 1.48x
Everton 1 1.06x
Hampton London 1 24.39x
Hendon 1 11.14x
Islington London 1 0.41x
Moulton 1 76.34x
Northampton St Giles 1 11.17x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.15x
Oundle 1 38.02x
Seaford 1 69.93x
Seaham 1 36.90x
St George In East 1 5.89x
Stapeley 1 196.08x
Stoneleigh 1 95.24x
Watford 1 250.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Peabody surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 12
Mary 11
Sarah 9
Annie 6
Jane 6
Ann 5
Emma 5
Agnes 4
Alice 4
Catherine 4
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Florence 4
Martha 4
Sophia 4
Charlotte 3
Maria 3
Amelia 2
Edith 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Genet 2
Lucy 2
Ruth 2
Blanch 1
Eliza. 1
Ella 1
Esther 1
Eugene 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jean 1
Kate 1
Kezia 1
Kirza 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1
Miriam 1
Mrs 1
Nelly 1
Rosa 1
Rosalind 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Peabody surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 15
William 15
Thomas 14
Charles 7
Henry 6
Alfred 4
Edward 4
George 4
Harry 4
James 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Humphry 2
Lewis 2
Oliver 2
Samuel 2
Beatrice 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Burton 1
Chas.Arthur 1
David 1
Fredk. 1
Isaac 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Noah 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Sam 1
Sidney 1

FAQ

Peabody surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peabody surname in 1881?

In 1881, 256 people were recorded with the Peabody surname. That placed it at #10,885 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peabody surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 271 in 2016. That gives Peabody a modern rank of #15,874.

What does the Peabody surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place meaning "Pēot's dwelling," referring to someone who lived there.

What does the Peabody map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Peabody bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.