NameCensus.

UK surname

Peachey

Derived from the Old French word "pesche," referring to a peach tree or someone who lived near peach trees.

In the 1881 census there were 1,202 people recorded with the Peachey surname, ranking it #3,358 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,195, ranked #2,957, up from #3,358 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mildenhall, London parishes and Fen Ditton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest Heath, East Cambridgeshire and Uttlesford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peachey is 2,302 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.6%.

1881 census count

1,202

Ranked #3,358

Modern count

2,195

2016, ranked #2,957

Peak year

1999

2,302 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peachey had 1,202 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,358 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,195 in 2016, ranked #2,957.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,158 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Peachey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peachey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peachey 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 860 #3,164
1861 historical 796 #3,455
1881 historical 1,202 #3,358
1891 historical 1,345 #3,238
1901 historical 1,652 #3,122
1911 historical 2,158 #2,327
1997 modern 2,193 #2,831
1998 modern 2,298 #2,814
1999 modern 2,302 #2,823
2000 modern 2,266 #2,848
2001 modern 2,238 #2,819
2002 modern 2,287 #2,826
2003 modern 2,241 #2,817
2004 modern 2,229 #2,838
2005 modern 2,178 #2,860
2006 modern 2,152 #2,888
2007 modern 2,174 #2,883
2008 modern 2,187 #2,895
2009 modern 2,203 #2,946
2010 modern 2,261 #2,935
2011 modern 2,212 #2,961
2012 modern 2,198 #2,916
2013 modern 2,206 #2,955
2014 modern 2,247 #2,924
2015 modern 2,204 #2,946
2016 modern 2,195 #2,957

Geography

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Where Peacheys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mildenhall, London parishes, Fen Ditton and Chedworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest Heath, East Cambridgeshire and Uttlesford. 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 Mildenhall Suffolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 Fen Ditton Cambridgeshire
4 Chedworth Gloucestershire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest Heath 003 Forest Heath
2 East Cambridgeshire 003 East Cambridgeshire
3 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
4 East Cambridgeshire 004 East Cambridgeshire
5 Uttlesford 005 Uttlesford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peachey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peachey

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Peachey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Peachey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Peachey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Peachey is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Peachey falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Peachey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Peachey

The surname Peachey originated in England and has its roots in the Old English word "peche," which means "peach." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone associated with peaches or the cultivation of peach trees.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Peachey can be traced back to the 13th century in various counties of England, such as Hertfordshire, Essex, and Suffolk. The different spellings found in historical records include Peche, Pechy, and Peachie, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

One of the earliest known references to the name Peachey appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, where a John Peche is listed as a taxpayer. This document provides valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of the name during that period.

In the 14th century, the name Peachey gained prominence with the rise of Sir John Peche, a notable English soldier and landowner who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Sir John Peche played a significant role in the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and was later rewarded with substantial land grants.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Peachey was Sir Henry Peachey (c. 1550-1619), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Sandwich in Kent during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was also a prominent figure in the local government of Kent.

During the 17th century, the Peachey family established themselves as influential landowners in Kent. One of the most renowned members of this family was Sir John Peachey (1624-1690), who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1679 and played a crucial role in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Another significant individual with the surname Peachey was John Peachey (1669-1719), a successful merchant and financier in London. He amassed a considerable fortune and was instrumental in the development of the South Sea Company, a prominent trading company in the early 18th century.

Throughout history, the Peachey surname has also been associated with various place names across England, such as Peachey Green in Hertfordshire and Peachey Lane in Kent, further reinforcing the connection between the name and the geographical locations where it was prevalent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peachey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peachey 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 213 Peacheys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.82x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 213 1.82x
Cambridgeshire 208 28.01x
Suffolk 125 8.75x
Essex 108 4.67x
Oxfordshire 101 13.95x
Gloucestershire 77 3.35x
Surrey 68 1.19x
Sussex 61 3.09x
Kent 40 1.00x
Yorkshire 26 0.22x
Lancashire 25 0.18x
Durham 19 0.54x
Worcestershire 18 1.18x
Hampshire 16 0.67x
Herefordshire 14 2.91x
Warwickshire 12 0.41x
Glamorgan 9 0.44x
Hertfordshire 9 1.11x
Berkshire 8 0.91x
Devon 7 0.29x
Lanarkshire 6 0.16x
Norfolk 6 0.33x
Somerset 6 0.32x
Shropshire 4 0.39x
Cheshire 3 0.12x
Northamptonshire 3 0.27x
Lincolnshire 2 0.11x
Monmouthshire 2 0.24x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 0.72x
Rutland 1 1.16x
Wiltshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burwell in Cambridgeshire leads with 55 Peacheys recorded in 1881 and an index of 617.98x.

Place Total Index
Burwell 55 617.98x
Mildenhall 51 335.97x
Islington London 35 3.08x
Lakenheath 30 397.88x
St Pancras London 29 3.07x
Fen Ditton 25 932.84x
Fulbourn 22 309.86x
Soham 20 125.16x
Chedworth 18 543.81x
Churchill 18 886.70x
Alvescot 17 1172.41x
Blockley 17 196.30x
Great Horkesley 17 532.92x
Brighton 15 3.76x
Cirencester 15 48.19x
Hackney London 15 2.28x
Chipping Norton 14 83.63x
Hammersmith London 14 4.85x
Isleham 14 205.28x
Kensington London 13 1.99x
West Bergholt 13 300.93x
Wicken 13 382.35x
Camberwell 11 1.47x
Shotton 11 127.46x
Bridstow 10 364.96x
Fordham 9 187.50x
Newmarket St Mary 9 82.12x
Oystermouth 9 56.96x
Sarsden 9 1428.57x
St George Hanover 9 5.88x
St Luke London 9 4.79x
Stanstead 9 466.32x
Battersea 8 1.85x
Colchester St Giles 8 34.98x
Lambeth 8 0.78x
Manuden 8 276.82x
Newmarket All Sts 8 145.99x
Rainford 8 53.16x
Shipton 8 592.59x
Swaffham Bulbeck 8 267.56x
Woodbridge 8 43.81x
Ashburton 7 59.98x
Bottisham 7 110.58x
Cropredy 7 319.63x
Filkins 7 297.87x
Haswell 7 28.00x
Holy Trinity 7 2.50x
Kingston 7 5000.00x
Kingston On Thames 7 5.10x
Mile End 7 165.48x
Rotherhithe 7 4.83x
Shoreditch London 7 1.38x
St Marylebone London 7 1.12x
Steeple Barton 7 190.22x
Strood 7 30.67x
Weston On Avon 7 1044.78x
Ampney Crucis 6 276.50x
Bishop Stortford 6 22.22x
Chichester St Peter 6 377.36x
Colchester St Nicholas 6 288.46x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 6 18.52x
Fittleworth 6 215.05x
Govan 6 0.64x
Langford 6 389.61x
Margate St John Baptist 6 8.19x
Salford 6 1.47x
Sculcoates 6 3.26x
Sidmonton 6 769.23x
Tendring St Nicolas 6 255.32x
Tottenham 6 3.21x
Witney 6 49.55x
Beccles 5 21.75x
Brimpsfield 5 335.57x
Chelsea London 5 1.42x
Edmonton 5 5.29x
Finchingfield 5 68.97x
Frindsbury 5 33.16x
March 5 20.10x
Southampton St Mary 5 3.31x
Wood Ditton 5 80.52x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Peachey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peachey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,202 people were recorded with the Peachey surname. That placed it at #3,358 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peachey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,195 in 2016. That gives Peachey a modern rank of #2,957.

What does the Peachey surname mean?

Derived from the Old French word "pesche," referring to a peach tree or someone who lived near peach trees.

What does the Peachey map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Peachey 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.