NameCensus.

UK surname

Peacock

An English occupational surname referring to a keeper or seller of peafowl.

In the 1881 census there were 10,667 people recorded with the Peacock surname, ranking it #401 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14,273, ranked #440, down from #401 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Richmondshire and Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peacock is 15,112 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.8%.

1881 census count

10,667

Ranked #401

Modern count

14,273

2016, ranked #440

Peak year

1999

15,112 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peacock had 10,667 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #401 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 14,273 in 2016, ranked #440.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13,768 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Peacock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peacock surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Peacock 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 7,265 #387
1861 historical 7,738 #361
1881 historical 10,667 #401
1891 historical 11,785 #380
1901 historical 13,578 #385
1911 historical 13,768 #355
1997 modern 14,601 #416
1998 modern 15,056 #418
1999 modern 15,112 #418
2000 modern 15,007 #419
2001 modern 14,666 #419
2002 modern 14,973 #420
2003 modern 14,531 #420
2004 modern 14,416 #424
2005 modern 14,175 #426
2006 modern 14,113 #427
2007 modern 14,155 #432
2008 modern 14,209 #432
2009 modern 14,483 #434
2010 modern 14,801 #436
2011 modern 14,563 #435
2012 modern 14,222 #439
2013 modern 14,581 #438
2014 modern 14,604 #438
2015 modern 14,402 #440
2016 modern 14,273 #440

Geography

Back to top

Where Peacocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Richmondshire and Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
2 Richmondshire 005 Richmondshire
3 Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall East Renfrewshire
4 East Cambridgeshire 001 East Cambridgeshire
5 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Peacock

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Peacock

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Peacock, 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 Peacock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Peacock 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Peacock is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Peacock 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

Peacock 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 Peacock 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 Peacock, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Peacock

The surname Peacock is of English origin and is believed to have derived from the Middle English words "pe" and "cock," referring to the male peafowl or peacock bird. This name was likely first used as a nickname for someone who exhibited the proud, showy characteristics associated with the peacock.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Peacock dates back to the 13th century in Yorkshire, England. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, the name appeared as "Richard Pecoc." It is also found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax records of 1379 as "Johannes Pecok."

The Peacock surname can be traced back to various locations in England, including Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk. Some early recordings of the name include John Pecok in the Patent Rolls of Middlesex in 1441, and Thomas Pecok in the Court Rolls of the Borough of Colchester, Essex, in 1499.

In the 16th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Peacocke, Pecocke, and Pecoke. One notable bearer of the name was Reginald Peacock (c. 1395-c. 1460), an English bishop and theologian who wrote several works on religious reform and was later accused of heresy.

Another prominent figure with the surname Peacock was Thomas Love Peacock (1785-1866), an English novelist and poet whose works satirized the literary and social circles of his time. His novels, such as "Nightmare Abbey" and "Crotchet Castle," are considered classics of English satire.

The Peacock surname has also been associated with several places in England, including Peacock Green in Hertfordshire, Peacock Farm in Gloucestershire, and Peacock Hill in Buckinghamshire. These place names may have contributed to the further spread and use of the surname in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname Peacock include:

1. Thomas Peacock (1592-1658), an English composer and organist during the Baroque period. 2. Ralph Peacock (1772-1853), an English politician and businessman who served as Mayor of Warrington. 3. Nathaniel Peacock (1812-1863), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania. 4. Ralph Peacock (1838-1889), an English cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club. 5. Thomas Brower Peacock (1834-1917), an American entrepreneur and co-founder of the Peacock Woolen Mills in Philadelphia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Peacock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peacock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10,667 people were recorded with the Peacock surname. That placed it at #401 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peacock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 14,273 in 2016. That gives Peacock a modern rank of #440.

What does the Peacock surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a keeper or seller of peafowl.

What does the Peacock map show?

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