NameCensus.

UK surname

Peak

An English topographic surname for someone who lived near a pointed hill or mountain.

In the 1881 census there were 1,257 people recorded with the Peak surname, ranking it #3,236 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,060, ranked #5,510, down from #3,236 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Boston, Stafford and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peak is 1,291 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.7%.

1881 census count

1,257

Ranked #3,236

Modern count

1,060

2016, ranked #5,510

Peak year

1901

1,291 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peak had 1,257 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,236 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,060 in 2016, ranked #5,510.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,291 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Peak surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peak surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peak 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 1,040 #2,696
1861 historical 1,202 #2,361
1881 historical 1,257 #3,236
1891 historical 1,203 #3,562
1901 historical 1,291 #3,857
1911 historical 1,262 #3,770
1997 modern 1,061 #5,233
1998 modern 1,113 #5,210
1999 modern 1,087 #5,338
2000 modern 1,075 #5,361
2001 modern 1,059 #5,330
2002 modern 1,095 #5,290
2003 modern 1,064 #5,317
2004 modern 1,053 #5,372
2005 modern 1,037 #5,383
2006 modern 1,024 #5,457
2007 modern 1,028 #5,485
2008 modern 1,033 #5,503
2009 modern 1,067 #5,466
2010 modern 1,092 #5,473
2011 modern 1,082 #5,450
2012 modern 1,029 #5,601
2013 modern 1,067 #5,523
2014 modern 1,075 #5,523
2015 modern 1,065 #5,508
2016 modern 1,060 #5,510

Geography

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Where Peaks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, St Mary Islington and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Boston, Stafford, Manchester, Trafford and Fylde. 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 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
4 London parishes London 2
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Boston 001 Boston
2 Stafford 005 Stafford
3 Manchester 051 Manchester
4 Trafford 017 Trafford
5 Fylde 002 Fylde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peak

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peak

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Peak surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Peak household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Peak is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Peak is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Peak falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Peak 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 Peak, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Peak

The surname Peak is of English and German origin, deriving from the Old English word "peac" meaning a pointed or sharp hill. This surname likely originated as a toponymic name, referring to someone who lived near a distinctive peak or hill.

The earliest known record of the name Peak is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Pec" and "Peck". This suggests that the name was already established in England by the late 11th century.

In medieval times, the name was commonly spelled in various ways, including Peake, Peeke, Peek, and Pyke. These variations reflect the different regional dialects and pronunciation of the name across England.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Robert Peake (1551-1619), an English painter and courtier during the reign of King James I. He served as a Sergeant-Painter and was responsible for decorating many royal residences.

Another person of historical significance was Richard Peake (1592-1667), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, from 1637 to 1661.

In the 18th century, the name was borne by Sir Robert Peake (1713-1782), a British naval officer who rose to the rank of Admiral and served as the Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station.

The surname Peak is also associated with Sir Henry Peake (1792-1858), an English judge and politician who served as the Solicitor General for England and Wales from 1834 to 1835.

A more recent historical figure with the surname Peak was John Peak (1823-1903), a Welsh linguist and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of the Welsh language and literature.

Throughout history, the surname Peak has been found in various regions of England, particularly in counties such as Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Yorkshire, where the landscape features distinctive peaks and hills.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peak families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peak 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. Lancashire leads with 307 Peaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.12x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 307 2.12x
Middlesex 176 1.44x
Surrey 61 1.02x
Cheshire 52 1.93x
Cornwall 47 3.39x
Kent 47 1.13x
Staffordshire 45 1.09x
Suffolk 35 2.35x
Lincolnshire 33 1.69x
Yorkshire 33 0.27x
Norfolk 32 1.70x
Durham 31 0.85x
Devon 29 1.14x
Warwickshire 28 0.91x
Huntingdonshire 24 9.88x
Essex 23 0.95x
Shropshire 23 2.18x
Cambridgeshire 22 2.84x
Lanarkshire 21 0.53x
Glamorgan 20 0.94x
Derbyshire 19 0.99x
Hampshire 18 0.72x
Hertfordshire 17 2.02x
Cumberland 16 1.52x
Gloucestershire 16 0.67x
Leicestershire 15 1.11x
Berkshire 12 1.31x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.55x
Sussex 8 0.39x
Northamptonshire 6 0.52x
Oxfordshire 5 0.66x
Flintshire 4 1.22x
Northumberland 4 0.22x
Anglesey 3 1.38x
Somerset 3 0.15x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.71x
Rutland 2 2.23x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.09x
Bedfordshire 1 0.16x
Midlothian 1 0.06x
Renfrewshire 1 0.11x
Wiltshire 1 0.09x
Worcestershire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 37 Peaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.67x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 37 5.67x
Islington London 32 2.70x
Little Bolton 27 14.47x
Birmingham 20 1.95x
Horwich 20 126.34x
Hackney London 17 2.48x
Mile End Old Town 17 8.80x
Govan 16 1.64x
St Ives 16 59.04x
Toxteth Park 16 3.26x
Stranton 14 11.43x
Wellington 14 23.57x
Ilfracombe 13 49.60x
Newton In Makerfield 13 29.25x
Oldham 13 2.77x
Workington 13 21.56x
Clerkenwell London 12 4.16x
East Barnet 11 65.79x
Glatton Holme 11 820.90x
Gloucester Pool Meadow 11 1410.26x
Over Darwen 11 9.49x
Warrington 11 6.39x
Burton Upon Trent 10 10.35x
Dodcott Cum Wilkesley 10 362.32x
Newton 10 8.94x
Pendlebury 10 32.63x
Shoreditch London 10 1.89x
Bethnal Green London 9 1.69x
Didsbury 9 46.70x
Hampstead London 9 4.72x
Kingston On Thames 9 6.29x
Bures St Mary 8 353.98x
Haydock 8 31.99x
Lewisham 8 3.59x
Liverpool 8 0.91x
Maidstone 8 6.44x
Pilkington 8 14.51x
Radcliffe 8 11.43x
St Andrewthe Less 8 9.04x
Blythburgh 7 202.90x
Codnor Park 7 155.90x
Derby St Werburgh 7 6.33x
Downham Market 7 54.18x
Littleport 7 47.30x
Lowestoft 7 9.95x
Madron 7 62.56x
Madron Penzance 7 13.90x
Monks Coppenhall 7 6.87x
Offord Cluny 7 578.51x
Sculcoates 7 3.64x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 2.84x
St Just In Penwith 7 26.05x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 1.60x
Sutton 7 14.38x
Tottenham 7 3.59x
West Ham 7 1.31x
Abram 6 53.86x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 1.89x
Congham 6 428.57x
Croydon 6 1.81x
Elton 6 11.96x
Finchampstead 6 215.83x
Goostrey Cum Barnshaw 6 394.74x
Halliwell 6 11.36x
Hammersmith London 6 1.99x
Leatherhead 6 40.19x
Newbury 6 20.40x
Norwich St Clement 6 27.52x
Pendleton In Salford 6 3.47x
St Faith Winchester 6 51.33x
Stone 6 11.36x
Swansea Town 6 3.44x
Wolstanton 6 4.78x
Bollin Fee 5 41.74x
Heacham 5 119.62x
Laleham 5 216.45x
Leicester St Margaret 5 1.51x
Northam 5 26.94x
Southworth With Croft 5 115.21x
St George Martyr 5 24.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 86
John 67
Thomas 46
James 41
George 35
Joseph 30
Henry 27
Charles 26
Edward 22
Alfred 18
Richard 16
Samuel 11
Arthur 9
Robert 9
Frederick 8
Ernest 7
Harry 7
Albert 5
Francis 4
Wm. 4
Andrew 3
Edwin 3
Fred 3
Isaac 3
Job 3
Matthew 3
Walter 3
Alexander 2
Archibald 2
Bertram 2
David 2
Elijah 2
Ellis 2
Frank 2
Frederic 2
Harold 2
Herbert 2
Leonard 2
Lewis 2
Oliver 2
Peter 2
Richd. 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Will 2
Blott 1
Carles 1
Edmund 1
Enock 1
Jasper 1

FAQ

Peak surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peak surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,257 people were recorded with the Peak surname. That placed it at #3,236 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,060 in 2016. That gives Peak a modern rank of #5,510.

What does the Peak surname mean?

An English topographic surname for someone who lived near a pointed hill or mountain.

What does the Peak map show?

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