NameCensus.

UK surname

Peal

An uncommon surname derived from a Middle English word meaning a stake or boundary marker.

In the 1881 census there were 257 people recorded with the Peal surname, ranking it #10,861 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 200, ranked #19,591, down from #10,861 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newcastle St Andrew, London parishes and Ealing, Chiswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Huntingdonshire and Arbroath Harbour.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peal is 520 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.2%.

1881 census count

257

Ranked #10,861

Modern count

200

2016, ranked #19,591

Peak year

1861

520 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peal had 257 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,861 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 200 in 2016, ranked #19,591.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 520 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Peal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peal surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peal 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 297 #7,707
1861 historical 520 #5,038
1881 historical 257 #10,861
1891 historical 360 #9,614
1901 historical 189 #15,684
1911 historical 232 #13,592
1997 modern 178 #18,958
1998 modern 179 #19,372
1999 modern 172 #20,009
2000 modern 165 #20,501
2001 modern 169 #19,912
2002 modern 163 #20,767
2003 modern 168 #20,171
2004 modern 164 #20,609
2005 modern 167 #20,296
2006 modern 168 #20,368
2007 modern 170 #20,471
2008 modern 177 #20,169
2009 modern 176 #20,632
2010 modern 196 #19,698
2011 modern 187 #20,132
2012 modern 177 #20,836
2013 modern 190 #20,201
2014 modern 197 #19,903
2015 modern 205 #19,269
2016 modern 200 #19,591

Geography

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Where Peals are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newcastle St Andrew, London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Margate and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Huntingdonshire, Arbroath Harbour and West Berkshire. 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 Newcastle St Andrew Northumberland
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Margate Kent
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 003 North Lincolnshire
2 Huntingdonshire 018 Huntingdonshire
3 Arbroath Harbour Angus
4 North Lincolnshire 011 North Lincolnshire
5 West Berkshire 012 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peal

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peal

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

Peal is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Peal falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Peal

The surname PEAL is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "peal," which referred to a palisade or fortified fence. This suggests that the name may have originated as a place name or topographic name, describing someone who lived near a palisaded area or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname PEAL can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire, dated 1199, which mention a Hugo de Peal. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insights into the names and locations of individuals during that time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as PELE, PELL, and PEELE, reflecting the spelling variations common in that era. These variations may have been influenced by regional dialects or the preferences of scribes who recorded the names.

The Hundred Rolls of 1273 contain references to individuals with the surname PEAL, including Robert de la Pele in Oxfordshire and Willelmus de la Pele in Cambridgeshire. These rolls were a series of administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I, providing valuable information about landowners and their holdings.

One notable individual bearing the surname PEAL was Richard Peale (1577-1660), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1628 to 1629. He was born in Walthamstow, Essex, and played a significant role in the academic and religious life of his time.

Another prominent figure was Charles Wilson Peale (1741-1827), an American painter, soldier, naturalist, and inventor. He is best known for his portraits of prominent figures from the American Revolution, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Peale was born in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, and his surname is believed to be derived from the English PEAL.

In the 18th century, the PEAL surname appeared in various records, such as parish registers and census records, indicating its continued presence in England and other parts of the British Isles.

One notable bearer of the name was Rembrandt Peale (1778-1860), an American artist and museum keeper. He was the son of Charles Wilson Peale and is renowned for his portraits of prominent American figures, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Marshall.

The surname PEAL has also been associated with place names, such as Peel Island in Queensland, Australia, and Peel River in New South Wales, Australia. These place names may have been derived from the surname or vice versa, reflecting the interconnectedness of names and locations throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peal 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 49 Peals recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.98x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 49 1.98x
Kent 33 3.90x
Surrey 32 2.65x
Lancashire 24 0.82x
Derbyshire 23 5.93x
Yorkshire 16 0.65x
Northumberland 14 3.80x
Warwickshire 11 1.76x
Leicestershire 9 3.28x
Devon 6 1.16x
Lincolnshire 6 1.51x
Somerset 6 1.50x
Berkshire 5 2.69x
Cumberland 3 1.41x
Glamorgan 3 0.70x
Sussex 3 0.72x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.34x
Essex 2 0.41x
Hampshire 2 0.39x
Angus 1 0.44x
Cheshire 1 0.18x
Dorset 1 0.62x
Rutland 1 5.50x
Suffolk 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 16 Peals recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.11x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 16 10.11x
Newcastle On Tyne St 13 68.03x
St Marylebone London 12 9.07x
Ealing 11 49.68x
St Pancras London 10 5.01x
Aston 8 4.65x
Barton Upon Irwell 7 31.63x
Derby St Werburgh 7 31.25x
Margate St John Baptist 7 45.22x
Packington 6 612.24x
Seaton 6 301.51x
St Lawrence 6 103.27x
Clewer 5 65.62x
Holy Trinity 5 8.47x
Lambeth 5 2.31x
Nailsea 5 316.46x
St Nicholas At Wade 5 1020.41x
Thornton In Fylde 5 77.76x
Woodnesborough 5 649.35x
Battersea 4 4.39x
Brayton 4 888.89x
Derby St Alkmund 4 34.42x
Hogsthorpe 4 655.74x
Islington London 4 1.67x
West Derby 4 4.65x
Birmingham 3 1.44x
Charlton 3 53.48x
Clerkenwell London 3 5.13x
Elvaston 3 625.00x
Little Bolton 3 7.94x
Matlock 3 57.58x
Old Artillery Ground 3 140.85x
Reigate Foreign 3 22.95x
Ticknall 3 379.75x
Bermondsey 2 2.71x
Brighton 2 2.37x
Canterbury St Mary 2 35.27x
Folkestone 2 12.20x
Great Grimsby 2 7.96x
Hook 2 37.04x
Newchurch 2 8.32x
Ollersett 2 263.16x
Ramsgate 2 14.49x
Roath 2 10.21x
St George Hanover 2 6.18x
Stony Stratford West 2 194.17x
Swannington 2 198.02x
Wanstead 2 23.36x
Aldershot 1 5.88x
Beaumont Chase 1 3333.33x
Beddington 1 21.41x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.93x
Dundee 1 1.17x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 1 67.57x
Fridaythorpe 1 370.37x
Hackney London 1 0.72x
Hastings All Sts 1 25.38x
Hesket In Forest 1 60.24x
Ingleby Barwick 1 909.09x
Ipswich St Nicholas 1 60.24x
Kensington London 1 0.73x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 50.76x
Leicester St Martin 1 54.35x
Liverpool 1 0.56x
Margam 1 20.79x
Mickleham 1 147.06x
Morpeth 1 23.09x
Moss Side 1 6.46x
Orton 1 256.41x
Paddington London 1 1.10x
Poole St James 1 16.37x
Portsmouth 1 8.55x
Radstock 1 38.17x
Sandwich St Peter 1 112.36x
Sheffield 1 1.28x
Thorner 1 125.00x
Toxteth Park 1 1.00x
Tranmere 1 4.98x
Wirksworth 1 28.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 8
Sarah 7
Ellen 6
Kate 6
Alice 5
Emily 5
Jane 5
Eliza 4
Hannah 4
Ann 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Emma 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Susan 2
Amy 1
Anne 1
B. 1
Catherine 1
Charlotta 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Emilie 1
Ethel 1
Ettie 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Miss 1
Nora 1
Olive 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1
Ruth 1
Thirza 1
Wilfred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 16
George 12
Joseph 9
Robert 9
Henry 7
James 7
Charles 6
Richard 5
Arthur 4
Thomas 4
Edward 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Saml. 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Bernard 1
Edmond 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Geo.L. 1
H. 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Marcellus 1
Rowland 1
Sam 1
Septs. 1
W. 1
W.H. 1
Willm.Olliver 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Peal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 257 people were recorded with the Peal surname. That placed it at #10,861 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 200 in 2016. That gives Peal a modern rank of #19,591.

What does the Peal surname mean?

An uncommon surname derived from a Middle English word meaning a stake or boundary marker.

What does the Peal map show?

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