UK surname
A surname derived from Middle English "pele" meaning a stake or pale fence.
In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Peale surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #26,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Margate and Llanfair-Caereinion. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peale is 160 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 90.2%.
1881 census count
51
Ranked #26,428
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1861
160 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Peale surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Peale surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 28 | #28,274 |
| 1861 | historical | 160 | #14,468 |
| 1881 | historical | 51 | #26,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 86 | #25,951 |
| 1901 | historical | 98 | #23,119 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Margate, Llanfair-Caereinion, Hawkinge, Folkestone and East Dereham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Margate | Kent |
| 3 | Llanfair-Caereinion | Montgomeryshire |
| 4 | Hawkinge, Folkestone | Kent |
| 5 | East Dereham | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Peale surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Peale, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Peale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Peale household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Peale is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Peale is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Peale, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname PEALE has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "pele," which means a fortified dwelling or a small castle. It's possible that the surname was initially given to someone who lived near or worked in such a fortified structure.
In the early days, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Peale, Pele, Peel, and Peele. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a person named William Pele was mentioned.
The PEALE surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest known figures with this name was John Peale, an English clergyman and academic who lived from 1535 to 1591. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.
In the 17th century, Charles Peale (1594-1653) was an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including a commentary on the Book of Revelation.
The PEALE family also made significant contributions to the arts in the United States. Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) was a renowned American painter and one of the most influential figures in the early American art scene. He is best known for his portrait paintings of important figures from the American Revolutionary era, including George Washington.
Rembrandt Peale (1778-1860), the son of Charles Willson Peale, was also a accomplished painter and is particularly known for his portraits of prominent American leaders such as Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson.
Another notable individual with the PEALE surname was Titian Ramsay Peale (1799-1885), a renowned naturalist, artist, and explorer. He was part of several significant scientific expeditions, including the United States Exploring Expedition from 1838 to 1842, during which he documented numerous plant and animal species.
While the PEALE surname may have originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly due to immigration. The name has been carried by individuals across various fields, including art, literature, and science, leaving a lasting impact on their respective areas of expertise.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peale surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 13 Peales recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.66x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 13 | 7.66x |
| Shropshire | 8 | 18.62x |
| Surrey | 6 | 2.48x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 4.56x |
| Leicestershire | 4 | 7.26x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.81x |
| Devon | 3 | 2.90x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.51x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.40x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.68x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.02x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.19x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Folkestone in Kent leads with 8 Peales recorded in 1881 and an index of 243.16x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Folkestone | 8 | 243.16x |
| Stockport | 5 | 88.50x |
| Newington | 4 | 21.77x |
| Oswestry Rural | 4 | 606.06x |
| Shrewsbury St Chad | 4 | 264.90x |
| Holsworthy | 3 | 1034.48x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 3 | 22.32x |
| Clapham | 2 | 32.15x |
| Leeds | 2 | 7.19x |
| Loose | 2 | 800.00x |
| Altofts | 1 | 185.19x |
| Canterbury St George | 1 | 500.00x |
| Chigwell | 1 | 107.53x |
| Eltham | 1 | 101.01x |
| Gravesend | 1 | 69.44x |
| Hove | 1 | 27.17x |
| Hunslet | 1 | 13.02x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.62x |
| Market Bosworth | 1 | 500.00x |
| Norwood | 1 | 87.72x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 1 | 14.22x |
| St Giles | 1 | 108.70x |
| Tonge With Haulgh | 1 | 86.96x |
| West Derby | 1 | 5.79x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Peale surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Peale surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Peale households.
FAQ
In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Peale surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Peale a modern rank of #38,264.
A surname derived from Middle English "pele" meaning a stake or pale fence.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Peale bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.