NameCensus.

UK surname

Pear

An occupational surname derived from Middle English referring to a grower or seller of pears.

In the 1881 census there were 202 people recorded with the Pear surname, ranking it #12,753 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 160, ranked #22,694, down from #12,753 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Ilkeston and Cheltenham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor, Tamworth and Melton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pear is 254 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.8%.

1881 census count

202

Ranked #12,753

Modern count

160

2016, ranked #22,694

Peak year

1891

254 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pear had 202 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,753 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016, ranked #22,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 254 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pear surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pear surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pear 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 171 #11,730
1861 historical 248 #9,947
1881 historical 202 #12,753
1891 historical 254 #12,598
1901 historical 201 #15,059
1911 historical 202 #14,871
1997 modern 176 #19,091
1998 modern 179 #19,372
1999 modern 181 #19,380
2000 modern 167 #20,332
2001 modern 159 #20,710
2002 modern 155 #21,431
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 152 #21,628
2005 modern 151 #21,667
2006 modern 152 #21,721
2007 modern 142 #23,025
2008 modern 145 #22,929
2009 modern 153 #22,611
2010 modern 167 #21,835
2011 modern 164 #21,900
2012 modern 156 #22,645
2013 modern 161 #22,521
2014 modern 162 #22,624
2015 modern 155 #23,194
2016 modern 160 #22,694

Geography

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Where Pears are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Ilkeston, Cheltenham, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor, Tamworth, Melton and Sutherland East. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Ilkeston Nottinghamshire
3 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 008 Sedgemoor
2 Tamworth 001 Tamworth
3 Melton 001 Melton
4 Sedgemoor 010 Sedgemoor
5 Sutherland East Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pear

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pear

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

Pear 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

Pear falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pear is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pear

The surname PEAR is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "pere" and "pyrige," which referred to the fruit-bearing tree and its fruit. This name likely originated as a descriptive surname, given to someone who lived near a pear tree or worked with pears.

The earliest recorded instances of the PEAR surname date back to the late 12th century in England. One of the earliest bearers of this name was William Peri, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195. Another early record is that of Reginald Pirie, found in the Curia Regis Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1203.

During the Middle Ages, the PEAR surname appeared in various spellings, such as Peri, Perie, Piry, and Pyry. These variations reflect the inconsistent spelling practices of the time and regional dialects.

In the 13th century, the PEAR surname was found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, where a certain Adam Piri was mentioned. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 recorded a Thomas Pery.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the PEAR surname was John Pery (c. 1450-1520), an English composer and organist who served at the Chapel Royal during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Thomas Pery (1634-1673), an English playwright and author known for his works "The Comical Revenge" and "The Coronation." His son, Edmond Pery (1672-1748), was a member of the Irish Parliament and served as the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons.

In the 18th century, William Pery (1721-1794) was a prominent Irish politician and landowner who served as the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons and was later created Baron Pery of Newtown Pery.

The PEAR surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Pear Tree Green in Gloucestershire and Pear Tree Lane in London, further reflecting its connection to the pear tree.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pear families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pear 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 35 Pears recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.77x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 35 1.77x
Warwickshire 30 6.01x
Lincolnshire 21 6.63x
Surrey 14 1.45x
Nottinghamshire 12 4.50x
Cambridgeshire 11 8.77x
Durham 10 1.70x
Norfolk 9 2.96x
Somerset 9 2.82x
Bedfordshire 8 7.80x
Gloucestershire 8 2.06x
Worcestershire 5 1.93x
Staffordshire 4 0.60x
Derbyshire 3 0.97x
Devon 3 0.73x
Essex 3 0.77x
Lancashire 2 0.09x
Rutland 2 13.76x
Suffolk 2 0.83x
Berwickshire 1 4.17x
Fife 1 0.85x
Glamorgan 1 0.29x
Kent 1 0.15x
Leicestershire 1 0.46x
Northamptonshire 1 0.54x
Perthshire 1 1.13x
Renfrewshire 1 0.65x
Royal Navy 1 4.24x
Sussex 1 0.30x
Westmorland 1 2.30x
Yorkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Coventry Holy Trinity in Warwickshire leads with 13 Pears recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.19x.

Place Total Index
Coventry Holy Trinity 13 87.19x
Aston 10 7.27x
Bow London 9 35.70x
Battersea 7 9.61x
Bedford St Mary 7 265.15x
Bridgewater 7 80.92x
Cotgrave 7 1250.00x
Norwich All Sts 7 2692.31x
Weston 7 1228.07x
Corby 6 1132.08x
March 6 142.86x
Coventry St Michael 5 31.17x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 43.48x
St Marylebone London 5 4.73x
Cheltenham 4 13.35x
Islington London 4 2.08x
Lambeth 4 2.32x
Walsall Foreign 4 11.58x
Welland 4 677.97x
Bishopwearmouth 3 5.93x
Chelsea London 3 5.03x
Cropwell Bishop 3 697.67x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 31.78x
Romford 3 48.54x
Spalding 3 47.77x
St Pancras London 3 1.88x
Wisbech St Peter 3 47.69x
Fulham London 2 6.96x
Monkwearmouth 2 35.46x
Shirland 2 86.21x
St George Bloomsbury 2 17.61x
Stapleton 2 27.14x
Tinwell 2 1333.33x
Walsoken 2 109.29x
Wimblington 2 270.27x
Basford 1 8.13x
Beckenham 1 11.33x
Birmingham 1 0.60x
Brighton 1 1.48x
Camberwell 1 0.79x
Cardiff St John 1 8.88x
Deerhurst 1 178.57x
Dunbarney 1 196.08x
Dunse 1 44.05x
Ealing 1 5.65x
Edgbaston 1 6.46x
Glanford Brigg 1 88.50x
Hackney London 1 0.90x
Holy Trinity 1 2.12x
Ipswich St Clement 1 16.31x
Kendal 1 12.55x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.87x
Manthorpe Cum Little 1 41.32x
Morton In Bourn 1 156.25x
Nottingham St Peter 1 33.56x
Paddington London 1 1.37x
Pilton 1 131.58x
Pinchbeck 1 49.26x
Pittenweem 1 68.97x
Poplar London 1 2.68x
Prestbury 1 104.17x
Royal Navy 1 4.96x
Sandy 1 55.25x
Spittlegate 1 22.83x
St Andrew Holborn 1 14.90x
St George Hanover 1 3.87x
St George Martyr 1 29.94x
Stamford Baron St Martin 1 100.00x
Stanley 1 175.44x
Streatham 1 6.81x
Sutton 1 14.33x
Sutton 1 263.16x
Toxteth Park 1 1.26x
Upton On Severn 1 59.17x
Wardleworth 1 7.45x
West Greenock 1 3.63x
Weston Super Mare 1 12.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 14
Emma 6
Ann 5
Jane 5
Sarah 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Emily 4
Catherine 3
Eliza 2
Hannah 2
Hester 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
C... 1
Carthrin 1
Charlotte 1
Cissey 1
Easter 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Hanna 1
Henrietta 1
James 1
Jenny 1
Lizzie 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Margret. 1
Martha 1
Marther 1
Mily 1
Minnie 1
Naomi 1
Nellie 1
Rachel 1
Rosa 1
Ruth 1
Susanah 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
Thomas 11
William 10
George 6
James 6
Henry 4
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Edward 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Cornelius 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Jos. 1
Mikle 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Thesbin 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Pear surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pear surname in 1881?

In 1881, 202 people were recorded with the Pear surname. That placed it at #12,753 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pear surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016. That gives Pear a modern rank of #22,694.

What does the Pear surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from Middle English referring to a grower or seller of pears.

What does the Pear map show?

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