NameCensus.

UK surname

Pearcey

A surname derived from a place name in England, originally referring to someone from Pearcy, Wiltshire.

In the 1881 census there were 450 people recorded with the Pearcey surname, ranking it #7,321 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 775, ranked #7,102, up from #7,321 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Dudley and South Stoneham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, West Berkshire and Oldham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pearcey is 872 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.2%.

1881 census count

450

Ranked #7,321

Modern count

775

2016, ranked #7,102

Peak year

1998

872 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pearcey had 450 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,321 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 775 in 2016, ranked #7,102.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 865 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pearcey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pearcey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pearcey 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 295 #7,737
1861 historical 348 #7,339
1881 historical 450 #7,321
1891 historical 620 #6,235
1901 historical 810 #5,571
1911 historical 865 #5,136
1997 modern 846 #6,269
1998 modern 872 #6,311
1999 modern 867 #6,387
2000 modern 869 #6,341
2001 modern 828 #6,480
2002 modern 835 #6,547
2003 modern 810 #6,591
2004 modern 796 #6,696
2005 modern 769 #6,819
2006 modern 759 #6,920
2007 modern 779 #6,839
2008 modern 765 #6,992
2009 modern 808 #6,831
2010 modern 831 #6,817
2011 modern 807 #6,884
2012 modern 793 #6,888
2013 modern 800 #6,954
2014 modern 798 #7,015
2015 modern 790 #7,007
2016 modern 775 #7,102

Geography

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Where Pearceys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Dudley, South Stoneham and Salisbury St Edmund. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, West Berkshire, Oldham and Portsmouth. 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 Dudley Staffordshire
3 South Stoneham Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Salisbury St Edmund Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 020 East Devon
2 West Berkshire 010 West Berkshire
3 East Devon 019 East Devon
4 Oldham 012 Oldham
5 Portsmouth 021 Portsmouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pearcey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pearcey

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Pearcey is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pearcey is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pearcey falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pearcey

The surname Pearcey is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the late medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "pere" and "ey," meaning "pear tree" and "island" or "meadow," respectively. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a pear tree-lined island or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pearcey appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John Perye is mentioned. This spelling variation indicates that the name was potentially pronounced similarly to its modern form, despite the different orthography.

In the 16th century, there are records of the name Pearcey in the parish registers of Herefordshire, particularly in the village of Stoke Prior. This area was known for its orchards and pear cultivation, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and the pear tree.

Historical records also indicate that the Pearcey family had a presence in the county of Gloucestershire, where a notable figure named John Pearcey was born in Tewkesbury in 1610. He went on to become a prominent merchant and served as the Mayor of Tewkesbury in 1661.

Another noteworthy individual bearing the Pearcey name was William Pearcey, born in 1763 in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire. He was a renowned clockmaker and watchmaker, known for his intricate and finely crafted timepieces.

In the 19th century, the Pearcey surname gained recognition in the field of literature with the poet and writer Thomas Pearcey, born in 1807 in Worcestershire. His works, though not widely celebrated during his lifetime, have since been recognized for their poetic merit and contribution to the literary landscape of the time.

Another significant figure was Sir Alfred Pearcey, born in 1848 in Herefordshire. He was a distinguished engineer and played a pivotal role in the development of early railway systems in Britain, contributing to the country's transportation infrastructure.

While the name Pearcey may have had humble beginnings, referring to those who lived near pear tree-lined areas, it has since been carried by individuals who have made their mark in various fields, from commerce and engineering to literature and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pearcey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pearcey 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. Surrey leads with 85 Pearceys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.97x.

County Total Index
Surrey 85 3.97x
Devon 70 7.64x
Middlesex 50 1.14x
Hampshire 36 3.99x
Wiltshire 33 8.48x
Kent 25 1.67x
Northamptonshire 24 5.80x
Dorset 18 6.23x
Somerset 18 2.54x
Worcestershire 17 2.96x
Warwickshire 12 1.08x
Essex 11 1.27x
Yorkshire 11 0.25x
Lanarkshire 9 0.63x
Monmouthshire 7 2.20x
Berkshire 5 1.51x
Lincolnshire 4 0.57x
Sussex 4 0.54x
Lancashire 3 0.06x
Durham 2 0.15x
Gloucestershire 2 0.23x
Staffordshire 2 0.13x
Leicestershire 1 0.21x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.99x
Royal Navy 1 1.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 20 Pearceys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.28x.

Place Total Index
Deptford St Paul 20 17.28x
East Budleigh 18 417.63x
Lambeth 14 3.65x
Camberwell 11 3.91x
Dudley 11 15.75x
Farnham 11 65.99x
Mitcham 11 81.18x
Bermondsey 10 7.64x
South Stoneham 10 51.12x
Taunton St James 10 96.81x
Barony 9 2.50x
Collumpton 9 2093.02x
Frensham 9 285.71x
Bethnal Green London 8 4.19x
Broadhembury 8 784.31x
Daventry 8 136.75x
Poole St James 8 73.73x
Bromley London 7 7.23x
Graig 7 489.51x
Laverstock 7 1014.49x
Nately Scures 7 1891.89x
Plymtree 7 1060.61x
Rotherhithe 7 12.88x
Silverton 7 366.49x
Egham 6 45.59x
Lower Shuckburgh 6 4000.00x
Poplar London 6 7.23x
Puddletown 6 338.98x
Shoreditch London 6 3.15x
Wortley In Bramley 6 17.38x
Exeter St Sidwell 5 23.84x
Floore 5 322.58x
Hammersmith London 5 4.61x
Northampton St Sepulchre 5 23.75x
Salisbury St Edmund 5 80.13x
Taunton St Mary 5 38.46x
West Ham 5 2.61x
Wylye 5 675.68x
Cadbury 4 1000.00x
Codford St Mary 4 769.23x
Garthorpe 4 470.59x
Stratford Under Castle 4 833.33x
Wargrave 4 140.85x
Westminster St John 4 7.47x
Battersea 3 1.85x
Bishops Waltham 3 79.79x
Bromley 3 13.11x
Cullompton 3 75.00x
Dagenham 3 58.03x
Napton On Hill 3 225.56x
Rottingdean 3 118.58x
Salisbury St Thomas 3 97.40x
Upper Shuckburgh 3 4285.71x
Acton 2 7.75x
Barnstaple 2 13.92x
Bathwick 2 25.51x
Bradfield 2 11.90x
Bradninch 2 77.52x
Broadwas 2 425.53x
Bromsgrove 2 10.34x
Halberton 2 93.90x
Handsworth 2 17.36x
Islington London 2 0.47x
Leyton 2 13.37x
Michelmersh 2 114.29x
Milford 2 76.05x
Monkwearmouth 2 15.96x
Mortlake 2 20.94x
Newnham 2 370.37x
Southampton St John 2 217.39x
Southampton St Mary 2 3.53x
Widley 2 124.22x
Widnes 2 5.31x
Aldershot 1 3.31x
Broadwater 1 5.88x
Fawley 1 294.12x
Hackney London 1 0.41x
Newtown 1 15.50x
St George In East 1 3.34x
St Mary Woolnoth 1 434.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 18
Sarah 15
Ann 11
Emma 11
Ellen 9
Harriet 8
Charlotte 6
Edith 6
Emily 6
Fanny 5
Jane 5
Alice 4
Caroline 4
Eliza 4
Harriett 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Susan 4
Amy 3
Annie 3
Beatrice 3
Maria 3
Selina 3
C. 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Rose 2
Rosina 2
Augusta 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Blanche 1
Clara 1
Daisy 1
E. 1
Elizth.J. 1
Ethel 1
Etta 1
Helen 1
Jessie 1
Lilian 1
Lilley 1
Lizzie 1
Luner 1
M.A. 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 28
William 25
John 19
Thomas 13
Charles 12
James 10
Frederick 8
Albert 5
Alfred 5
Edward 5
Robert 5
Walter 5
Jesse 4
Richard 4
Arthur 3
Frank 3
Henry 3
Reuben 3
Aaron 2
Charley 2
Christopher 2
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Job 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Vespin 2
W. 2
Auther 1
Christopr. 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Enid 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
H. 1
Harvey 1
Noah 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Randolph 1
Sam 1
Sam. 1
Willm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Pearcey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pearcey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 450 people were recorded with the Pearcey surname. That placed it at #7,321 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pearcey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 775 in 2016. That gives Pearcey a modern rank of #7,102.

What does the Pearcey surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name in England, originally referring to someone from Pearcy, Wiltshire.

What does the Pearcey map show?

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