NameCensus.

UK surname

Pearcy

A locational surname derived from the Old French "Percy", referring to someone from Percy-en-Auge in Normandy, France.

In the 1881 census there were 570 people recorded with the Pearcy surname, ranking it #6,099 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 526, ranked #9,642, down from #6,099 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dudley, Poole St James and Salisbury St Edmund. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, North Devon and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pearcy is 601 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.7%.

1881 census count

570

Ranked #6,099

Modern count

526

2016, ranked #9,642

Peak year

1891

601 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pearcy had 570 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,099 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 526 in 2016, ranked #9,642.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 601 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Pearcy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pearcy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pearcy 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 461 #5,378
1861 historical 377 #6,777
1881 historical 570 #6,099
1891 historical 601 #6,375
1901 historical 551 #7,524
1911 historical 576 #7,056
1997 modern 546 #8,712
1998 modern 566 #8,726
1999 modern 557 #8,897
2000 modern 550 #8,943
2001 modern 548 #8,820
2002 modern 557 #8,894
2003 modern 548 #8,860
2004 modern 545 #8,919
2005 modern 518 #9,208
2006 modern 520 #9,208
2007 modern 511 #9,422
2008 modern 512 #9,470
2009 modern 538 #9,327
2010 modern 534 #9,581
2011 modern 525 #9,609
2012 modern 504 #9,803
2013 modern 524 #9,687
2014 modern 531 #9,659
2015 modern 523 #9,694
2016 modern 526 #9,642

Geography

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Where Pearcys are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, North Devon, Bolton, Northumberland and County Durham. 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 Dudley Staffordshire
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 Salisbury St Edmund Wiltshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Tottenham Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 011 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 North Devon 010 North Devon
3 Bolton 004 Bolton
4 Northumberland 032 Northumberland
5 County Durham 050 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pearcy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pearcy

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Pearcy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Pearcy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pearcy 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

Pearcy is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pearcy 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 Pearcy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pearcy

The surname Pearcy has its origins in England, tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English personal name "Peartric," which itself is a combination of the elements "pearl" and "ric" (meaning power or ruler). This name was initially used to refer to someone of great wealth or status.

One of the earliest records of the name Pearcy can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Pertric." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England at the time.

By the 13th century, the name had evolved into various spellings such as "Peercy," "Pearcy," and "Persie." These variations were often used interchangeably, reflecting the fluidity of spelling conventions during that era.

The Pearcy surname is also linked to several place names in England, including Pearcy Green in Lancashire and Pearcy Bridge in Yorkshire. These locations likely took their names from early settlers or landowners bearing the Pearcy surname.

Notable individuals bearing the Pearcy surname include Sir Henry Pearcy (1292-1349), a prominent English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. Another notable figure was John Pearcy (1460-1523), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire.

In the 16th century, the Pearcy family established themselves as a notable gentry family in Northamptonshire. One of their most illustrious members was Sir Thomas Pearcy (1578-1648), who served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted by King James I in 1619.

The 17th century saw the birth of Sir Ralph Pearcy (1612-1683), a renowned English scholar and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of optics. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society.

In the literary world, the name Pearcy is perhaps most notably associated with Reverend Robert Pearcy (1705-1788), an English clergyman and poet who published several volumes of verse during his lifetime.

Throughout its history, the Pearcy surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, merchants, scholars, and clergymen, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pearcy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pearcy 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 113 Pearcys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.04x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 113 2.04x
Yorkshire 66 1.20x
Devon 53 4.60x
Wiltshire 44 9.00x
Dorset 34 9.37x
Hampshire 33 2.91x
Lancashire 27 0.41x
Durham 26 1.58x
Surrey 26 0.96x
Kent 18 0.95x
Norfolk 14 1.65x
Northamptonshire 14 2.69x
Worcestershire 14 1.94x
Northumberland 13 1.58x
Sussex 12 1.29x
Essex 11 1.01x
Somerset 11 1.24x
Oxfordshire 7 2.05x
Warwickshire 6 0.43x
Lanarkshire 5 0.28x
Midlothian 5 0.67x
Glamorgan 4 0.42x
Leicestershire 3 0.49x
Gloucestershire 2 0.18x
Hertfordshire 2 0.52x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Monmouthshire 1 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.13x
Staffordshire 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. Longfleet in Dorset leads with 21 Pearcys recorded in 1881 and an index of 498.81x.

Place Total Index
Longfleet 21 498.81x
Islington London 17 3.17x
Bethnal Green London 15 6.24x
Colyton 15 339.37x
Tottenham 15 17.03x
Dudley 13 14.80x
Fisherton Anger 13 143.65x
Bradninch 12 369.23x
Hackford In Aylsham 11 718.95x
St Luke London 11 12.40x
Urmston 11 258.22x
Farnborough 9 75.57x
Gravesend 9 56.32x
York St Nicholas In 9 292.21x
Dunnington In York 8 567.38x
Farnham 8 38.17x
Kilham 8 347.83x
Affpuddle 7 760.87x
Bramshaw 7 486.11x
Brighton 7 3.72x
Combe St Nicholas 7 325.58x
Doddington 7 1228.07x
Henley On Thames 7 100.00x
Payhembury 7 843.37x
Barking 6 18.78x
Boscombe 6 2608.70x
Bow London 6 8.52x
Daventry 6 81.52x
Honiton 6 94.19x
Preston 6 3.42x
Shoreditch London 6 2.50x
Southwick 6 38.51x
Spitalfields London 6 14.42x
Ash Normandy 5 136.61x
Bishopwearmouth 5 3.54x
Blantyre 5 26.85x
Chapel Allerton 5 60.98x
Clerkenwell London 5 3.83x
Haswell 5 42.41x
Hessle In Sculcoates 5 103.31x
Mitcham 5 29.36x
Newington 5 2.45x
St Marylebone London 5 1.69x
Twyford 5 184.50x
Awliscombe 4 396.04x
Bedlington 4 14.56x
Broadwater 4 18.70x
Cardiff St Mary 4 7.54x
Chelsea London 4 2.40x
Lewisham 4 3.98x
Liversedge 4 16.39x
Lonbridge Deverill 4 232.56x
Luppitt 4 350.88x
Sculcoates 4 4.60x
South Stoneham 4 16.27x
St George In East 4 10.63x
Stockley 4 192.31x
Swindon 4 10.54x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 2.09x
Donhead St Andrew 3 198.68x
Edinburgh St Marys 3 20.83x
Loughborough 3 10.78x
Northampton St Giles 3 15.14x
Paddington London 3 1.48x
Portsea 3 1.35x
Salisbury St Edmund 3 38.22x
St Michael Cornhill 3 697.67x
Thornhill 3 18.76x
West Ham 3 1.24x
Whitburn 3 78.13x
Whitworth 3 24.90x
Widnes 3 6.34x
Barton Le Willows 2 408.16x
Coventry St Michael 2 4.46x
Fakenham 2 47.73x
Kensington London 2 0.65x
Linthorpe 2 6.11x
Nether Hallam 2 2.70x
Paull 2 192.31x
Southcoates 2 6.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Elizabeth 23
Jane 17
Sarah 17
Eliza 12
Ann 11
Ellen 10
Caroline 9
Emma 9
Margaret 9
Florence 8
Ada 7
Alice 6
Catherine 5
Charlotte 5
Edith 5
Amelia 4
Emily 4
Maria 4
Rachel 4
Amy 3
Fanny 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Anna 2
Bessie 2
Kate 2
Lillian 2
Lucy 2
Margret 2
Rosetta 2
Susanna 2
Susannah 2
Ursula 2
Agnes 1
Bathsheba 1
Bessy 1
Bethia 1
Betsey 1
Clarance 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Emmy 1
Esther 1
Judith 1
Katherine 1
Lily 1
M.A. 1
Walter 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 34
John 30
George 23
Thomas 21
Henry 17
Charles 13
Alfred 11
Joseph 11
James 10
Richard 9
Walter 6
Albert 5
Frank 5
Robert 5
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Andrew 3
Fred 3
Frederick 3
Samuel 3
Tom 3
Daniel 2
Edwd. 2
Edwin 2
Richd. 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Wm. 2
Aleca. 1
Booz 1
Charley 1
Christopher 1
Cristopher 1
Elias 1
Enock 1
Frances 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Jacob 1
Jno.Joseph 1
Johna 1
Lawrence 1
Lewis 1
Mackley 1
Mark 1
Morris 1
Reginald 1

FAQ

Pearcy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pearcy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 570 people were recorded with the Pearcy surname. That placed it at #6,099 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pearcy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 526 in 2016. That gives Pearcy a modern rank of #9,642.

What does the Pearcy surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the Old French "Percy", referring to someone from Percy-en-Auge in Normandy, France.

What does the Pearcy map show?

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