NameCensus.

UK surname

Peard

A variant spelling of the surname Peard, which is derived from the Old English word "peor" meaning a pear tree.

In the 1881 census there were 141 people recorded with the Peard surname, ranking it #16,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 156, ranked #23,098, down from #16,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Northfleet, London parishes and St Agnes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Torfaen and Torridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peard is 246 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.6%.

1881 census count

141

Ranked #16,091

Modern count

156

2016, ranked #23,098

Peak year

1891

246 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peard had 141 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 156 in 2016, ranked #23,098.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 246 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Peard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peard 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 181 #11,256
1861 historical 241 #10,192
1881 historical 141 #16,091
1891 historical 246 #12,912
1901 historical 177 #16,342
1911 historical 197 #15,101
1997 modern 157 #20,513
1998 modern 161 #20,754
1999 modern 150 #21,826
2000 modern 145 #22,259
2001 modern 143 #22,133
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 137 #23,098
2005 modern 142 #22,577
2006 modern 144 #22,520
2007 modern 144 #22,804
2008 modern 137 #23,883
2009 modern 130 #25,176
2010 modern 138 #24,801
2011 modern 147 #23,627
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 146 #24,107
2014 modern 146 #24,274
2015 modern 149 #23,817
2016 modern 156 #23,098

Geography

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Where Peards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Northfleet, London parishes, St Agnes, St Pancras and Bideford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Torfaen, Torridge, Mid Devon and South Hams. 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 Northfleet Kent
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Agnes Cornwall
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Bideford Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 023 Cornwall
2 Torfaen 013 Torfaen
3 Torridge 004 Torridge
4 Mid Devon 005 Mid Devon
5 South Hams 002 South Hams

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peard

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

Peard is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Peard falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Peard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Peard

The surname Peard is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Devon. It is likely derived from the Old English word "peord," which means "pear tree." The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century.

In the Domesday Book, a historical record of land ownership compiled in 1086, there are several mentions of places with names similar to Peard, such as Peartree and Peartrow. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Peard was John Peard, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Devon in 1242. The Feet of Fines were legal records of land transactions, indicating that the Peard family had established roots in Devon by that time.

In the 15th century, a prominent member of the Peard family was Sir William Peard (c. 1420-1492). He served as a Member of Parliament for Devon and was a respected landowner in the county.

Another notable figure with the surname Peard was Reverend William Woodville Peard (1711-1794). He was an English clergyman and author, known for his work "A Vindication of the Church of England" published in 1785.

In the 18th century, John Peard (1734-1808) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Devon. He was involved in the wool trade and served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton.

During the 19th century, Admiral William Peard (1804-1874) made a significant contribution to the British Royal Navy. He served in various naval campaigns and was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in recognition of his services.

The Peard family has continued to maintain a presence in Devon and other parts of England over the centuries, with various members holding influential positions in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peard 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. Devon leads with 67 Peards recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.24x.

County Total Index
Devon 67 23.24x
Middlesex 25 1.80x
Cornwall 8 5.10x
Gloucestershire 8 2.95x
Surrey 8 1.19x
Kent 6 1.27x
Somerset 6 2.69x
Lancashire 4 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 2 2.28x
Hampshire 2 0.70x
Bedfordshire 1 1.39x
Monmouthshire 1 1.00x
Northumberland 1 0.49x
Renfrewshire 1 0.93x
Royal Navy 1 6.06x
Sussex 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Budeaux in Devon leads with 23 Peards recorded in 1881 and an index of 2555.56x.

Place Total Index
St Budeaux 23 2555.56x
Parkham 13 3421.05x
St Pancras London 13 11.66x
Stoke Damerel 11 54.51x
Hammersmith London 9 26.38x
Croydon 8 21.36x
Braunton 5 510.20x
St Agnes 5 227.27x
Bristol St Augustine 3 68.49x
North Curry 3 394.74x
Northam 3 142.86x
Staplegrove 3 1111.11x
Bideford 2 64.72x
Bristol St James In 2 50.13x
Frithelstock 2 740.74x
Hartland 2 222.22x
Hound 2 103.63x
Melbourn 2 235.29x
Northfleet 2 48.08x
Salford 2 4.14x
Swanscombe 2 94.34x
Tormoham 2 16.39x
Tywardreath 2 198.02x
Barnstaple 1 22.08x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 22.88x
Bridestow 1 322.58x
Broughton In Salford 1 6.65x
Chagford 1 144.93x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 20.28x
Cheltenham 1 4.77x
Clifton 1 7.28x
Eastwood 1 15.13x
Exeter St Leonard 1 126.58x
Greenwich 1 4.54x
Hastings St Leonards 1 29.15x
Islington London 1 0.74x
Kempston 1 61.35x
Magor 1 476.19x
Manchester 1 1.35x
Royal Navy 1 7.09x
St Austell 1 18.66x
St George Hanover 1 5.53x
Westbury On Trym 1 10.87x
Westminster St John 1 5.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 7
Ann 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Catherine 3
Frances 3
Sarah 3
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Helen 2
Margt 2
Maria 2
Phillipa 2
Rebecca 2
Amy 1
Anna 1
Bessie 1
Cathleen 1
Christiana 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hester 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Maleta 1
Maryann 1
Olive 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
William 11
Henry 8
James 5
George 4
Thomas 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Stephen 2
Arthur 1
Charles 1
E.I. 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Giles 1
Harry 1
Hy.J. 1
Jno. 1
Oliver 1
Philip 1
R.B. 1
Richard 1
W.I. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Peard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 141 people were recorded with the Peard surname. That placed it at #16,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 156 in 2016. That gives Peard a modern rank of #23,098.

What does the Peard surname mean?

A variant spelling of the surname Peard, which is derived from the Old English word "peor" meaning a pear tree.

What does the Peard map show?

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