UK surname
An English surname derived from "Peardon", a variant of the town name Perdon in Devon.
In the 1881 census there were 99 people recorded with the Peardon surname, ranking it #19,877 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 51, ranked #34,838, down from #19,877 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sydenham Damarel, London parishes and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peardon is 150 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 48.5%.
1881 census count
99
Ranked #19,877
Modern count
51
2016, ranked #34,838
Peak year
1861
150 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Peardon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Peardon surname density by area, 1911 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 | 121 | #15,049 |
| 1861 | historical | 150 | #15,296 |
| 1881 | historical | 99 | #19,877 |
| 1891 | historical | 123 | #20,939 |
| 1901 | historical | 108 | #21,836 |
| 1911 | historical | 133 | #19,214 |
| 1997 | modern | 61 | #31,526 |
| 1998 | modern | 59 | #32,027 |
| 1999 | modern | 60 | #32,078 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 54 | #32,583 |
| 2002 | modern | 56 | #32,753 |
| 2003 | modern | 49 | #33,456 |
| 2004 | modern | 48 | #33,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 50 | #33,784 |
| 2006 | modern | 45 | #34,491 |
| 2007 | modern | 46 | #34,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 50 | #34,521 |
| 2009 | modern | 49 | #34,728 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 50 | #34,816 |
| 2012 | modern | 52 | #34,709 |
| 2013 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2014 | modern | 50 | #34,927 |
| 2015 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2016 | modern | 51 | #34,838 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sydenham Damarel, London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, Stratton and Stoke Climsland. 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 | Sydenham Damarel | Devon |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 4 | Stratton | Cornwall |
| 5 | Stoke Climsland | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Peardon 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 Peardon, 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 Peardon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Peardon 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, Peardon 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 Peardon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Peardon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Peardon has its origins in England, dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from a combination of the Old English words "pere" meaning pear, and "don" meaning a hill or down. This suggests that the name may have originated as a place name, referring to a location where pear trees were grown on a hillside.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Peardon can be found in the parish records of Gloucestershire, where a William Peardon was documented in 1597. In the 17th century, the name also appeared in the records of Oxfordshire, with variants such as Peerdon and Pairdon.
The Peardon surname has been linked to several notable individuals throughout history. In the early 18th century, a John Peardon (1683-1756) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Bristol, England. His descendants played an active role in the city's affairs for generations.
Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Peardon (1784-1856), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament. He was knighted for his distinguished service and played a role in the abolition of the slave trade.
In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Peardon name was in the late 18th century, when a family settled in Virginia. James Peardon (1765-1842) was a farmer and landowner who served in the American Revolutionary War.
During the 19th century, the Peardon surname appeared in various parts of the United States, with individuals such as William Peardon (1812-1891), a successful businessman and banker in Ohio, and John Peardon (1828-1907), a lawyer and judge in Illinois.
In the 20th century, Henry Peardon (1901-1978) was a prominent English cricketer who played for Yorkshire and England in the 1920s and 1930s, while Robert Peardon (1915-2003) was a Canadian politician and served as a Member of Parliament for several terms.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peardon 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. Devon leads with 35 Peardons recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.77x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 35 | 17.77x |
| Cornwall | 23 | 21.48x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 1.37x |
| Surrey | 9 | 1.95x |
| Hampshire | 7 | 3.61x |
| Durham | 5 | 1.78x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.27x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.23x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.71x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stratton in Cornwall leads with 20 Peardons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3448.28x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stratton | 20 | 3448.28x |
| Lambeth | 8 | 9.70x |
| South Molton | 6 | 555.56x |
| Swarraton | 6 | 15000.00x |
| Dawdon | 5 | 144.51x |
| Exeter St Sidwell | 5 | 110.86x |
| St Pancras London | 5 | 6.57x |
| Drewsteignton | 4 | 1538.46x |
| Lifton | 4 | 851.06x |
| Bere Ferrers | 3 | 937.50x |
| Buckfastleigh | 3 | 329.67x |
| Lanteglos | 3 | 600.00x |
| Stoke Damerel | 3 | 21.77x |
| Stonehouse East | 3 | 300.00x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 3.77x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.18x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 3.96x |
| Sydenham Damerel | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Chulmleigh | 1 | 222.22x |
| Crosscanonby | 1 | 37.17x |
| Everton | 1 | 2.80x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 1 | 11.89x |
| North Meols | 1 | 9.10x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.88x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 1 | 7.48x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 8.10x |
| St Thomas Winchester | 1 | 72.99x |
| Trusham | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Wimbledon | 1 | 19.34x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Peardon 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 Peardon 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 Peardon households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 22 |
| Annuitant | 4 |
| Hosier | 2 |
| Lithographic Printer | 2 |
| Seaman | 2 |
| Wife | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Blacksmiths Apprentice | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labr | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carpenter & Joiner | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Dairy Keeper | 1 |
| Decorator | 1 |
| Domestic Serv General | 1 |
| Draper & Grocer | 1 |
| Drapers Apprentice | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Labr | 1 |
| Farmer Of 80 Acres | 1 |
| Formerly Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Housemaid (Domestic Serv.) | 1 |
| Inspector of Nuisances | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Lace Worker | 1 |
| Lithographic Draughtsman (CR) | 1 |
| Marine Store Dealer | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Retired Glover | 1 |
| School Mistress | 1 |
| Serv (out of Employ) | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tailor Unemployd | 1 |
| Washerwoman | 1 |
| Watch Maker | 1 |
| Watch Manufr | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 99 people were recorded with the Peardon surname. That placed it at #19,877 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 51 in 2016. That gives Peardon a modern rank of #34,838.
An English surname derived from "Peardon", a variant of the town name Perdon in Devon.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Peardon 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.