NameCensus.

UK surname

Pearl

A surname derived from the precious gemstone, likely referring to a trader or collector of pearls.

In the 1881 census there were 626 people recorded with the Pearl surname, ranking it #5,649 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 781, ranked #7,060, down from #5,649 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hitcham, Brettenham, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, Ipswich and Cambridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pearl is 1,083 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.8%.

1881 census count

626

Ranked #5,649

Modern count

781

2016, ranked #7,060

Peak year

1911

1,083 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pearl had 626 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,649 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 781 in 2016, ranked #7,060.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,083 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Pearl surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pearl surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Pearl 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 392 #6,129
1861 historical 577 #4,568
1881 historical 626 #5,649
1891 historical 833 #4,883
1901 historical 831 #5,455
1911 historical 1,083 #4,286
1997 modern 811 #6,466
1998 modern 852 #6,423
1999 modern 836 #6,567
2000 modern 817 #6,664
2001 modern 803 #6,634
2002 modern 835 #6,547
2003 modern 805 #6,615
2004 modern 788 #6,758
2005 modern 754 #6,928
2006 modern 746 #7,013
2007 modern 758 #6,993
2008 modern 770 #6,956
2009 modern 761 #7,169
2010 modern 798 #7,047
2011 modern 780 #7,093
2012 modern 799 #6,835
2013 modern 801 #6,945
2014 modern 811 #6,906
2015 modern 786 #7,040
2016 modern 781 #7,060

Geography

Back to top

Where Pearls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hitcham, Brettenham, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Fulbourn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, Ipswich, Cambridge and Nottingham. 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 Hitcham, Brettenham Suffolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Fulbourn Cambridgeshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 003 South Holland
2 South Holland 002 South Holland
3 Ipswich 013 Ipswich
4 Cambridge 012 Cambridge
5 Nottingham 008 Nottingham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Pearl

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Pearl

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Pearl surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Pearl 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 are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Pearl is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pearl is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pearl 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 Pearl 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 Pearl, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pearl

The surname PEARL is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "perle," which itself comes from the Latin word "pirula," meaning a small spherical object. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who had a particular fondness for or association with pearls.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the late 12th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It is believed that the name may have initially referred to individuals involved in the pearl trade or those who worked as pearl merchants or jewelers.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are no direct references to the surname PEARL, as it had not yet emerged as a hereditary surname at that time. However, there are mentions of individuals with occupational names related to pearls, such as "Margerie le Perlere" (Margery the Pearl Worker) from Norfolk in 1273.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname PEARL is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1230, which mention a "William Perle." Another early record is from the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, which lists a "Robert Perle."

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname PEARL. One example is Sir Henry Pearl (1604-1680), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1665. Another is Cynthia Pearl Maus (1898-1983), an American actress and songwriter known for her roles in silent films during the 1920s.

Other individuals with the surname PEARL include:

1. Thomas Pearl (1608-1666), an English Puritan clergyman and author. 2. John Pearl (1837-1914), a British politician and member of Parliament for Woodstock. 3. Raymond Pearl (1879-1940), an American biologist and statistician known for his work on population growth and longevity. 4. James Pearl (1918-2007), an American jazz drummer and session musician. 5. Mary Pearl (1768-1825), an English writer and author of children's literature.

While the surname PEARL is not among the most common English surnames, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and reflects the cultural significance of pearls in various contexts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Pearl families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pearl 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 168 Pearls recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.76x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 168 2.76x
Suffolk 134 18.05x
Essex 74 6.15x
Surrey 52 1.75x
Cambridgeshire 34 8.80x
Lancashire 32 0.44x
Kent 28 1.35x
Lincolnshire 17 1.74x
Somerset 15 1.53x
Staffordshire 11 0.53x
Yorkshire 9 0.15x
Durham 7 0.39x
Wiltshire 6 1.11x
Cheshire 5 0.37x
Gloucestershire 5 0.42x
Berkshire 4 0.87x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.09x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.49x
Cumberland 3 0.57x
Denbighshire 3 1.30x
Norfolk 3 0.32x
Hertfordshire 2 0.48x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.40x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Northumberland 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 29 Pearls recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.91x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 29 10.91x
Islington London 26 4.40x
St Pancras London 20 4.08x
Hackney London 16 4.68x
Fulbourn 15 406.50x
Whitechapel London 15 24.96x
Bury St Edmunds St James 14 70.60x
Hitcham 14 748.66x
Barking 12 312.50x
Lewisham 12 10.82x
Camberwell 11 2.82x
East Ham 11 49.26x
Edwardstone 11 1208.79x
Castle Camps 10 537.63x
Bildeston 9 552.15x
Elmsett 9 1000.00x
South Mimms 9 107.66x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 5.06x
Bermondsey 8 4.41x
Bromley London 8 5.96x
Mile End New Town 8 96.15x
Minehead 8 215.63x
Newington 8 3.55x
Shoreditch London 8 3.03x
Bethnal Green London 7 2.64x
Edmonton 7 14.25x
Holbeach 7 64.46x
Mile End Old Town 7 7.27x
Mortlake 7 52.87x
Rainham 7 267.18x
Willisham 7 1666.67x
Chard 6 50.46x
East Bergholt 6 241.94x
Everton 6 2.60x
Isleworth 6 22.14x
Lambeth 6 1.13x
Liverpool 6 1.37x
Manchester 6 1.84x
Newmarket All Sts 6 210.53x
Somerford Keynes 6 895.52x
Strood 6 50.55x
Woodham Ferris 6 425.53x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 8.88x
Battersea 5 2.23x
Buxhall 5 505.05x
Farnham 5 21.65x
Monk Soham 5 595.24x
Pelton 5 57.94x
Ringshall 5 724.64x
Stratton 5 344.83x
Tranmere 5 10.11x
Woolpit 5 231.48x
Bedingfield 4 579.71x
Boston 4 13.52x
Brettenham 4 606.06x
Chelsea London 4 2.18x
Downham 4 769.23x
Earl Soham 4 312.50x
Great Thurlow 4 493.83x
Harborne 4 6.07x
Leyton 4 19.30x
New Windsor 4 26.01x
St Clement Danes 4 40.53x
Willingale Doe 4 454.55x
Abergele 3 45.32x
Alston 3 31.02x
Ashford 3 14.81x
Bulwell 3 16.79x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.87x
Ecclesfield 3 6.77x
Friern Barnet 3 22.34x
Newcastle Under Lyme 3 8.24x
Prittlewell 3 17.99x
Reydon 3 447.76x
St Marylebone London 3 0.92x
Tuddenham St Mary 3 370.37x
West Bromwich 3 2.55x
Willesden 3 5.22x
Bocking 2 27.62x
St Martin Lincoln 2 22.12x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 33
George 30
James 26
William 25
Charles 16
Robert 16
Henry 12
Thomas 11
Alfred 9
Frederick 8
Walter 8
Albert 7
Arthur 6
Joseph 5
Edward 4
Harry 4
Richard 4
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Willm. 3
Wm. 3
David 2
Edwin 2
Elijah 2
Horace 2
Louis 2
Major 2
Reginald 2
Samuel 2
Selah 2
Willie 2
Authur 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmun.J. 1
Edmund 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.D. 1
Geo.Henry 1
Geoffery 1
Geoffrey 1
Mark 1
Maurice 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Pricilla 1
Rhueben 1

FAQ

Pearl surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pearl surname in 1881?

In 1881, 626 people were recorded with the Pearl surname. That placed it at #5,649 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pearl surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 781 in 2016. That gives Pearl a modern rank of #7,060.

What does the Pearl surname mean?

A surname derived from the precious gemstone, likely referring to a trader or collector of pearls.

What does the Pearl map show?

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