NameCensus.

UK surname

Pearn

A surname thought to derive from the Old French "perne" meaning spade or shovel.

In the 1881 census there were 441 people recorded with the Pearn surname, ranking it #7,422 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 583, ranked #8,899, down from #7,422 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Duloe and Lanteglos by Fowey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pearn is 706 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.2%.

1881 census count

441

Ranked #7,422

Modern count

583

2016, ranked #8,899

Peak year

1911

706 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pearn had 441 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,422 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 583 in 2016, ranked #8,899.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 706 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Pearn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pearn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pearn 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 349 #6,747
1861 historical 301 #8,412
1881 historical 441 #7,422
1891 historical 462 #7,917
1901 historical 597 #7,100
1911 historical 706 #6,039
1997 modern 598 #8,162
1998 modern 617 #8,228
1999 modern 601 #8,430
2000 modern 605 #8,379
2001 modern 590 #8,392
2002 modern 583 #8,610
2003 modern 569 #8,624
2004 modern 565 #8,697
2005 modern 540 #8,914
2006 modern 540 #8,939
2007 modern 542 #8,991
2008 modern 540 #9,091
2009 modern 554 #9,117
2010 modern 580 #8,999
2011 modern 587 #8,837
2012 modern 583 #8,784
2013 modern 593 #8,818
2014 modern 593 #8,884
2015 modern 574 #9,015
2016 modern 583 #8,899

Geography

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Where Pearns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Duloe, Lanteglos by Fowey, Morval and Lansalloes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham and Cornwall. 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 3
2 Duloe Cornwall
3 Lanteglos by Fowey Cornwall
4 Morval Cornwall
5 Lansalloes Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 034 County Durham
2 Cornwall 015 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 037 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 028 Cornwall
5 County Durham 037 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pearn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pearn

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Pearn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pearn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Pearn 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

Pearn 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

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

Meaning and origin of Pearn

The surname Pearn is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "peorn" or "piren", meaning a pear tree. It is believed to have originated as a locational surname, referring to those who lived near a pear tree or pear orchard. The name can be traced back to the 12th century in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Devon, Somerset, and Gloucestershire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pearn appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1176, where it is listed as "Pirene". This suggests that the name was already in use during the late 12th century. In the 13th century, the surname is found in various forms, such as "Piren", "Piren de la Bere", and "Pirene de la Pire", indicating the locational aspect of the name.

The Pearn surname has also been associated with several place names in England, including Piren in Devon and Piren's Farm in Somerset. These place names likely derived from the same Old English word and may have contributed to the development of the surname.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Pearn throughout history are:

1. William Pearn (1548-1620), an English lawyer and judge who served as a Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of King James I.

2. Henry Pearn (1795-1858), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a rear-admiral in the Royal Navy.

3. George Pearn (1825-1901), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the 1850s.

4. Noel Pearn (1890-1963), a British mathematician and educator who made significant contributions to the field of differential geometry.

5. Bertrand Pearn (1927-2010), a Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1966 to 1988.

While the Pearn surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, carried by individuals who migrated from the British Isles over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pearn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pearn 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. Cornwall leads with 240 Pearns recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.95x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 240 48.95x
Devon 78 8.65x
Hampshire 20 2.25x
Lancashire 18 0.35x
Kent 16 1.08x
Middlesex 12 0.28x
Pembrokeshire 10 7.27x
Surrey 10 0.47x
Glamorgan 9 1.19x
Durham 8 0.62x
Gloucestershire 7 0.82x
Royal Navy 3 5.81x
Staffordshire 3 0.21x
Sussex 3 0.41x
Dorset 2 0.70x
Somerset 2 0.29x
Monmouthshire 1 0.32x
Norfolk 1 0.15x
Wiltshire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 32 Pearns recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.71x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 32 50.71x
Plymouth Charles The 24 60.42x
Morval 21 2100.00x
Duloe 18 1250.00x
Saltash 15 394.74x
Fowey 14 622.22x
Altarnun 13 764.71x
Lanteglos By Fowey 13 650.00x
Bodmin 12 147.97x
Lewannick 12 1250.00x
East Looe 11 552.76x
Lansallos 11 1037.74x
Menheniot 11 539.22x
West Looe 10 775.19x
Forrabury 9 2045.45x
North Hill 9 573.25x
Portsea 9 5.17x
Lanreath 8 952.38x
Minster In Sheppey 8 32.68x
Liskeard 7 85.37x
Llanstadwell 7 155.56x
Beswick 6 45.66x
Linkinhorne 6 175.44x
Maker 6 132.45x
St Teath 6 203.39x
Ardwick 5 10.79x
Cheriton Fitzpaine 5 438.60x
Greenwich 5 7.25x
Lezant 5 454.55x
Plymstock 5 105.93x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 5.74x
Camberwell 4 1.45x
Devonport 4 38.61x
Fareham 4 37.49x
Gloucester St Nicholas 4 101.78x
Penarth 4 54.27x
Ryhope 4 44.69x
St Helens 4 62.02x
St Johns 4 1481.48x
St Marylebone London 4 1.73x
St Pancras London 4 1.15x
Swansea Higher 4 50.96x
Gorton 3 6.21x
Lanlivery 3 145.63x
Plumstead 3 6.09x
Preston 3 23.53x
Royal Navy 3 6.80x
Tunstall 3 46.80x
Cardynham 2 476.19x
Compton Gifford 2 70.67x
Everton 2 1.22x
Luppitt 2 224.72x
Minster 2 298.51x
Paddington London 2 1.26x
Pembroke St Mary 2 11.29x
St Germans 2 58.48x
Tywardreath 2 63.49x
Weymouth 2 37.17x
Bishopstoke 1 43.86x
Boconnoc 1 250.00x
Bristol St George 1 2.55x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 1.25x
Cardiff St Mary 1 2.41x
Chelsea London 1 0.77x
East Stonehouse 1 5.63x
Exeter St Stephen 1 212.77x
Fulham London 1 1.59x
Kirkdale 1 1.16x
Lanivet 1 65.36x
Lanteglos 1 44.05x
Lawhitton 1 156.25x
Liverpool 1 0.32x
Milford Haven 1 89.29x
Millbrook 1 4.47x
Rugeley 1 9.53x
Salisbury St Edmund 1 16.26x
St Ive 1 31.85x
St Woollos 1 2.86x
Talland 1 86.96x
Uttoxeter 1 13.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Jane 16
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 13
Ellen 12
Ann 8
Annie 8
Emily 8
Eliza 6
Amelia 4
Emma 4
Hannah 4
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Julia 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Alice 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Celina 2
Cordelia 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Flora 2
Florence 2
Janie 2
Laura 2
Margaret 2
May 2
Rebecca 2
Rosina 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Alace 1
Anabella 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Dorothy 1
Elsie 1
Esther 1
Helen 1
Ida 1
Jermima 1
Jessie 1
Leah 1
Lily 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
John 27
George 14
Edward 11
Thomas 11
Charles 10
Joseph 10
Robert 10
Richard 8
Edwin 7
Harry 5
James 5
Samuel 5
Frederick 4
Wm. 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Saml. 3
Claude 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Moses 2
Thos. 2
Alonzo 1
Archibald 1
Cyrus 1
Edwy. 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.H. 1
Hermon 1
Jabey 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Jno.W. 1
Matthew 1
Noah 1
Oscar 1
Pearce 1
Philip 1
Samson 1
Sydney 1
Thos.Andrew 1
Thos.Henry 1
Thos.Jas. 1

FAQ

Pearn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pearn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 441 people were recorded with the Pearn surname. That placed it at #7,422 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pearn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 583 in 2016. That gives Pearn a modern rank of #8,899.

What does the Pearn surname mean?

A surname thought to derive from the Old French "perne" meaning spade or shovel.

What does the Pearn map show?

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