NameCensus.

UK surname

Pearsall

An English occupational surname referring to a person who grows or sells pears.

In the 1881 census there were 604 people recorded with the Pearsall surname, ranking it #5,801 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 789, ranked #6,999, down from #5,801 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Harborne, Dudley and Kidderminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sandwell and South Holland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pearsall is 920 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.6%.

1881 census count

604

Ranked #5,801

Modern count

789

2016, ranked #6,999

Peak year

2002

920 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pearsall had 604 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,801 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 789 in 2016, ranked #6,999.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 894 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Pearsall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pearsall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pearsall 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 423 #5,770
1861 historical 364 #7,023
1881 historical 604 #5,801
1891 historical 673 #5,795
1901 historical 809 #5,579
1911 historical 894 #4,981
1997 modern 873 #6,107
1998 modern 892 #6,203
1999 modern 901 #6,197
2000 modern 891 #6,223
2001 modern 875 #6,197
2002 modern 920 #6,100
2003 modern 865 #6,255
2004 modern 853 #6,335
2005 modern 834 #6,392
2006 modern 829 #6,437
2007 modern 827 #6,511
2008 modern 828 #6,558
2009 modern 853 #6,550
2010 modern 863 #6,613
2011 modern 842 #6,664
2012 modern 781 #6,993
2013 modern 780 #7,118
2014 modern 801 #6,999
2015 modern 787 #7,026
2016 modern 789 #6,999

Geography

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Where Pearsalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Harborne, Dudley, Kidderminster, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sandwell and South Holland. 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 Harborne Worcestershire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Kidderminster Worcestershire
4 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sandwell 010 Sandwell
2 Sandwell 029 Sandwell
3 Sandwell 031 Sandwell
4 Sandwell 035 Sandwell
5 South Holland 008 South Holland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pearsall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pearsall

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Pearsall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Pearsall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pearsall 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

Pearsall is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pearsall falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pearsall 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 Pearsall, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pearsall

The surname Pearsall has its origins in England, with records suggesting it emerged in the late 13th century or early 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "pere" meaning pear and "sæl" meaning hall, referring to a hall or manor where pear trees grew or where pears were stored.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which lists a William de Pereshal in Oxfordshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 also mention a John Perishale in Somerset. These early spellings, such as Pereshal and Perishale, demonstrate the evolution of the name over time.

The name Pearsall has been associated with various locations in England, including Pearsall Green in Staffordshire and Pearsall Field in Worcestershire. These place names may have influenced the surname or vice versa, as people often adopted surnames based on the places they lived or held land.

Notable individuals with the surname Pearsall include:

1. Thomas Pearsall (1782-1847), an English horticulturist and botanist known for his work on rare and exotic plants. 2. Ralph Pearsall (1892-1959), an English composer and conductor, known for his choral works and orchestral pieces. 3. Duane Pearsall (1892-1977), an American historian and author, known for his books on early American history and the American Revolution. 4. Richard Pearsall (fl. 1420), an English priest and composer of sacred music during the Renaissance period. 5. William Pearsall (1834-1908), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly.

While the surname Pearsall has its roots in England, it has spread to other parts of the world through migration and colonization. However, this historical overview focuses solely on the surname's English origins and does not delve into its presence in modern times or census data.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pearsall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pearsall 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. Warwickshire leads with 217 Pearsalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.58x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 217 14.58x
Worcestershire 156 20.24x
Staffordshire 95 4.77x
Middlesex 35 0.59x
Lancashire 18 0.26x
Yorkshire 14 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 13 1.63x
Derbyshire 11 1.19x
Gloucestershire 11 0.95x
Surrey 11 0.38x
Buckinghamshire 8 2.24x
Durham 7 0.40x
Northamptonshire 4 0.72x
Sussex 2 0.20x
Devon 1 0.08x
Glamorgan 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 121 Pearsalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.39x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 121 24.39x
Aston 72 17.57x
Dudley 45 48.03x
Kidderminster Borough 43 95.34x
Oldbury 32 84.39x
West Bromwich 23 20.17x
Harborne 16 25.06x
Upperswinford 16 245.40x
Bolehall Glascote 15 238.10x
Southwell 13 224.53x
Islington London 12 2.10x
Bitton Oldland 11 92.98x
Camberwell 9 2.39x
Kingswinford 9 12.44x
Ivinghoe 8 286.74x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 3.79x
Edgbaston 7 15.17x
Hackney London 7 2.12x
Litchurch 7 18.83x
Lower Mitton 7 103.09x
Warrington 7 8.43x
Linthorpe 6 17.19x
Rushall 6 51.19x
Sedgley 6 8.11x
Wednesfield 6 20.46x
Ardwick 5 7.92x
Norton In Moors 5 47.44x
Stourbridge 5 25.21x
Yardley 5 25.36x
Shoreditch London 4 1.56x
Welford 4 212.77x
Willenhall 4 10.72x
Hulme 3 2.05x
Liversedge 3 11.53x
Newton Solney 3 315.79x
Rotherham 3 9.10x
Rowley Regis 3 5.40x
Southwick 3 18.04x
St Andrew Holborn 3 14.99x
Stockton On Tees 3 3.54x
Stoke Newington London 3 6.53x
Walsall Foreign 3 2.92x
Amblecote 2 35.21x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 2 28.65x
Brighton 2 1.00x
Kensington London 2 0.61x
Lambeth 2 0.39x
Westminster St John 2 2.78x
Wollaston 2 40.90x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.66x
Church Gresley 1 6.80x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 2.25x
East Stonehouse 1 4.13x
Edmonton 1 2.10x
Handsworth 1 2.04x
Husbands Bosworth 1 59.52x
Kings Norton 1 1.45x
Lichfield St Chad 1 22.32x
Liverpool 1 0.24x
Llandaff 1 2.92x
Salford 1 0.49x
Solihull 1 9.35x
St Pancras London 1 0.21x
Walsall Borough 1 6.47x
West Derby 1 0.49x
Wolverhampton 1 0.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Sarah 27
Elizabeth 16
Ann 14
Eliza 13
Alice 11
Hannah 11
Emily 9
Ellen 8
Emma 8
Florence 7
Kate 6
Martha 6
Anne 5
Caroline 5
Clara 5
Matilda 5
Ada 4
Charlotte 4
Harriet 4
Maria 4
Betsy 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Jane 3
Laura 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Rose 3
Agnes 2
Catherine 2
Daisy 2
Edith 2
Elisabeth 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Margaret 2
Nancy 2
Phoebe 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Thirza 2
Caraline 1
Elizth.S. 1
Ellie 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 35
William 30
Thomas 22
Joseph 19
George 17
James 16
Samuel 13
Henry 10
Charles 8
Alfred 7
Ernest 7
Frederick 7
Albert 6
Richard 6
Walter 6
Arthur 5
David 4
Edward 4
Robert 4
Emanuel 3
Enoch 3
Harry 3
Saml. 3
Wm. 3
Abel 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Issachar 2
Thos. 2
Alick 1
Annie 1
Cuthbert 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Enock 1
Ezra 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredric 1
Jas 1
Jonathon 1
Josh. 1
Josiah 1
Lucy 1
Margarate 1
Margaret 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Pearsall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pearsall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 604 people were recorded with the Pearsall surname. That placed it at #5,801 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pearsall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 789 in 2016. That gives Pearsall a modern rank of #6,999.

What does the Pearsall surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who grows or sells pears.

What does the Pearsall map show?

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