NameCensus.

UK surname

Pearse

A surname of Irish origin meaning "person exhibiting great virtues or talent".

In the 1881 census there were 3,187 people recorded with the Pearse surname, ranking it #1,414 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,193, ranked #2,959, down from #1,414 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Teignbridge, East Devon and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pearse is 3,187 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.2%.

1881 census count

3,187

Ranked #1,414

Modern count

2,193

2016, ranked #2,959

Peak year

1881

3,187 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pearse had 3,187 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,414 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,193 in 2016, ranked #2,959.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,187 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pearse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pearse surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Pearse 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 2,799 #1,044
1861 historical 2,281 #1,291
1881 historical 3,187 #1,414
1891 historical 2,885 #1,640
1901 historical 3,026 #1,850
1911 historical 2,929 #1,777
1997 modern 2,319 #2,682
1998 modern 2,448 #2,657
1999 modern 2,442 #2,687
2000 modern 2,422 #2,690
2001 modern 2,366 #2,691
2002 modern 2,412 #2,702
2003 modern 2,309 #2,746
2004 modern 2,304 #2,745
2005 modern 2,268 #2,753
2006 modern 2,235 #2,793
2007 modern 2,241 #2,807
2008 modern 2,261 #2,813
2009 modern 2,306 #2,828
2010 modern 2,360 #2,827
2011 modern 2,332 #2,822
2012 modern 2,248 #2,865
2013 modern 2,272 #2,888
2014 modern 2,262 #2,913
2015 modern 2,204 #2,946
2016 modern 2,193 #2,959

Geography

Back to top

Where Pearses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes and Plymouth St Charles the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Teignbridge, East Devon, South Hams and West Dorset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Plymouth St Charles the Martyr Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Teignbridge 019 Teignbridge
2 East Devon 001 East Devon
3 South Hams 005 South Hams
4 South Hams 008 South Hams
5 West Dorset 002 West Dorset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Pearse

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Pearse

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pearse is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Pearse is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pearse falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pearse

The surname Pearse originated in Ireland and derives from the Old Irish word 'piors' meaning 'tough' or 'brawny'. It is believed to have emerged as a descriptive surname in the 12th century, referring to someone with a strong or muscular physique.

The earliest recorded references to the name date back to the 13th century, with entries found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. One such reference mentions a Dermot Pearse, a warrior who fought alongside the Irish King Brian Boru at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.

In the 16th century, the surname Pearse was widespread in the counties of Cork, Waterford, and Kilkenny, particularly in areas like Ballymacperse (meaning 'town of the Pearses') and Slieveperse. Variations in spelling included Piers, Peirce, and Pierse.

One notable bearer of the name was Patrick Pearse, a renowned Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, and revolutionary who played a pivotal role in the Easter Rising of 1916. Born in 1879, he was executed for his involvement in the rebellion against British rule at the age of 36.

Another historical figure with the surname Pearse was Henry Pearse, a 17th-century English composer and musician who served as the Master of Choristers at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. He was born around 1623 and died in 1673.

In the 18th century, Richard Pearse, an English inventor and aircraft designer, made significant contributions to the field of aviation. He was born in 1839 and is credited with designing and constructing one of the first successful heavier-than-air flying machines in 1903, predating the Wright brothers' famous flight.

Reverend Edward Pearse, born in 1633, was an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1677 to 1678.

Lastly, John Pearse, born in 1579, was an English philosopher and author who wrote extensively on metaphysics and the nature of reality. His works, such as "The Discovery of a World in the Moone" (1638), explored philosophical concepts and speculative ideas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Pearse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pearse 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 903 Pearses recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.96x.

County Total Index
Devon 903 13.96x
Middlesex 437 1.41x
Somerset 261 5.22x
Cornwall 231 6.57x
Surrey 211 1.39x
Gloucestershire 149 2.44x
Yorkshire 106 0.34x
Kent 94 0.89x
Suffolk 90 2.38x
Lancashire 77 0.21x
Bedfordshire 64 3.98x
Oxfordshire 55 2.87x
Hampshire 51 0.80x
Durham 47 0.51x
Worcestershire 32 0.79x
Norfolk 31 0.65x
Sussex 30 0.57x
Essex 29 0.47x
Warwickshire 28 0.36x
Glamorgan 25 0.46x
Buckinghamshire 23 1.22x
Wiltshire 21 0.76x
Berkshire 19 0.81x
Cheshire 16 0.23x
Dorset 16 0.78x
Derbyshire 15 0.31x
Monmouthshire 14 0.62x
Hertfordshire 13 0.61x
Staffordshire 13 0.12x
Channel Islands 11 1.19x
Cambridgeshire 10 0.51x
Lincolnshire 10 0.20x
Northumberland 10 0.22x
Shropshire 9 0.34x
Herefordshire 8 0.63x
Lanarkshire 5 0.05x
Carmarthenshire 4 0.31x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.10x
Royal Navy 3 0.81x
Leicestershire 2 0.06x
Northamptonshire 2 0.07x
Cumberland 1 0.04x
Denbighshire 1 0.09x
East Lothian 1 0.24x
Flintshire 1 0.12x
Midlothian 1 0.02x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.14x
Renfrewshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth Charles The in Devon leads with 82 Pearses recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.77x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth Charles The 82 28.77x
Lambeth 62 2.29x
Exeter St Sidwell 59 39.82x
Plymouth St Andrew 57 11.44x
Stoke Damerel 53 11.71x
Tormoham 47 17.17x
Modbury 41 248.18x
St Marylebone London 41 2.47x
St Pancras London 37 1.48x
Newington 34 2.96x
Bedminster 33 7.02x
Holbeton 32 270.04x
Buckfastleigh 29 97.15x
Stapleton 28 24.22x
Islington London 27 0.90x
Chelsea London 26 2.78x
Kensington London 25 1.45x
St Luke London 24 4.81x
Battersea 23 2.01x
Kingham 22 334.86x
Plympton St Mary 22 58.84x
Barnstaple 21 20.68x
Birmingham 20 0.77x
Carhampton 20 291.55x
East Stonehouse 20 15.69x
Exeter Heavitree 19 39.39x
Mangotsfield 19 31.27x
Winterbourne 19 56.41x
Kidderminster Borough 18 7.58x
Hampstead London 17 3.51x
Holne 17 532.92x
North Hill 17 150.71x
Mile End Old Town 16 3.26x
St George Hanover 16 3.94x
Bampton 15 75.72x
Bethnal Green London 15 1.11x
Bromley 15 9.28x
Hammersmith London 15 1.96x
St Veep 14 246.05x
Tiverton 14 12.56x
Walkhampton 14 226.17x
Westbury On Trym 14 6.78x
Wolborough 14 17.12x
Hendon 13 11.63x
Paddington London 13 1.14x
Plymstock 13 38.38x
Dawlish 12 24.87x
Exeter St David 12 21.71x
Greenwich 12 2.43x
Hatherleigh 12 74.53x
Hornsey 12 3.05x
Manchester 12 0.72x
Minehead 12 63.53x
Okehampton 12 49.20x
South Brent 12 86.39x
St Pinnock 12 224.72x
Blundeston 11 144.74x
Burn 11 303.03x
Clapham 11 2.83x
Clifton 11 3.57x
Ellerton Priory 11 365.45x
Elworthy 11 625.00x
Hackney London 11 0.63x
Luton 11 3.95x
St Helier 11 3.67x
Taunton St James 11 15.08x
Westoning 11 157.37x
Wilshampstead 11 125.86x
Axminster 10 32.97x
Brompton Regis 10 183.49x
Camberwell 10 0.50x
Chediston 10 259.74x
Exford 10 206.19x
Feltham 10 32.23x
Illogan 10 10.73x
Lewannick 10 145.77x
Linkinhorne 10 40.80x
Porlock 10 122.70x
Southwark St Saviour 10 6.26x
West Alvington 9 99.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 217
Elizabeth 122
Sarah 78
Jane 65
Emily 59
Emma 56
Ellen 54
Annie 52
Ann 51
Eliza 43
Alice 42
Edith 36
Susan 27
Caroline 25
Louisa 25
Martha 24
Fanny 22
Florence 22
Charlotte 21
Maria 21
Kate 19
Harriet 18
Frances 17
Hannah 17
Lucy 15
Clara 14
Sophia 14
Margaret 13
Agnes 12
Anne 12
Bessie 12
Catherine 12
Gertrude 12
Anna 11
Rose 11
Ada 10
Beatrice 9
Harriett 9
Selina 9
Amelia 8
Blanche 8
Elizth. 8
Ethel 8
Grace 8
Jessie 8
Matilda 8
Amy 7
Julia 7
Mabel 7
Rosina 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 208
John 168
Thomas 101
George 98
James 83
Henry 69
Charles 57
Richard 49
Alfred 45
Robert 42
Edward 36
Frederick 34
Arthur 33
Samuel 29
Joseph 28
Walter 26
Francis 23
Albert 22
Ernest 22
Frank 16
Harry 14
Edwin 11
Herbert 10
Sydney 10
Wm. 10
David 8
Fred 7
Fredrick 6
Earnest 5
Edmund 5
Stephen 5
Fredk. 4
Martin 4
Saml. 4
Sidney 4
Tom 4
Archibald 3
Benjamin 3
Horace 3
Horatio 3
Isaac 3
Jas. 3
Jeffery 3
Josiah 3
Mark 3
Matthew 3
Peter 3
Reginald 3
Willie 3
Louis 2

FAQ

Pearse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pearse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,187 people were recorded with the Pearse surname. That placed it at #1,414 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pearse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,193 in 2016. That gives Pearse a modern rank of #2,959.

What does the Pearse surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin meaning "person exhibiting great virtues or talent".

What does the Pearse map show?

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