NameCensus.

UK surname

Pearson

An English occupational surname referring to a person who worked with pears or lived near a pear tree.

In the 1881 census there were 34,754 people recorded with the Pearson surname, ranking it #93 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 46,122, ranked #109, down from #93 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, Dudley and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pearson is 47,958 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.7%.

1881 census count

34,754

Ranked #93

Modern count

46,122

2016, ranked #109

Peak year

1999

47,958 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pearson had 34,754 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #93 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 46,122 in 2016, ranked #109.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 45,555 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pearson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pearson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pearson 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 22,392 #94
1861 historical 22,709 #96
1881 historical 34,754 #93
1891 historical 38,041 #89
1901 historical 43,779 #90
1911 historical 45,555 #80
1997 modern 46,017 #100
1998 modern 47,651 #101
1999 modern 47,958 #101
2000 modern 47,573 #101
2001 modern 46,508 #100
2002 modern 47,387 #103
2003 modern 46,250 #103
2004 modern 46,172 #104
2005 modern 45,313 #105
2006 modern 45,200 #106
2007 modern 45,647 #106
2008 modern 45,866 #106
2009 modern 46,754 #108
2010 modern 47,647 #107
2011 modern 46,866 #108
2012 modern 45,746 #109
2013 modern 46,593 #109
2014 modern 46,931 #109
2015 modern 46,340 #109
2016 modern 46,122 #109

Geography

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Where Pearsons are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, Dudley, Bradford and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Gateshead Durham
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 001 Allerdale
2 Dudley 021 Dudley
3 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
4 Bradford 058 Bradford
5 Redcar and Cleveland 006 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pearson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pearson

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

Pearson 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

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

Meaning and origin of Pearson

The surname PEARSON is of English origin and dates back to the late 12th century. It is a patronymic name, meaning "son of Piers", which was a common medieval English form of the name Peter. The name Peter derives from the Greek name Petros, meaning "rock" or "stone".

PEARSON was originally found in northern English counties such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. Early spellings of the name included Pereson, Peresson, Peirson, and Pierson. The "Pear" element of the name likely evolved from the earlier "Pier" or "Piers" forms.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PEARSON appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1199, referring to a William Pearson. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also list several individuals with the surname PEARSON in various counties.

Notable historical figures with the surname PEARSON include Sir Richard Pearson (1731-1806), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. John Pearson (1613-1686) was an English author and clergyman who wrote biographies of famous figures like John Donne and John Hales.

In the 16th century, a branch of the PEARSON family settled in the area of Torne, East Yorkshire, giving rise to the place name Pearson House. Another branch established themselves in the Howdenshire area, owning land called Pearson Flatt.

Other notable individuals with the PEARSON surname include Henry Pearson (1870-1916), an English cricketer who played for Yorkshire and England; Lancelot Pearson (1835-1906), an English architect known for designing the Royal College of Music; and Carl Pearson (1857-1936), an English mathematician and philosopher who established the modern field of statistics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pearson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pearson 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. Yorkshire leads with 8,163 Pearsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.43x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 8,163 2.43x
Lancashire 4,953 1.23x
Durham 2,133 2.11x
Middlesex 1,999 0.59x
Staffordshire 1,572 1.37x
Kent 1,197 1.03x
Cheshire 1,170 1.56x
Northumberland 1,016 2.01x
Lincolnshire 1,003 1.85x
Surrey 984 0.60x
Warwickshire 964 1.13x
Cumberland 932 3.19x
Derbyshire 882 1.66x
Worcestershire 808 1.82x
Nottinghamshire 804 1.76x
Essex 373 0.56x
Lanarkshire 370 0.34x
Midlothian 366 0.81x
Norfolk 366 0.70x
Leicestershire 364 0.97x
Fife 342 1.70x
Northamptonshire 335 1.05x
Suffolk 330 0.80x
Sussex 290 0.51x
Westmorland 270 3.62x
Hampshire 266 0.38x
Cambridgeshire 253 1.18x
Angus 190 0.60x
Bedfordshire 149 0.85x
Gloucestershire 143 0.21x
Perthshire 128 0.84x
Ayrshire 94 0.37x
East Lothian 88 1.96x
Devon 85 0.12x
Renfrewshire 85 0.32x
Somerset 81 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 79 0.39x
Huntingdonshire 76 1.13x
Oxfordshire 76 0.36x
Shetland 71 2.05x
Glamorgan 68 0.12x
Berkshire 66 0.26x
Shropshire 65 0.22x
Stirlingshire 55 0.44x
Herefordshire 47 0.34x
Hertfordshire 46 0.20x
Dumfriesshire 39 0.52x
Clackmannanshire 33 1.18x
Monmouthshire 31 0.13x
Flintshire 29 0.32x
Royal Navy 29 0.72x
Berwickshire 27 0.66x
Orkney 27 0.72x
Roxburghshire 27 0.44x
Denbighshire 26 0.20x
Wiltshire 26 0.09x
Aberdeenshire 25 0.08x
Cornwall 24 0.06x
Channel Islands 21 0.21x
Dorset 20 0.09x
Rutland 18 0.72x
Dunbartonshire 17 0.19x
Selkirkshire 17 0.55x
Kirkcudbrightshire 16 0.33x
Peeblesshire 13 0.81x
Radnorshire 13 0.47x
Isle of Man 12 0.19x
West Lothian 12 0.23x
Montgomeryshire 11 0.14x
Inverness-shire 9 0.09x
Anglesey 8 0.13x
Banffshire 8 0.11x
Caernarfonshire 7 0.05x
Carmarthenshire 7 0.05x
Argyllshire 6 0.06x
Buteshire 6 0.29x
Kincardineshire 6 0.15x
Kinross-shire 5 0.58x
Brecknockshire 3 0.04x
Merionethshire 3 0.05x
Wigtownshire 3 0.07x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.02x
Caithness 1 0.02x
Morayshire 1 0.02x
Nairnshire 1 0.10x
Sutherland 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. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 409 Pearsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.15x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 409 2.15x
Kingswinford 327 7.86x
Aston 298 1.26x
Golcar 250 28.12x
Preston 250 2.32x
Lambeth 240 0.81x
Dudley 237 4.40x
Birmingham 236 0.83x
Manchester 231 1.28x
Islington London 197 0.60x
Blackburn 194 1.81x
Hackney London 191 1.00x
Ecclesall Bierlow 185 2.70x
Toxteth Park 181 1.33x
Stockport 170 4.41x
Salford 164 1.38x
Sheffield 163 1.52x
North Bierley 159 8.76x
Rowley Regis 158 4.95x
Holy Trinity 157 1.94x
Pendleton In Salford 153 3.19x
Gateshead 151 2.00x
Nottingham St Mary 150 1.27x
Camberwell 149 0.69x
Middlesbrough 145 3.31x
Liverpool 141 0.58x
Cleckheaton 139 11.22x
Everton 139 1.08x
Wollescote 139 38.94x
Govan 136 0.50x
Bradford 131 1.61x
Wolverhampton 129 1.46x
Hulme 128 1.52x
St Pancras London 126 0.46x
Elswick 125 3.10x
Stranton 124 3.65x
Lye 122 16.54x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 119 0.65x
Westoe 119 2.08x
Shoreditch London 118 0.80x
Halifax 117 2.37x
Oldham 116 0.89x
Sculcoates 116 2.18x
Hipperholme Cum 114 7.72x
Tonbridge 114 2.73x
Bowling 112 3.36x
West Bromwich 109 1.66x
Stockton On Tees 108 2.22x
Nether Hallam 107 2.35x
Bury 105 2.28x
Horton In Bradford 105 2.00x
Brightside Bierlow 104 1.58x
Kensington London 104 0.55x
Manningham 104 2.51x
Great Grimsby 102 2.96x
Barrow In Furness 101 1.84x
Hunslet 100 1.91x
Ashton Under Lyne 98 1.11x
Barony 98 0.35x
Whitby 97 8.56x
Portsea 96 0.70x
Tipton 95 2.71x
Worsley 95 3.83x
Battersea 93 0.74x
Bishopwearmouth 93 1.07x
Bromley London 93 1.25x
Calverley Cum Farsley 93 9.74x
Altrincham 92 7.03x
Huddersfield 92 1.88x
Scarborough 88 2.88x
Paddington London 86 0.69x
Darlington 84 2.16x
Keighley 83 2.32x
Macclesfield 82 2.46x
Newcastle On Tyne St 82 3.13x
Todmorden Walsden 82 7.60x
Heworth 79 3.97x
Oswaldtwistle 79 5.55x
Byker 78 3.13x
Deptford St Paul 78 0.87x
Foleshill 77 8.55x
Basford 76 3.60x
Wyke In Bradford 76 12.64x
Barton Upon Irwell 75 2.47x
Poplar London 75 1.17x
St Marylebone London 75 0.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2,352
Sarah 1,329
Elizabeth 1,275
Jane 721
Ann 714
Hannah 533
Emma 465
Alice 443
Ellen 437
Annie 427
Margaret 425
Eliza 418
Martha 332
Emily 294
Harriet 216
Ada 190
Maria 190
Isabella 178
Charlotte 177
Fanny 175
Louisa 175
Frances 169
Clara 159
Florence 149
Edith 147
Kate 133
Catherine 129
Caroline 128
Agnes 121
Anne 119
Lucy 97
Esther 83
Susannah 82
Susan 81
Harriett 74
Eleanor 72
Amelia 71
Rebecca 71
Betsy 68
Amy 61
Gertrude 61
Rose 57
Minnie 55
Elizth. 54
Grace 54
Matilda 54
Ethel 53
Jessie 51
Rachel 46
Ruth 46

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2,106
William 1,954
Thomas 1,194
George 1,131
James 1,037
Joseph 764
Henry 594
Charles 508
Robert 504
Edward 335
Arthur 334
Samuel 318
Alfred 282
Richard 278
Frederick 205
Walter 182
Harry 179
Albert 170
Frank 132
Herbert 128
David 127
Benjamin 125
Ernest 104
Wm. 103
Fred 89
Francis 84
Edwin 82
Tom 82
Isaac 73
Thos. 73
Stephen 57
Peter 56
Daniel 50
Mark 49
Matthew 48
Jonathan 45
Geo. 44
Andrew 43
Chas. 41
Ralph 37
Joshua 32
Abraham 29
Edmund 29
Hugh 29
Leonard 29
Sam 27
Josiah 26
Sidney 26
Alexander 25
Percy 25

Top occupations

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 Pearson households.

FAQ

Pearson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pearson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 34,754 people were recorded with the Pearson surname. That placed it at #93 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pearson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 46,122 in 2016. That gives Pearson a modern rank of #109.

What does the Pearson surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who worked with pears or lived near a pear tree.

What does the Pearson map show?

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