UK surname
An English surname derived from someone living near a pear tree.
In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Peartree surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 57, ranked #34,511, down from #17,602 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St James Clerkenwell and Clacton, Little. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peartree is 122 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 53.3%.
1881 census count
122
Ranked #17,602
Modern count
57
2016, ranked #34,511
Peak year
1881
122 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Peartree surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Peartree surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 59 | #22,756 |
| 1861 | historical | 48 | #27,896 |
| 1881 | historical | 122 | #17,602 |
| 1891 | historical | 102 | #23,719 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 120 | #20,447 |
| 1997 | modern | 84 | #29,106 |
| 1998 | modern | 88 | #29,131 |
| 1999 | modern | 79 | #30,243 |
| 2000 | modern | 76 | #30,578 |
| 2001 | modern | 75 | #30,481 |
| 2002 | modern | 85 | #29,867 |
| 2003 | modern | 83 | #30,088 |
| 2004 | modern | 86 | #30,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 82 | #30,617 |
| 2006 | modern | 75 | #31,733 |
| 2007 | modern | 77 | #31,856 |
| 2008 | modern | 78 | #32,081 |
| 2009 | modern | 71 | #33,102 |
| 2010 | modern | 69 | #33,560 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 60 | #34,287 |
| 2013 | modern | 61 | #34,317 |
| 2014 | modern | 60 | #34,400 |
| 2015 | modern | 59 | #34,407 |
| 2016 | modern | 57 | #34,511 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, Clacton, Little, Great Holland, Frinton and Boxted. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 3 | Clacton, Little | Essex |
| 4 | Great Holland, Frinton | Essex |
| 5 | Boxted | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Peartree surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Peartree, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Peartree surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Peartree household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Peartree is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Peartree is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Peartree, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Peartree has its origins in England, tracing back to the 11th century and the Norman Conquest. It is an occupational surname derived from the Old English words "pere" meaning pear and "treow" meaning tree, indicating that the original bearers of this name were likely involved in the cultivation or trade of pear trees.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Peartree can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry in the Domesday Book suggests that individuals with this surname may have resided in areas known for their orchards or pear tree cultivation.
During the Middle Ages, the name Peartree appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, often in different spellings such as "Peretre," "Peretree," and "Peiretre." These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.
In the 13th century, a prominent figure named John Peartree was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire, indicating his involvement in local affairs or land ownership. Another notable individual, Robert Peartree, was recorded in the Court Rolls of Sussex in the late 14th century.
As time passed, the surname Peartree became more widespread across England, and several individuals with this name gained recognition in various fields. For example, William Peartree (1580-1642) was a renowned English clergyman and author, known for his works on religious subjects.
Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Peartree (1695-1766), a prominent merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of London through his charitable endeavors.
In the 19th century, the novelist and playwright Elizabeth Peartree (1822-1891) gained literary acclaim for her works exploring societal issues and the complexities of human relationships.
While the surname Peartree may not have been among the most common in England, it has left a lasting mark throughout history, reflecting the diverse occupations and achievements of its bearers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peartree surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Suffolk leads with 41 Peartrees recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.29x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Suffolk | 41 | 28.29x |
| Essex | 35 | 14.90x |
| Middlesex | 25 | 2.10x |
| Surrey | 14 | 2.41x |
| Kent | 4 | 0.99x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.76x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.50x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.64x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke By Nayland in Suffolk leads with 31 Peartrees recorded in 1881 and an index of 6595.74x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stoke By Nayland | 31 | 6595.74x |
| Monks Eleigh | 10 | 4166.67x |
| Lambeth | 8 | 7.71x |
| Great Holland | 7 | 4375.00x |
| Little Clacton | 7 | 2800.00x |
| Boxted | 6 | 1764.71x |
| Clapham | 6 | 40.32x |
| Westminster St John | 6 | 41.41x |
| Grays Thurrock | 5 | 229.36x |
| Leyton Low | 5 | 104.82x |
| St Giles In Fields | 5 | 121.95x |
| Hackney London | 4 | 6.00x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 4.18x |
| Shoreditch London | 3 | 5.82x |
| Great Parndon | 2 | 1000.00x |
| Ightham | 2 | 392.16x |
| Northfleet | 2 | 55.87x |
| Colchester All Sts | 1 | 555.56x |
| Colchester St James | 1 | 105.26x |
| Finchley | 1 | 21.93x |
| Hastings All Sts | 1 | 52.91x |
| Islington London | 1 | 0.87x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.51x |
| Stoke Prior | 1 | 104.17x |
| Stoughton | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Thorpe | 1 | 400.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Peartree surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Maria | 5 |
| Mary | 5 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Jessie | 2 |
| Julia | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Ardne | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Dinah | 1 |
| Eliz. | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Harriott | 1 |
| Jemima | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Mildred | 1 |
| Ragina | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Ruth | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Peartree surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Peartree households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 32 |
| Ag Lab | 11 |
| Farm Labourer | 3 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| (D | 1 |
| (D S) | 1 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Agricultural Labr | 1 |
| Apprentice Bootmaker | 1 |
| Artist 3/7 | 1 |
| BA Barrister In Practice | 1 |
| Boy | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coachman Dom Serv | 1 |
| Companion | 1 |
| Dealer (Gen) | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Gardener (Dom) | 1 |
| General Lab | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Ground Worker (Gen Lab) | 1 |
| Labr Wife | 1 |
| Maid (Domestic Serv) | 1 |
| Master | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Railway Labourer | 1 |
| Shepherd | 1 |
| Time Keeper Gas Works | 1 |
| Waterman | 1 |
| Watermans Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Peartree surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 57 in 2016. That gives Peartree a modern rank of #34,511.
An English surname derived from someone living near a pear tree.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Peartree bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.