NameCensus.

UK surname

Peary

A surname derived from the Old French word "perier", meaning someone who worked with stone or rocks.

In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Peary surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 137, ranked #25,254, down from #19,999 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Waveney and Richmondshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peary is 214 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.8%.

1881 census count

98

Ranked #19,999

Modern count

137

2016, ranked #25,254

Peak year

1911

214 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peary had 98 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,999 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016, ranked #25,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 214 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Peary surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peary surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peary 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 106 #16,512
1861 historical 207 #11,687
1881 historical 98 #19,999
1891 historical 167 #17,006
1901 historical 147 #18,270
1911 historical 214 #14,333
1997 modern 130 #23,021
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 134 #23,378
2000 modern 143 #22,457
2001 modern 142 #22,234
2002 modern 144 #22,501
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 138 #22,997
2005 modern 140 #22,774
2006 modern 154 #21,576
2007 modern 146 #22,596
2008 modern 160 #21,521
2009 modern 142 #23,791
2010 modern 146 #23,921
2011 modern 142 #24,182
2012 modern 134 #25,059
2013 modern 139 #24,912
2014 modern 145 #24,395
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 137 #25,254

Geography

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Where Pearys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Manchester, Jarrow (Harton), Monkwearmouth (Southwick), Boldon, Whitburn and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Waveney, Richmondshire, Blackburn with Darwen and Barnsley. 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 Manchester Lancashire
4 Jarrow (Harton), Monkwearmouth (Southwick), Boldon, Whitburn Durham
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 010 Northumberland
2 Waveney 009 Waveney
3 Richmondshire 002 Richmondshire
4 Blackburn with Darwen 018 Blackburn with Darwen
5 Barnsley 008 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peary

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peary

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Peary surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Peary household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Peary is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Peary is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Peary

The surname Peary has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "pere," which means pear tree, suggesting that the name was initially used to identify someone who lived near or worked with pear trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Peary can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Peri." This document, a census of landowners in England, provides valuable insight into the distribution and variations of surnames during that period.

The name Peary is also believed to have been influenced by the Norman French word "per," meaning peer or equal. This connection may have been made as the surname evolved over time, reflecting the social status or occupation of those who bore the name.

In the 14th century, the surname Peary appeared in various forms, such as "Pery" and "Perye," in records from Oxfordshire and Somerset. These regional variations suggest that the name was present in different parts of England at that time.

One notable individual with the surname Peary was Sir George Peary (1556-1637), an English politician and landowner from Devon. He served as a Member of Parliament and played a significant role in local affairs during the reign of King James I.

Another prominent figure was John Peary (1639-1694), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Alphege in Canterbury. He is known for his works on theology and his contributions to the Church of England during the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name Peary gained further recognition with John Peary (1725-1805), a British naval officer and explorer. He is remembered for his explorations of the Pacific Ocean and his role in the establishment of British settlements in Australia.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Robert E. Peary (1856-1920), an American explorer and naval officer who is renowned for his expeditions to the Arctic regions. He is credited with being the first person to reach the geographic North Pole, a feat he achieved in 1909.

In the literary world, Mary Peary (1823-1901), an English novelist and poet, gained recognition for her works exploring themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. Her novels, such as "The Rose of Avondale" and "The Cottage by the Mill," were widely read during the Victorian era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peary families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peary 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. Northumberland leads with 31 Pearys recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.80x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 31 21.80x
Durham 29 10.20x
Yorkshire 14 1.48x
Surrey 6 1.29x
Middlesex 5 0.52x
Leicestershire 3 2.83x
Hertfordshire 2 3.04x
Kent 2 0.61x
Sussex 2 1.24x
Westmorland 2 9.52x
Essex 1 0.53x
Lancashire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 21 Pearys recorded in 1881 and an index of 86.03x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 21 86.03x
Westgate 10 113.51x
Southwick 8 297.40x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 82.45x
Skelton In Guisbrough 6 234.38x
Battersea 4 11.37x
Elswick 4 35.24x
Bagworth 3 1500.00x
Branton 3 10000.00x
Linthorpe 3 53.10x
North Seaton 3 500.00x
York St Crux 3 1111.11x
Hatfield 2 149.25x
Horton Kirby 2 400.00x
Nether Graveship 2 1000.00x
Brighton 1 3.08x
Burradon In Tynemouth 1 277.78x
Fawdon Clinch Hartside 1 2000.00x
Great Burstead 1 144.93x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 29.07x
Kingston On Thames 1 8.94x
Leake 1 0.00x
Liverpool 1 1.45x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 13.57x
Paddington London 1 2.85x
Poplar London 1 5.54x
Seamer In Stokesley 1 1250.00x
Sharperton 1 5000.00x
Spitalfields London 1 13.91x
St George Hanover 1 8.01x
Streatham 1 14.10x
Westminster St 1 28.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 6
Margaret 6
Mary 5
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 4
Ellen 4
Ann 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
E. 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Lilly 1
Marth 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Peary surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peary surname in 1881?

In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Peary surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peary surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016. That gives Peary a modern rank of #25,254.

What does the Peary surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "perier", meaning someone who worked with stone or rocks.

What does the Peary map show?

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