NameCensus.

UK surname

Peattie

A topographic name referring to someone living near peat bogs.

In the 1881 census there were 380 people recorded with the Peattie surname, ranking it #8,249 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 317, ranked #14,198, down from #8,249 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cupar, St. Monance and Kilconquhar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St Monans and Pittenweem, Gorebridge and Middleton and Montrose North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peattie is 380 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 16.6%.

1881 census count

380

Ranked #8,249

Modern count

317

2016, ranked #14,198

Peak year

1881

380 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peattie had 380 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,249 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 317 in 2016, ranked #14,198.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 380 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Peattie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peattie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peattie 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 276 #8,128
1861 historical 270 #9,216
1881 historical 380 #8,249
1891 historical 324 #10,453
1901 historical 352 #10,394
1911 historical 56 #27,216
1997 modern 278 #14,210
1998 modern 288 #14,249
1999 modern 294 #14,140
2000 modern 302 #13,848
2001 modern 291 #14,000
2002 modern 310 #13,697
2003 modern 303 #13,718
2004 modern 295 #14,025
2005 modern 297 #13,916
2006 modern 295 #14,053
2007 modern 300 #14,048
2008 modern 297 #14,230
2009 modern 319 #13,832
2010 modern 327 #13,889
2011 modern 323 #13,868
2012 modern 307 #14,288
2013 modern 319 #14,141
2014 modern 322 #14,113
2015 modern 316 #14,214
2016 modern 317 #14,198

Geography

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Where Peatties are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cupar, St. Monance, Kilconquhar, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St Monans and Pittenweem, Gorebridge and Middleton, Montrose North, Charnwood and Viewpark. 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 Cupar Fife
2 St. Monance Fife
3 Kilconquhar Fife
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St Monans and Pittenweem Fife
2 Gorebridge and Middleton Midlothian
3 Montrose North Angus
4 Charnwood 006 Charnwood
5 Viewpark North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peattie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peattie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Peattie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Peattie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Peattie 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

Peattie is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Peattie falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Peattie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Peattie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Peattie

The surname Peattie originated in Scotland, deriving from a place name in the Scottish Borders region. It is believed to have emerged in the 12th or 13th century, stemming from the Old English words "pēa" meaning pea and "tūn" meaning an enclosure or farmstead. This suggests the name likely referred to a pea field or a farm where peas were grown.

The earliest known reference to the name Peattie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England after his conquest of parts of Scotland. An entry for a "William de Pettye" from Roxburghshire is listed in these records.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Peatty, Pettie, and Pettye. One notable individual from this time was John Pettie (c. 1548-1628), a Scottish clergyman who served as the Minister of Dalmeny Church in West Lothian.

The Peattie spelling became more commonly used in the 17th and 18th centuries. A prominent figure bearing this name was Sir William Peattie (1663-1727), a Scottish landowner and Member of Parliament for Kincardineshire.

In the 19th century, Andrew Peattie (1786-1869) was a Scottish-born Canadian entrepreneur and politician who co-founded the town of Peterborough, Ontario, and served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada.

Another notable Peattie from this era was Elia Wilkinson Peattie (1862-1935), an American author and journalist who wrote several novels and short stories, including the acclaimed work "The Shape of Fear" published in 1931.

Throughout its history, the Peattie surname has been associated with various locations in Scotland, particularly in the Borders and Lothian regions, where it likely originated from a farmstead or settlement bearing a similar place name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peattie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peattie 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. Fife leads with 192 Peatties recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.96x.

County Total Index
Fife 192 87.96x
Midlothian 45 9.11x
Angus 28 8.20x
Lanarkshire 23 1.93x
Perthshire 19 11.48x
Middlesex 11 0.30x
Renfrewshire 10 3.50x
Lancashire 9 0.21x
Cumberland 8 2.52x
Wigtownshire 7 14.30x
Oxfordshire 6 2.63x
Stirlingshire 4 2.94x
Ayrshire 3 1.09x
West Lothian 3 5.40x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.90x
Dunbartonshire 2 2.02x
East Lothian 2 4.10x
Suffolk 2 0.45x
Kincardineshire 1 2.23x
Surrey 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Andrews in Fife leads with 49 Peatties recorded in 1881 and an index of 493.45x.

Place Total Index
St Andrews 49 493.45x
Cupar 24 252.90x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 23 11.57x
Crail 18 807.17x
Dundee 15 11.76x
Glasgow 12 5.67x
St Monance 12 459.77x
Leuchars 10 362.32x
Balmerino 9 1071.43x
Carnbee 8 601.50x
Kilrenny 8 198.02x
Little Dunkeld 8 284.70x
Ceres 7 267.18x
Islington London 7 1.96x
Monifieth 7 58.00x
Penninghame 7 140.28x
Widnes 7 22.18x
Cockpen 6 103.99x
Liberton 6 78.74x
Oxford St Aldate 6 250.00x
Perth West Church 6 76.43x
Pittenweem 6 223.05x
Scoonie 6 126.85x
Abbey 5 11.47x
Barony 5 1.66x
Dunbog 5 1785.71x
Dunfermline 5 14.90x
Kirriemuir 5 59.31x
St Cuthbert W O Upperby 5 574.71x
West Greenock 5 9.75x
Denny 4 55.33x
Kirkcaldy 4 36.93x
Markinch 4 53.98x
Shettleston 4 37.45x
Boness 3 39.16x
Burntisland 3 49.18x
Dysart 3 20.41x
Edinburgh St Marys 3 31.25x
South Leith 3 5.40x
St Cuthbert W O 3 19.39x
Abbotshall 2 24.51x
Blair Athole 2 90.50x
Gladsmuir 2 91.74x
Govan 2 0.68x
Hackney London 2 0.97x
Liverpool 2 0.75x
Monimail 2 186.92x
Newburn 2 454.55x
Row 2 15.60x
St Pancras London 2 0.67x
Upton Cum Chalvey 2 22.52x
Woodbridge 2 34.84x
Abernyte 1 285.71x
Ayr 1 7.68x
Coylton 1 25.51x
Dalkeith 1 10.26x
Dunino 1 263.16x
Edinburgh St Andrews 1 24.51x
Falkland 1 29.15x
Fettercairn 1 52.36x
Forgan 1 23.92x
Kemback 1 92.59x
Largo 1 35.34x
Largs 1 15.38x
Lasswade 1 8.86x
Liff Benvie 1 1.93x
Methven 1 41.15x
Penicuik 1 14.90x
Scone 1 34.01x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Jessie 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Edith 1
Euphemia 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Hilda 1
Margt. 1
Mary 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
Thomas 3
Robert 2
William 2
Andrew 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Jno. 1
Jno.M. 1
Willm.John 1

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 Peattie households.

FAQ

Peattie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peattie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 380 people were recorded with the Peattie surname. That placed it at #8,249 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peattie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 317 in 2016. That gives Peattie a modern rank of #14,198.

What does the Peattie surname mean?

A topographic name referring to someone living near peat bogs.

What does the Peattie map show?

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