UK surname
A surname of German/Jewish origin meaning "pitch" or "tar worker".
In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Pech surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 43, ranked #35,285, down from #33,721 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Freston, Eccleston and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pech is 119 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2050.0%.
1881 census count
2
Ranked #33,721
Modern count
43
2016, ranked #35,285
Peak year
1861
119 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pech surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pech surname density by area, 1861 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 | 24 | #29,038 |
| 1861 | historical | 119 | #18,393 |
| 1881 | historical | 2 | #33,721 |
| 1891 | historical | 54 | #29,849 |
| 1901 | historical | 22 | #31,562 |
| 1911 | historical | 22 | #31,030 |
| 1997 | modern | 46 | #33,077 |
| 1998 | modern | 45 | #33,374 |
| 1999 | modern | 39 | #34,058 |
| 2000 | modern | 33 | #34,607 |
| 2001 | modern | 32 | #34,537 |
| 2002 | modern | 33 | #34,717 |
| 2003 | modern | 37 | #34,432 |
| 2004 | modern | 35 | #34,783 |
| 2005 | modern | 33 | #35,119 |
| 2006 | modern | 32 | #35,392 |
| 2007 | modern | 36 | #35,278 |
| 2008 | modern | 37 | #35,327 |
| 2009 | modern | 39 | #35,321 |
| 2010 | modern | 44 | #35,183 |
| 2011 | modern | 43 | #35,228 |
| 2012 | modern | 45 | #35,105 |
| 2013 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 45 | #35,161 |
| 2016 | modern | 43 | #35,285 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Freston, Eccleston, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Wigan and Childs Wickham. 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 | Freston | Suffolk |
| 2 | Eccleston | Lancashire |
| 3 | Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a | Essex |
| 4 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 5 | Childs Wickham | Worcestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pech 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 Pech, 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 Pech surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pech 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, Pech 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 Pech is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pech, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname PECH is believed to have originated in France, specifically in the region of Languedoc. It is derived from an old French word "pech," which means "hill" or "peak." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived on or near a hill or mountain.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name PECH can be found in the 12th century, where it appears in the records of the Abbey of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert in the Hérault region of southern France. This suggests that the name had already been well-established in the area by that time.
In the 13th century, the name PECH is found in various charters and documents from the Languedoc region, often in connection with place names such as Pech-Blanc, Pech-Rouger, and Pech-Noir. These place names further reinforce the idea that the surname was originally associated with specific geographical features.
During the Middle Ages, several notable individuals bore the surname PECH. One such person was Guilhem de Pech, a troubadour and poet who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Another was Bertran de Pech, a knight who fought in the Albigensian Crusade in the early 13th century.
In the 14th century, the PECH surname appears in the records of the Parlement of Toulouse, one of the highest courts of justice in southern France at the time. This suggests that the family had gained some prominence and social standing in the region.
As the centuries passed, the PECH surname spread beyond the Languedoc region and into other parts of France. Notable individuals with this surname include Jean-Baptiste Pech (1761-1834), a French portrait painter and engraver, and Jean Pech (1850-1920), a French journalist and politician who served as a deputy in the National Assembly.
Beyond France, the PECH surname can also be found in other European countries, such as Spain and Italy, where it may have been introduced by French immigrants or travelers. For example, Juan Pech (1540-1612) was a Spanish theologian and author from Valencia, while Antonio Pech (1659-1728) was an Italian architect and sculptor from Naples.
Throughout its history, the surname PECH has maintained a strong connection to its geographical origins and the concept of hills or peaks. While it has spread across regions and countries, its roots can be traced back to the hills of southern France and the Languedoc region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
FAQ
In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Pech surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 43 in 2016. That gives Pech a modern rank of #35,285.
A surname of German/Jewish origin meaning "pitch" or "tar worker".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pech 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.