NameCensus.

UK surname

Peck

An occupational surname referring to someone who gathered wool or worked as a seller of cloth.

In the 1881 census there were 5,067 people recorded with the Peck surname, ranking it #880 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,483, ranked #1,038, down from #880 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Suffolk Coastal, Babergh and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peck is 7,066 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.9%.

1881 census count

5,067

Ranked #880

Modern count

6,483

2016, ranked #1,038

Peak year

1999

7,066 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peck had 5,067 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #880 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,483 in 2016, ranked #1,038.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,904 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Peck surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peck surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peck 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 3,137 #924
1861 historical 2,398 #1,225
1881 historical 5,067 #880
1891 historical 5,010 #934
1901 historical 6,331 #876
1911 historical 6,904 #750
1997 modern 6,727 #968
1998 modern 7,041 #961
1999 modern 7,066 #965
2000 modern 6,981 #978
2001 modern 6,760 #982
2002 modern 6,896 #982
2003 modern 6,701 #987
2004 modern 6,720 #985
2005 modern 6,559 #1,000
2006 modern 6,488 #1,008
2007 modern 6,532 #1,011
2008 modern 6,579 #1,008
2009 modern 6,677 #1,015
2010 modern 6,805 #1,015
2011 modern 6,682 #1,019
2012 modern 6,490 #1,033
2013 modern 6,595 #1,032
2014 modern 6,632 #1,033
2015 modern 6,561 #1,033
2016 modern 6,483 #1,038

Geography

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Where Pecks are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Suffolk Coastal, Babergh, Waveney, North Lincolnshire and Tendring. 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 1
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Suffolk Coastal 002 Suffolk Coastal
2 Babergh 010 Babergh
3 Waveney 015 Waveney
4 North Lincolnshire 001 North Lincolnshire
5 Tendring 003 Tendring

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peck

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peck

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Peck 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

Peck is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Peck falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Peck 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 Peck, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Peck

The surname Peck is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "pic," meaning a woodpecker or a small bird. It is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone who had a small, pointed nose resembling a bird's beak or for someone with a habit of pecking or picking at things.

The earliest known recorded instance of the surname Peck dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Pec." This ancient record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname Peck was found in various forms, including Peke, Pek, and Pecke, which suggests its widespread use across different regions of England. Some of the earliest recorded bearers of the name include Robert Peke, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1230, and William Pek, listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of Norfolk in 1275.

The name Peck has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John Peck (1520-1592), a prominent English merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1591. Another remarkable figure was William Peck (1640-1718), an English Puritan missionary who played a significant role in the establishment of the first Baptist church in Boston, Massachusetts.

In the 18th century, Peck became a well-known name in the literary world with the English poet and satirist Robert Peck (1679-1738), known for his biting satires on contemporary society. Another notable bearer of the name was the American naturalist and author John Muir Peck (1789-1858), whose works on the natural history of New England gained widespread recognition.

The 19th century saw the rise of several prominent individuals with the surname Peck, including George Wilbur Peck (1840-1916), an American author and humorist best known for his witty writings and humorous lectures. Additionally, Ferdinand Peck (1858-1924), an American lawyer and jurist, served as a judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri.

Throughout history, the surname Peck has been traced to various place names and locations across England, such as Peckham in London, Peckleton in Leicestershire, and Peckforton in Cheshire. These place names are believed to have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peck families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peck 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. Middlesex leads with 801 Pecks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.62x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 801 1.62x
Suffolk 770 12.80x
Yorkshire 408 0.83x
Cambridgeshire 302 9.66x
Surrey 284 1.18x
Norfolk 254 3.35x
Essex 236 2.42x
Nottinghamshire 236 3.55x
Lincolnshire 231 2.93x
Bedfordshire 217 8.49x
Lancashire 198 0.34x
Kent 143 0.85x
Wiltshire 114 2.61x
Hertfordshire 84 2.47x
Warwickshire 67 0.54x
Derbyshire 65 0.84x
Staffordshire 62 0.37x
Leicestershire 49 0.90x
Cheshire 47 0.43x
Huntingdonshire 45 4.59x
Northamptonshire 44 0.95x
Sussex 43 0.52x
Devon 42 0.41x
Hampshire 42 0.42x
Gloucestershire 41 0.42x
Durham 36 0.25x
Berkshire 27 0.73x
Rutland 22 6.07x
Worcestershire 17 0.26x
Flintshire 16 1.21x
Somerset 16 0.20x
Buckinghamshire 14 0.47x
Midlothian 13 0.20x
Oxfordshire 12 0.39x
Monmouthshire 10 0.28x
Glamorgan 9 0.10x
Northumberland 8 0.11x
Cornwall 7 0.13x
Lanarkshire 7 0.04x
Shropshire 7 0.16x
Anglesey 4 0.46x
Royal Navy 4 0.68x
Dorset 2 0.06x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.05x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.08x
Inverness-shire 1 0.07x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.06x
Westmorland 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. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 80 Pecks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.01x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 80 2.01x
Islington London 78 1.63x
Shoreditch London 71 3.32x
Arnold 56 57.65x
Lambeth 54 1.25x
Pakenham 52 320.79x
Bethnal Green London 49 2.28x
Newington 49 2.69x
West Ham 46 2.14x
Sculcoates 44 5.67x
Camberwell 39 1.24x
Bromley London 38 3.50x
Luton 38 8.59x
Lowestoft 35 12.32x
Brightside Bierlow 34 3.54x
Histon 34 207.44x
Hackney London 33 1.19x
Mile End Old Town 33 4.23x
Birmingham 32 0.77x
Paddington London 32 1.76x
St Andrewthe Less 32 8.96x
Halesworth 31 72.70x
Gamlingay 30 92.11x
Hammersmith London 30 2.47x
Holy Trinity 30 2.55x
Ipswich St Margaret 30 14.70x
Meppershall 30 228.14x
Barton In Clay 29 161.56x
Bury St Edmunds St James 29 18.06x
St Luke London 29 3.66x
Aston 28 0.82x
Great Yarmouth 27 4.29x
Ipswich St Clement 27 17.66x
Worksop 27 13.68x
Carlton 26 34.24x
Nottingham St Mary 26 1.51x
Sheffield 24 1.54x
Tottenham 24 3.05x
Wisbech St Peter 24 15.31x
Letheringham 23 674.49x
Beverley St Nicholas 22 54.84x
Bythorn 22 508.08x
Greenwich 22 2.80x
Hunworth 22 607.73x
Lee 21 8.59x
Rotherhithe 21 3.44x
Barrow In Furness 20 2.51x
Battersea 20 1.10x
Cottenham 20 48.12x
Toxteth Park 20 1.01x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 19 34.05x
Kensington London 19 0.69x
Northampton All Sts 19 12.06x
Spalding 19 12.13x
St George Hanover 19 2.95x
St Marylebone London 19 0.72x
Wix 19 180.78x
Henstead 18 198.02x
Newark Upon Trent 18 7.53x
Stoke Newington London 18 4.68x
Armley 17 7.88x
Harkstead 17 268.14x
Waltham Holy Cross 17 18.66x
Bermondsey 16 1.09x
Clerkenwell London 16 1.37x
Hunslet 16 2.10x
Norton 16 126.88x
Ryhall 16 132.78x
Scarborough 16 3.60x
Steeple Morden 16 96.10x
Thorngumbald 16 354.77x
Chediston 15 245.10x
Eaton Socon 15 37.39x
Charsfield 14 192.57x
Croydon 14 1.05x
Framlingham 14 32.79x
Ringsfield 14 290.46x
Snenton 14 5.35x
Walsall Foreign 14 1.63x
West Thurrock 14 43.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 293
Elizabeth 198
Sarah 194
Eliza 103
Ann 99
Emma 89
Jane 87
Alice 76
Annie 75
Ellen 74
Emily 55
Hannah 49
Harriet 46
Maria 41
Susan 39
Charlotte 35
Margaret 34
Ada 33
Louisa 33
Martha 33
Edith 28
Lucy 28
Caroline 26
Fanny 26
Kate 25
Catherine 24
Clara 22
Florence 22
Anne 20
Rebecca 20
Agnes 18
Anna 16
Harriett 16
Sophia 16
Susannah 16
Isabella 15
Rose 15
Frances 14
Ethel 13
Matilda 13
Gertrude 12
Lydia 12
Minnie 12
Betsy 11
Eleanor 11
Elizth. 11
Laura 11
Rachel 11
Amelia 9
Julia 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 338
John 257
George 205
Thomas 149
James 133
Henry 117
Charles 116
Robert 77
Edward 75
Samuel 66
Arthur 60
Joseph 57
Frederick 56
Alfred 55
Walter 49
Richard 35
Harry 34
Herbert 31
Albert 28
Francis 24
Wm. 20
David 19
Frank 19
Ernest 16
Matthew 11
Daniel 10
Amos 8
Benjamin 8
Edwin 8
Fredk. 8
Isaac 8
Leonard 8
Peter 7
Tom 7
Fred 6
Edgar 5
Geo. 5
Horace 5
Jonathan 5
Sidney 5
Simon 5
Stephen 5
Abraham 4
Christopher 4
Harold 4
Jas. 4
Percy 4
Philip 4
Stanley 4
Thos. 4

FAQ

Peck surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peck surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,067 people were recorded with the Peck surname. That placed it at #880 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peck surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,483 in 2016. That gives Peck a modern rank of #1,038.

What does the Peck surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who gathered wool or worked as a seller of cloth.

What does the Peck map show?

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