NameCensus.

UK surname

Pedersen

A patronymic surname meaning "son of Peder," derived from the Greek name Petros, which means "stone" or "rock."

In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Pedersen surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 921, ranked #6,194, up from #23,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Hull Holy Trinity and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, East Lindsey and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pedersen is 970 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1197.2%.

1881 census count

71

Ranked #23,517

Modern count

921

2016, ranked #6,194

Peak year

2014

970 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pedersen had 71 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,517 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 921 in 2016, ranked #6,194.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 222 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Pedersen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pedersen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pedersen 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 71 #23,517
1891 historical 102 #23,719
1901 historical 210 #14,677
1911 historical 222 #13,992
1997 modern 705 #7,207
1998 modern 726 #7,277
1999 modern 749 #7,153
2000 modern 753 #7,078
2001 modern 749 #6,990
2002 modern 796 #6,805
2003 modern 775 #6,831
2004 modern 812 #6,589
2005 modern 814 #6,518
2006 modern 813 #6,530
2007 modern 873 #6,241
2008 modern 874 #6,270
2009 modern 907 #6,223
2010 modern 961 #6,064
2011 modern 927 #6,184
2012 modern 919 #6,144
2013 modern 946 #6,106
2014 modern 970 #6,015
2015 modern 940 #6,123
2016 modern 921 #6,194

Geography

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Where Pedersens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Gateshead and Hartlepool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, East Lindsey, Herefordshire, The Vale of Glamorgan and Camden. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Hartlepool Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 020 Westminster
2 East Lindsey 009 East Lindsey
3 Herefordshire 021 Herefordshire, County of
4 The Vale of Glamorgan 002 Vale of Glamorgan
5 Camden 008 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pedersen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pedersen

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Pedersen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Pedersen 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pedersen is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Pedersen is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pedersen falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pedersen 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Pedersen

The surname Pedersen originates from Denmark and Norway, and it dates back to the early medieval period. It is a patronymic name, derived from the given name Peter, which itself comes from the Greek word "petros," meaning "rock." The suffix "-sen" indicates "son of," so Pedersen literally means "son of Peter."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Pedersen appears in the Danish Census Book of 1890, where it is listed as one of the most common surnames in the country. This suggests that the name had already been in use for several centuries by that point.

In Norway, the name Pedersen can be traced back to the 13th century, when it was commonly found in the regions of Trøndelag and Møre og Romsdal. Some of the earliest recorded bearers of the name in Norway include Peder Magnusson Pedersen, a farmer who lived in the village of Holtan in the late 16th century, and Hans Pedersen, a merchant from Trondheim who was mentioned in a trade record from 1624.

During the Middle Ages, the name Pedersen was often associated with the clergy and the educated classes, as the name Peter was popular among Christians due to its biblical connections. One notable example is Peder Pedersen Plade (c. 1510-1585), a Danish theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Denmark.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Pedersen was Peder Griffenfeld (1635-1699), a Danish statesman and diplomat who served as the Chancellor of Denmark under King Christian V. He was involved in the Scandinavian branch of the Northern Wars and played a crucial role in the Treaty of Lund in 1679.

In the 19th century, the name Pedersen was associated with several prominent figures, including Jens Andreas Pedersen (1792-1857), a Norwegian philologist and lexicographer who is best known for his work on the Dano-Norwegian language, and Carl Pedersen (1854-1926), a Danish linguist and scholar of comparative linguistics.

While the surname Pedersen is most common in Denmark and Norway, it has also been found in other parts of Scandinavia, as well as in the United States and other countries where Scandinavian immigrants settled. Despite its widespread use, the name has retained its strong connection to its Danish and Norwegian origins throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pedersen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pedersen 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. Lancashire leads with 10 Pedersens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.22x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 10 1.22x
Yorkshire 9 1.31x
Gloucestershire 7 5.16x
Stirlingshire 7 27.41x
Durham 6 2.91x
Dorset 5 11.00x
Midlothian 5 5.39x
Lincolnshire 4 3.61x
Middlesex 4 0.58x
Glamorgan 2 1.66x
Northumberland 2 1.94x
Renfrewshire 2 3.73x
Surrey 2 0.59x
Cheshire 1 0.65x
Essex 1 0.73x
Fife 1 2.44x
Hampshire 1 0.70x
Lanarkshire 1 0.45x
Norfolk 1 0.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 8 Pedersens recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.48x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 8 48.48x
Bothkennar 7 921.05x
Caundle Bishop 5 6250.00x
Gloucester Barton St 5 625.00x
Bishopwearmouth 4 22.62x
Great Grimsby 4 56.90x
Liverpool 4 8.02x
Toxteth Park 4 14.38x
Greenock Newor Middle 2 4000.00x
Leith North 2 1111.11x
North Leith 2 46.62x
Rotherhithe 2 23.39x
South Shields 2 109.29x
St George In East 2 42.46x
Barrow In Furness 1 8.95x
Berkeley 1 131.58x
Birkenhead 1 8.21x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 15.34x
Burntisland 1 86.96x
Cardiff St Mary 1 15.06x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 2.68x
Gloucester 1 2000.00x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 31.25x
Maldon All Sts 1 370.37x
Mile End Old Town 1 9.15x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 909.09x
North Shields 1 48.54x
Portsmouth 1 30.58x
Roath 1 18.25x
Southcoates 1 26.25x
Tradeston 1 2500.00x
Whitechapel London 1 14.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Agnes 2
Anderine 1
Bridini 1
Emma 1
Frederica 1
Gunhilda 1
Hannah 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Mary 1
Metti 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Anders 2
Hans 2
Jens 2
Otto 2
Peder 2
Peter 2
Theodor 2
Alfred 1
Alfrid 1
Anton 1
Beresel 1
Clements 1
Conrad 1
Edevart 1
Ersk 1
George 1
H.C. 1
Johan 1
Lars 1
Lauritz 1
Ludvig 1
Neils 1
Ole 1
Oskan 1
Rasmus 1
Reinhart 1
Salve 1
Svend 1
Sydney 1
Terji 1
Tomnis 1
Walter 1
Yorgen 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 Pedersen households.

FAQ

Pedersen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pedersen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Pedersen surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pedersen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 921 in 2016. That gives Pedersen a modern rank of #6,194.

What does the Pedersen surname mean?

A patronymic surname meaning "son of Peder," derived from the Greek name Petros, which means "stone" or "rock."

What does the Pedersen map show?

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