NameCensus.

UK surname

Pederson

A patronymic surname derived from the Scandinavian personal name Peder, meaning "son of Peder."

In the 1881 census there were 33 people recorded with the Pederson surname, ranking it #28,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 145, ranked #24,293, up from #28,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Cornwall and Reigate and Banstead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pederson is 169 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 339.4%.

1881 census count

33

Ranked #28,965

Modern count

145

2016, ranked #24,293

Peak year

1998

169 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pederson had 33 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 145 in 2016, ranked #24,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 139 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Pederson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pederson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pederson 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 10 #32,589
1881 historical 33 #28,965
1891 historical 96 #24,559
1901 historical 132 #19,469
1911 historical 139 #18,745
1997 modern 149 #21,214
1998 modern 169 #20,104
1999 modern 165 #20,535
2000 modern 143 #22,457
2001 modern 139 #22,541
2002 modern 142 #22,687
2003 modern 153 #21,406
2004 modern 158 #21,077
2005 modern 141 #22,688
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 142 #23,025
2008 modern 148 #22,627
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 162 #22,292
2011 modern 163 #21,983
2012 modern 148 #23,457
2013 modern 156 #23,004
2014 modern 153 #23,537
2015 modern 147 #24,036
2016 modern 145 #24,293

Geography

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Where Pedersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon), Edinburgh and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Cornwall, Reigate and Banstead, Middlesbrough and North East Lincolnshire. 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 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 035 Doncaster
2 Cornwall 070 Cornwall
3 Reigate and Banstead 014 Reigate and Banstead
4 Middlesbrough 004 Middlesbrough
5 North East Lincolnshire 005 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pederson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pederson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pederson, 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 Pederson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Pederson 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Pederson is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pederson 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

Pederson 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 Pederson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Pederson

The surname Pederson is of Scandinavian origin, derived from the Old Norse personal name Peder, itself originating from the Greek name Petros, meaning "rock". The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the 13th century in Denmark and Norway.

Pederson is a patronymic surname, meaning it was initially used to identify the son of a person named Peder. In the early days, it would have been spelled as Pedersson, Pederssøn, or Pederzen, before evolving into its more modern form.

Historical records show that the name Pederson was particularly prevalent in the coastal regions of Denmark and Norway, where it was commonly borne by fishermen, sailors, and merchants. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Peder Jakobsson, a Norwegian chieftain and landowner who lived in the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the Pederson name appears in several Danish and Norwegian chronicles and manuscripts, including the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of medieval Norwegian diplomatic documents. One notable figure from this period is Peder Oxe (1420-1482), a Danish statesman and military leader who served as Lord High Steward of Denmark.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Pederson surname spread across Scandinavia and eventually to other parts of Europe and North America as people migrated. One notable bearer of the name was Peder Pedersen Beyer (1538-1619), a Norwegian Lutheran theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the introduction of Protestantism to Norway.

In the 18th century, the Pederson name gained prominence in the fields of science and exploration. Hans Peter Holm Pedersen-Malling (1770-1835) was a Danish naval officer and explorer who led several expeditions to Greenland and the Arctic region.

As the Pederson surname spread across the globe, it produced several notable figures in various fields. Henrik Pedersen (1867-1953) was a Danish composer and conductor, while Viggo Pedersen (1887-1977) was a Danish actor and film director. In more recent times, the name has been borne by individuals such as Poul Nyrup Pedersen (born 1942), a Danish politician who served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 1993 to 2001.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pederson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pederson 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 13 Pedersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.41x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 13 3.41x
Lanarkshire 5 4.81x
Midlothian 4 9.28x
Middlesex 3 0.93x
Cornwall 2 5.49x
Durham 2 2.09x
Pembrokeshire 1 9.78x
Stirlingshire 1 8.43x
Surrey 1 0.64x
Wiltshire 1 3.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 7 Pedersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.18x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 7 54.18x
Liverpool 5 21.57x
Glasgow 3 16.24x
North Leith 3 150.75x
Chester Le Street 2 273.97x
Falmouth 2 155.04x
Hackney London 2 11.09x
Anderston 1 3333.33x
Barony 1 3.80x
Barrow In Furness 1 19.27x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 5.77x
Falkirk 1 35.97x
Milford Haven 1 1250.00x
Rotherhithe 1 25.19x
Swindon 1 45.25x
Whitechapel London 1 31.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 2
Annie 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Peder 2
Andrew 1
August 1
Charley 1
David 1
Geo. 1
Jonathon 1
Martinse 1
O. 1
Robert 1
W. 1
William 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 Pederson households.

FAQ

Pederson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pederson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 33 people were recorded with the Pederson surname. That placed it at #28,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pederson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 145 in 2016. That gives Pederson a modern rank of #24,293.

What does the Pederson surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the Scandinavian personal name Peder, meaning "son of Peder."

What does the Pederson map show?

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