NameCensus.

UK surname

Peebles

A Scottish locational surname derived from a place near Peebles in southern Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 1,264 people recorded with the Peebles surname, ranking it #3,224 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,315, ranked #4,564, down from #3,224 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Borrowstounness and Carriden, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Coupar Angus and Meigle and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peebles is 1,602 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.0%.

1881 census count

1,264

Ranked #3,224

Modern count

1,315

2016, ranked #4,564

Peak year

1901

1,602 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peebles had 1,264 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,224 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,315 in 2016, ranked #4,564.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,602 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Peebles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peebles surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peebles 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 851 #3,195
1861 historical 865 #3,205
1881 historical 1,264 #3,224
1891 historical 1,395 #3,120
1901 historical 1,602 #3,224
1911 historical 368 #9,886
1997 modern 1,270 #4,487
1998 modern 1,352 #4,404
1999 modern 1,372 #4,385
2000 modern 1,332 #4,470
2001 modern 1,305 #4,467
2002 modern 1,360 #4,398
2003 modern 1,331 #4,397
2004 modern 1,320 #4,424
2005 modern 1,322 #4,380
2006 modern 1,311 #4,417
2007 modern 1,334 #4,393
2008 modern 1,328 #4,428
2009 modern 1,348 #4,466
2010 modern 1,367 #4,495
2011 modern 1,349 #4,498
2012 modern 1,297 #4,582
2013 modern 1,331 #4,555
2014 modern 1,319 #4,617
2015 modern 1,310 #4,597
2016 modern 1,315 #4,564

Geography

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Where Peebles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Borrowstounness and Carriden, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Inchture. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon, Coupar Angus and Meigle, Caerphilly, Drumry West and Bridge of Allan and University. 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 Borrowstounness and Carriden Linlithgow
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Inchture Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 015 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Coupar Angus and Meigle Perth and Kinross
3 Caerphilly 014 Caerphilly
4 Drumry West Glasgow City
5 Bridge of Allan and University Stirling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peebles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peebles

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Peebles, 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 Peebles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Peebles 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Peebles 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

Peebles 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

Peebles 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 Peebles 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 Peebles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Peebles

The surname Peebles has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the town of Peebles, located in the Scottish Borders region. The name is thought to come from the Brythonic word "pebyll," meaning a tent or temporary dwelling, referring to the early settlements in the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The entry "Willi'am de Pebbles" is likely one of the first documented uses of the surname.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named John Peebles was a monk and chronicler at the Abbey of St. Albans in England. He authored a chronicle of events from 1323 to 1368, providing valuable insights into the period.

During the 16th century, Andrew Peebles (c. 1505-1558) was a Scottish politician and judge who served as Lord Clerk Register of Scotland under Mary, Queen of Scots. He played a significant role in the legal and administrative affairs of the time.

In the 18th century, Samuel Peebles (1719-1796) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Virginia, United States. He was involved in the colonial trade and held several public offices, including serving as a justice of the peace.

Another notable figure was William Peebles (1853-1923), a Scottish-born Australian poet and writer. He gained recognition for his works depicting life in the Australian outback and contributed to the development of Australian literature.

The name Peebles has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Peeblesshire, a historic county named after the town of Peebles, and Peebles Water, a river that flows through the area.

While the surname Peebles originated in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and descent. However, its roots remain firmly tied to the historic town and region of Peebles in the Scottish Borders.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peebles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peebles 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. Lanarkshire leads with 224 Peebles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.65x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 224 5.65x
Fife 218 30.03x
Angus 160 14.08x
Midlothian 128 7.79x
Perthshire 103 18.72x
Renfrewshire 67 7.05x
Ayrshire 66 7.19x
Middlesex 39 0.32x
West Lothian 39 21.12x
Stirlingshire 28 6.19x
Kent 17 0.41x
Clackmannanshire 15 14.81x
Northumberland 15 0.82x
Durham 13 0.36x
Monmouthshire 13 1.47x
Yorkshire 13 0.11x
Inverness-shire 12 3.28x
Gloucestershire 9 0.37x
Surrey 7 0.12x
Argyllshire 6 1.76x
Kincardineshire 6 4.02x
Wigtownshire 6 3.69x
East Lothian 5 3.08x
Glamorgan 5 0.23x
Norfolk 5 0.27x
Lancashire 4 0.03x
Hampshire 3 0.12x
Kinross-shire 3 9.68x
Orkney 3 2.22x
Royal Navy 3 2.05x
Sussex 3 0.15x
Banffshire 2 0.79x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.61x
Leicestershire 2 0.15x
Lincolnshire 2 0.10x
Warwickshire 2 0.06x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.09x
Cheshire 1 0.04x
Cornwall 1 0.07x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.56x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.06x
Peeblesshire 1 1.73x
Roxburghshire 1 0.45x
Selkirkshire 1 0.90x
Suffolk 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 92 Peebles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.38x.

Place Total Index
Govan 92 9.38x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 62 9.38x
Liff Benvie 58 33.63x
Dundee 56 13.21x
Glasgow 56 7.95x
Barony 47 4.68x
Boness 33 129.62x
Pittenweem 27 301.68x
Abbey 17 11.72x
Eastwood 17 29.05x
Dundee St Peter 16 3636.36x
Perth East Church 16 30.83x
Anstruther Wester 15 531.91x
Old Monkland 15 9.53x
St Andrews 15 45.41x
Greenwich 14 7.17x
Kennoway 14 212.12x
Inchture 13 474.45x
Penicuik 13 58.24x
Kilrenny 12 89.35x
Kilbirnie 11 49.91x
Linthorpe 11 15.17x
Montrose 11 15.98x
North Leith 11 14.47x
Alloa 10 20.36x
Newton On Ayr 10 36.39x
Abbotshall 9 33.19x
Cargill 9 157.07x
Carnbee 9 202.70x
Cheltenham 9 4.85x
Crail 9 121.46x
Dunfermline 9 8.06x
Falkirk 9 8.50x
Monifieth 9 22.43x
Paddington London 9 2.00x
Tibbermore 9 114.07x
Clerkenwell London 8 2.76x
Doddington 8 629.92x
Dysart 8 16.37x
Falkland 8 70.05x
Gateshead 8 2.93x
Girvan 8 34.74x
Markinch 8 32.47x
Abernyte 7 608.70x
Albury 7 128.44x
Blairgowrie 7 32.15x
Christchurch 7 25.53x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 7 18.01x
Edinburgh Old 7 70.21x
Lochwinnoch 7 49.44x
New Monkland 7 5.97x
Paisley High Church 7 9.25x
St Madoes 7 526.32x
Anstruther Easter 6 114.50x
Cameron 6 142.52x
Collessie 6 71.77x
Cults 6 202.70x
Dunoon Kilmun 6 22.54x
Fordoun 6 71.68x
Forgan 6 43.13x
Kilmonivaig 6 73.80x
Kirkoswald 6 80.11x
Polmont 6 35.93x
Poplar London 6 2.59x
St Vigeans 6 9.78x
West Greenock 6 3.52x
Aberavon 5 25.45x
Burntisland 5 24.64x
Cupar 5 15.84x
Edinburgh St Stephens 5 15.46x
Inverness 5 5.43x
Kinnoull 5 34.55x
Logie 5 304.88x
Mynyddyslwyn 5 14.30x
Newton 5 90.58x
South Leith 5 2.70x
St Martin In Fields 5 6.81x
Tillicoultry 5 22.19x
Tranwell High Church 5 1190.48x
Wemyss 5 16.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Margaret 5
Sarah 5
Agnes 4
Jane 4
Eliza 3
Isabella 2
Phoebe 2
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Juluith 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lillian 1
Margret 1
Rosa 1
Rosina 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Peebles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peebles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,264 people were recorded with the Peebles surname. That placed it at #3,224 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peebles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,315 in 2016. That gives Peebles a modern rank of #4,564.

What does the Peebles surname mean?

A Scottish locational surname derived from a place near Peebles in southern Scotland.

What does the Peebles map show?

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