NameCensus.

UK surname

Peeling

A surname derived from the occupation of peeling fruits or vegetables.

In the 1881 census there were 187 people recorded with the Peeling surname, ranking it #13,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 232, ranked #17,694, down from #13,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Stanfield and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Breckland and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peeling is 238 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.1%.

1881 census count

187

Ranked #13,407

Modern count

232

2016, ranked #17,694

Peak year

1911

238 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peeling had 187 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 232 in 2016, ranked #17,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 238 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Peeling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peeling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peeling 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 127 #14,547
1861 historical 127 #17,469
1881 historical 187 #13,407
1891 historical 192 #15,383
1901 historical 207 #14,803
1911 historical 238 #13,356
1997 modern 210 #17,104
1998 modern 220 #17,074
1999 modern 226 #16,884
2000 modern 226 #16,840
2001 modern 216 #17,103
2002 modern 218 #17,338
2003 modern 208 #17,685
2004 modern 208 #17,758
2005 modern 185 #19,051
2006 modern 194 #18,627
2007 modern 204 #18,251
2008 modern 200 #18,640
2009 modern 209 #18,493
2010 modern 213 #18,660
2011 modern 210 #18,677
2012 modern 207 #18,777
2013 modern 228 #17,864
2014 modern 221 #18,412
2015 modern 230 #17,795
2016 modern 232 #17,694

Geography

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Where Peelings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Stanfield, London parishes, Walpole St Peter and St Andrew and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, Breckland, South Gloucestershire and Dartford. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Stanfield Norfolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Walpole St Peter and St Andrew Cambridgeshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 003 Fenland
2 Breckland 002 Breckland
3 South Gloucestershire 014 South Gloucestershire
4 Fenland 001 Fenland
5 Dartford 012 Dartford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peeling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peeling

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Peeling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Peeling household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Peeling is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Peeling is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Peeling falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Peeling

The surname "Peeling" is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name such as Peeling or Peelings, which may have referred to a small hamlet or settlement.

One possible origin of the name is the Old English word "pæling," which means "a paling or fence." This suggests that the name could have been given to someone who lived near or worked with fences or paling structures. Alternatively, it may have been derived from the Old English word "pæl," meaning "a pole or stake," which could indicate a connection to a location marked by poles or stakes.

While there are no definitive records of the name appearing in historical manuscripts like the Domesday Book, some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in parish records and tax rolls from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is John de Peling, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275.

Throughout history, there have been several prominent individuals bearing the surname Peeling. One of the earliest was William Peeling (1570-1634), an English clergyman and writer who served as the rector of Hollingbourne in Kent. Another notable figure was John Peeling (1736-1806), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, Charles Peeling (1835-1905) was a British architect known for his work on churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas. Later, Edith Peeling (1891-1986) was a British artist and illustrator who specialized in depicting scenes of rural life and landscapes.

More recently, Paul Peeling (1944-2020) was a prominent British businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Peeling Carving Group, a leading manufacturer of wood carvings and architectural ornamentation.

While the surname Peeling is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history and can be traced back several centuries, reflecting the diverse origins and influences that have shaped the development of surnames over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peeling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peeling 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. Norfolk leads with 81 Peelings recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.19x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 81 29.19x
Middlesex 50 2.77x
Lancashire 27 1.26x
Surrey 13 1.48x
Essex 8 2.25x
Bedfordshire 3 3.21x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.75x
Shropshire 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stanfield in Norfolk leads with 21 Peelings recorded in 1881 and an index of 19090.91x.

Place Total Index
Stanfield 21 19090.91x
Barton Bendish 18 6666.67x
Islington London 10 5.72x
Walpole St Andrew 10 2325.58x
Bradford 9 89.82x
Booton 8 6153.85x
Manchester 8 8.31x
Hackney London 6 5.93x
Kensington London 6 5.98x
Paddington London 6 9.04x
Bermondsey 5 9.31x
Castle Acre 5 609.76x
Great Ryburgh 5 1162.79x
Poplar London 5 14.68x
Fincham 4 816.33x
St George Hanover 4 16.99x
Hockering 3 1304.35x
Ampthill 2 143.88x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 4.27x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.55x
Dovercourt 2 160.00x
Great Clacton 2 165.29x
Leyton 2 32.57x
Little Clacton 2 526.32x
Newington 2 3.00x
Reigate Foreign 2 21.01x
Southwark Christchurch 2 23.64x
St Andrewthe Less 2 15.31x
St George Martyr 2 65.79x
Stoke Newington London 2 14.22x
Sutton 2 31.45x
Swaffham 2 88.50x
Toxteth Park 2 2.76x
Barrow In Furness 1 3.43x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 6.20x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 5.88x
Bridewell Precinct 1 666.67x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.35x
Enfield 1 8.45x
Guestwick 1 909.09x
Hammersmith London 1 2.25x
Hornsey 1 4.38x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 12.00x
Lyng 1 322.58x
Madeley 1 17.48x
North Wootton 1 500.00x
Norwich St Giles 1 112.36x
Norwood 1 24.21x
Walton On Hill 1 8.62x
West Derby 1 1.60x
Westminster St 1 15.04x
Widnes 1 6.48x
Woburn 1 123.46x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Robert 13
John 12
James 7
William 7
George 6
Charles 5
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Matthew 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
Harry 2
Samuel 2
Alderman 1
Alexander 1
David 1
Edmond 1
Elija 1
Gamaliel 1
Geo. 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Peter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Peeling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peeling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 187 people were recorded with the Peeling surname. That placed it at #13,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peeling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 232 in 2016. That gives Peeling a modern rank of #17,694.

What does the Peeling surname mean?

A surname derived from the occupation of peeling fruits or vegetables.

What does the Peeling map show?

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