NameCensus.

UK surname

Peers

An English surname derived from the Old French word "per" meaning equal or peer.

In the 1881 census there were 1,749 people recorded with the Peers surname, ranking it #2,473 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,875, ranked #2,338, up from #2,473 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Manchester and Hawarden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockport, Wigan and Flintshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peers is 3,054 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.4%.

1881 census count

1,749

Ranked #2,473

Modern count

2,875

2016, ranked #2,338

Peak year

2002

3,054 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peers had 1,749 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,473 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,875 in 2016, ranked #2,338.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,743 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Peers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peers 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 1,257 #2,269
1861 historical 942 #2,944
1881 historical 1,749 #2,473
1891 historical 1,906 #2,414
1901 historical 2,394 #2,274
1911 historical 2,743 #1,887
1997 modern 2,871 #2,247
1998 modern 3,016 #2,234
1999 modern 3,026 #2,244
2000 modern 2,996 #2,251
2001 modern 2,956 #2,229
2002 modern 3,054 #2,202
2003 modern 2,973 #2,213
2004 modern 2,911 #2,257
2005 modern 2,870 #2,262
2006 modern 2,880 #2,253
2007 modern 2,937 #2,231
2008 modern 2,916 #2,260
2009 modern 3,024 #2,228
2010 modern 3,013 #2,295
2011 modern 2,971 #2,298
2012 modern 2,861 #2,331
2013 modern 2,904 #2,340
2014 modern 2,900 #2,355
2015 modern 2,886 #2,339
2016 modern 2,875 #2,338

Geography

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Where Peers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Manchester, Hawarden, Liverpool and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockport, Wigan, Flintshire and Warrington. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Hawarden Cheshire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockport 026 Stockport
2 Wigan 033 Wigan
3 Flintshire 017 Flintshire
4 Warrington 006 Warrington
5 Warrington 011 Warrington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peers

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Peers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Peers 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Peers 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

Peers 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

Peers 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 Peers 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Peers

The surname Peers is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the early medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "per," which means "equal" or "peer." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to denote someone of equal rank or status.

During the Middle Ages, the term "peer" was commonly used to refer to members of the nobility who held a specific rank within the feudal system. It is possible that the surname Peers was initially given to individuals who held such a position or were considered peers among their social circles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Peers can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical document mentions individuals with the surname Peers in various counties across England, including Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire.

Throughout the centuries, the Peers surname has been associated with notable figures from various walks of life. One such individual was Sir Robert Peers (c. 1588-1670), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1638. Another prominent figure was Richard Peers (1643-1690), an English clergyman and scholar who became the Bishop of Raphoe in Ireland.

In the 18th century, John Peers (1721-1784) was a prominent English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London. Meanwhile, Charles Peers (1868-1952) was a renowned British architect and archaeologist who specialized in the study of Spanish architecture and contributed significantly to the restoration of historical buildings in Spain.

The Peers surname also has connections to literary figures, including Mary Peers (1862-1944), an English writer and translator who was renowned for her translations of works by Spanish authors such as Miguel de Cervantes and Juan Valera.

While the name Peers has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as a result of emigration and exploration. The surname continues to be carried by individuals from various backgrounds, each with their own unique stories and contributions to their respective communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peers 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 654 Peers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.23x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 654 3.23x
Cheshire 618 16.43x
Flintshire 90 19.65x
Warwickshire 76 1.77x
Middlesex 63 0.37x
Staffordshire 57 0.99x
Yorkshire 44 0.26x
Surrey 19 0.23x
Wiltshire 16 1.06x
Denbighshire 15 2.33x
Durham 15 0.30x
Hampshire 13 0.37x
Cambridgeshire 10 0.93x
Kent 10 0.17x
Isle of Man 8 2.53x
Essex 6 0.18x
Lincolnshire 6 0.22x
Dunbartonshire 5 1.09x
Gloucestershire 3 0.09x
Cumberland 2 0.14x
Derbyshire 2 0.08x
Monmouthshire 2 0.16x
Sussex 2 0.07x
Bedfordshire 1 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.10x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.15x
Channel Islands 1 0.20x
Devon 1 0.03x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Northamptonshire 1 0.06x
Northumberland 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.10x
Shropshire 1 0.07x
Worcestershire 1 0.04x

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 65 Peers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.49x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 65 9.49x
Warrington 48 20.02x
Tranmere 46 33.27x
Nantwich 44 100.66x
Birmingham 42 2.93x
Wednesfield 41 48.43x
Liverpool 38 3.09x
Garston 36 60.32x
Hawarden 32 88.91x
Salford 31 5.21x
Everton 28 4.34x
Wallasey 28 218.75x
Liscard 27 39.83x
Ardwick 26 14.25x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 26 60.09x
Runcorn 26 29.98x
Birkenhead 25 8.34x
Great Bolton 24 8.96x
Great Neston 24 193.24x
Bury 22 9.52x
Heap 22 20.51x
Aston 21 1.77x
Hulme 21 4.97x
Chester St Oswald 20 29.36x
Newton 19 12.19x
Hornsea 18 168.07x
Lower Bebington 17 76.06x
Higher Bebington 16 66.45x
Northop 16 98.64x
Chester St John Baptist 15 22.18x
West Derby 15 2.54x
Farnworth 14 11.56x
Heswall Cum Oldfield 14 269.75x
Stockport 14 7.23x
Wigan 14 4.95x
Bethnal Green London 13 1.76x
Chester Holy Trinity 13 73.74x
Sale 13 28.17x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 3.74x
Manchester 12 1.32x
Mobberley 12 139.70x
St Marylebone London 12 1.32x
Wavertree 12 18.54x
Cheadle 11 15.31x
Devizes St James 11 54.92x
Knutsford Nether 11 48.37x
Sandbach 11 34.29x
Sculcoates 11 4.11x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 11 18.90x
Blackburn 10 1.86x
Bootle Cum Linacre 10 6.23x
Bottisham 10 108.81x
Flixton 10 96.53x
Hawarden Ewloe Town 10 202.02x
Newton In Makerfield 10 16.15x
Rostherne 10 448.43x
Tottington Lower End 10 10.41x
Walsall Foreign 10 3.37x
Little Hulton 9 26.88x
Ness 9 410.96x
Ashton On Mersey 8 41.13x
Camberwell 8 0.73x
Christchurch 8 10.56x
Golborne 8 30.35x
Hawarden Pentrobin 8 109.59x
Leeds 8 0.84x
Llanbedr 8 167.01x
Maughold 8 32.76x
Mold Argoed 8 123.27x
Preston 8 1.48x
Standish With Langtree 8 32.13x
Sutton Coldfield 8 17.71x
Christleton Littleton 7 128.91x
Islington London 7 0.42x
Little Woolton 7 120.27x
Mere 7 234.11x
Pendleton In Salford 7 2.91x
Tatton 7 823.53x
Little Sutton 6 118.81x
Rumworth 6 20.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 118
Elizabeth 102
Sarah 70
Ann 42
Jane 39
Alice 35
Ellen 33
Annie 30
Margaret 30
Emma 27
Hannah 24
Martha 24
Eliza 23
Harriet 17
Emily 13
Catherine 11
Maria 10
Anne 9
Louisa 9
Edith 8
Fanny 8
Kate 7
Agnes 6
Clara 6
Esther 6
Frances 6
Gertrude 6
Jessie 6
Lucy 6
Susannah 6
Amelia 5
Elizth. 5
Isabella 5
Lydia 5
Amy 4
Beatrice 4
Florence 4
Rachel 4
Rose 4
Ada 3
Betsy 3
Dora 3
Maud 3
Susan 3
Cecilia 2
Charlotte 2
Constance 2
Leah 2
Margret 2
Violet 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 127
William 125
Thomas 98
James 63
George 51
Joseph 43
Henry 27
Samuel 24
Edward 20
Charles 19
Robert 19
Alfred 16
Arthur 11
Albert 10
Frederick 8
Herbert 8
Richard 8
Walter 8
Ernest 6
Francis 6
Harry 6
Stephen 6
Edwin 5
Frank 5
Peter 5
Thos. 5
Daniel 4
Alexander 3
Isaac 3
Joshua 3
Wm. 3
Andrew 2
Benjamin 2
Celeb 2
David 2
Enoch 2
Fredrick 2
Hy. 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2
Mathew 2
Moses 2
Paul 2
Percival 2
Ralph 2
Reuben 2
Saml. 2
Willm. 2
Fred 1
Zaccorah 1

FAQ

Peers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,749 people were recorded with the Peers surname. That placed it at #2,473 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,875 in 2016. That gives Peers a modern rank of #2,338.

What does the Peers surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French word "per" meaning equal or peer.

What does the Peers map show?

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