NameCensus.

UK surname

Peffers

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to someone from a town or region associated with that name.

In the 1881 census there were 174 people recorded with the Peffers surname, ranking it #14,042 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 232, ranked #17,694, down from #14,042 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dunbar, Haddington and Ancrum. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oxgangs, Surrey Heath and Glassford, Quarter and Allanton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peffers is 247 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.3%.

1881 census count

174

Ranked #14,042

Modern count

232

2016, ranked #17,694

Peak year

2000

247 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peffers had 174 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,042 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 222 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Peffers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peffers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peffers 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 106 #16,512
1861 historical 123 #17,914
1881 historical 174 #14,042
1891 historical 185 #15,803
1901 historical 222 #14,169
1911 historical 62 #26,622
1997 modern 235 #15,895
1998 modern 239 #16,179
1999 modern 236 #16,404
2000 modern 247 #15,864
2001 modern 243 #15,791
2002 modern 237 #16,413
2003 modern 228 #16,663
2004 modern 219 #17,180
2005 modern 230 #16,583
2006 modern 232 #16,600
2007 modern 234 #16,706
2008 modern 234 #16,827
2009 modern 234 #17,194
2010 modern 237 #17,368
2011 modern 233 #17,426
2012 modern 230 #17,479
2013 modern 230 #17,756
2014 modern 232 #17,761
2015 modern 232 #17,689
2016 modern 232 #17,694

Geography

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Where Peffers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dunbar, Haddington, Ancrum, Forfar and Newcastle All Saints. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oxgangs, Surrey Heath, Glassford, Quarter and Allanton, Low Waters and Great Junction Street. 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 Dunbar Haddington
2 Haddington Haddington
3 Ancrum Roxburgh
4 Forfar Forfar
5 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oxgangs City of Edinburgh
2 Surrey Heath 005 Surrey Heath
3 Glassford, Quarter and Allanton South Lanarkshire
4 Low Waters South Lanarkshire
5 Great Junction Street City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peffers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peffers

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Peffers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Peffers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Peffers is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Peffers 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

Peffers falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Peffers

The surname PEFFERS is believed to have originated in Scotland, with the earliest records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be a variation of the name Peebles, which is derived from the town of Peebles in the Scottish Borders region. The name Peebles itself is believed to come from the Old English word "pebble," referring to the rocky terrain of the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PEFFERS can be found in the Parish Records of Peebles from the late 16th century, where the name appears as "Pefferes." This spelling variation likely emerged due to the Scottish pronunciation of the name, which emphasized the second syllable.

In the 17th century, the PEFFERS name began to appear in various historical documents across Scotland, including court records and land charters. One notable figure from this period was John Peffers, a merchant from Edinburgh who was active in the early 1600s.

As the centuries progressed, the PEFFERS name spread beyond Scotland to other parts of the United Kingdom and eventually to other parts of the world, particularly through Scottish immigration. One prominent individual bearing this surname was Sir William Peffers (1776-1857), a Scottish engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines.

In the 19th century, the PEFFERS name also appeared in literary works, such as the novel "The Provost" by John Galt, where a character named James Peffers is mentioned. Another notable figure from this period was Robert Peffers (1845-1923), a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the lumber industry.

Moving into the 20th century, the PEFFERS surname continued to be represented by individuals from various walks of life. For example, William Peffers (1906-1982) was a British actor and playwright who appeared in numerous films and television shows. Additionally, Mary Peffers (1920-2005) was a Scottish artist known for her landscape paintings and portraiture.

Throughout its history, the PEFFERS surname has maintained a strong connection to its Scottish roots, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the region from which it originated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peffers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peffers 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. East Lothian leads with 68 Peffers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 302.49x.

County Total Index
East Lothian 68 302.49x
Lanarkshire 25 4.55x
Midlothian 25 10.99x
Angus 18 11.45x
Durham 8 1.58x
Northumberland 8 3.17x
Roxburghshire 6 19.52x
Middlesex 5 0.29x
Kent 3 0.52x
Dunbartonshire 2 4.39x
Fife 2 1.99x
Lancashire 2 0.10x
Berwickshire 1 4.87x
Surrey 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Haddington in East Lothian leads with 26 Peffers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 783.13x.

Place Total Index
Haddington 26 783.13x
Dunbar 17 539.68x
Barony 16 11.52x
Forfar 15 176.26x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 14 15.30x
Gateshead 8 21.16x
Byker 7 56.09x
Innerwick 7 1555.56x
Ancrum 6 750.00x
Prestonkirk 6 535.71x
Garvald 5 1136.36x
Glasgow 5 5.13x
Inveresk 5 81.17x
St Pancras London 5 3.66x
South Leith 4 15.63x
Hamilton 3 19.60x
Kirriemuir 3 77.32x
Gladsmuir 2 200.00x
Old Kilpatrick 2 37.11x
Plumstead 2 10.36x
Salford 2 3.38x
Spott 2 588.24x
Ayton 1 84.03x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 18.69x
Dysart 1 14.77x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 17.27x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 21.19x
Folkestone 1 8.90x
Forgan 1 52.08x
Govan 1 0.74x
Humbie 1 188.68x
Penge 1 9.23x
Salton 1 294.12x
Yester 1 185.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 2
Mary 2
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Euphemia 1
Isabella 1
Jacobina 1
Jane 1
Josephine 1
Lillian 1
Williamia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 3
James 2
Albert 1
Edward 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Sarah 1
Simon 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 Peffers households.

FAQ

Peffers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peffers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 174 people were recorded with the Peffers surname. That placed it at #14,042 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peffers surname today?

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

What does the Peffers surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to someone from a town or region associated with that name.

What does the Peffers map show?

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