NameCensus.

UK surname

Pegg

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of pegs or nails.

In the 1881 census there were 2,935 people recorded with the Pegg surname, ranking it #1,522 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,634, ranked #1,872, down from #1,522 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sherringham, Burton-on-Trent and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, North Norfolk and Hinckley and Bosworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pegg is 4,141 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.8%.

1881 census count

2,935

Ranked #1,522

Modern count

3,634

2016, ranked #1,872

Peak year

1911

4,141 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pegg had 2,935 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,522 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,634 in 2016, ranked #1,872.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,141 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pegg surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pegg surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pegg 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 1,977 #1,466
1861 historical 1,876 #1,540
1881 historical 2,935 #1,522
1891 historical 3,129 #1,510
1901 historical 3,672 #1,529
1911 historical 4,141 #1,246
1997 modern 3,947 #1,647
1998 modern 4,080 #1,654
1999 modern 4,061 #1,674
2000 modern 3,999 #1,695
2001 modern 3,889 #1,703
2002 modern 3,931 #1,722
2003 modern 3,861 #1,718
2004 modern 3,823 #1,738
2005 modern 3,773 #1,739
2006 modern 3,774 #1,736
2007 modern 3,796 #1,736
2008 modern 3,812 #1,740
2009 modern 3,896 #1,747
2010 modern 3,896 #1,781
2011 modern 3,851 #1,781
2012 modern 3,695 #1,823
2013 modern 3,710 #1,849
2014 modern 3,746 #1,846
2015 modern 3,686 #1,858
2016 modern 3,634 #1,872

Geography

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Where Peggs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sherringham, Burton-on-Trent, London parishes, St Werburgh and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newark and Sherwood, North Norfolk, Hinckley and Bosworth and Staffordshire Moorlands. 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 Sherringham Norfolk
2 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 010 Newark and Sherwood
2 Newark and Sherwood 007 Newark and Sherwood
3 North Norfolk 001 North Norfolk
4 Hinckley and Bosworth 006 Hinckley and Bosworth
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pegg

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pegg

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Pegg surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pegg 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pegg 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

Pegg is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pegg

The surname "PEGG" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, primarily in the county of Derbyshire. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "peg," which referred to a wooden pin or stake used for securing objects or marking boundaries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire from the year 1199, where a person named Radulfus Peg is mentioned. This suggests that the surname may have initially been used as a descriptive term for someone who worked with pegs or lived near a boundary marked by pegs.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as "Pegge," "Pege," and "Pegg," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that era. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 contain a reference to a William Pegge in Staffordshire, indicating the name's spread to neighboring counties.

During the 14th century, the surname "PEGG" gained prominence in Derbyshire, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such person was Sir John Pegg (c. 1330-1399), a knight and landowner who served as Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1386. Another prominent figure was Richard Pegg (c. 1350-1415), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of Derby.

By the 15th century, the surname had become well-established in various parts of England, with records showing individuals named Pegg residing in counties like Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire. One notable bearer of the name was Thomas Pegg (c. 1440-1519), a wealthy landowner and benefactor who contributed to the construction of churches and educational institutions in Derbyshire.

Over the centuries, the surname "PEGG" has been associated with several notable individuals, including:

1. Samuel Pegg (1639-1703), an English Puritan minister and author. 2. William Pegg (1775-1853), an English engraver and illustrator known for his work on natural history publications. 3. John Pegg (1832-1898), a British mathematician and educator who served as the Headmaster of Christ's Hospital school. 4. Ernest Pegg (1885-1957), an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire County Cricket Club. 5. Mark Pegg (born 1970), a British musician and songwriter, best known as the bassist for the rock band Janus Stark.

While the origins of the surname "PEGG" can be traced back to medieval England, its presence has spread globally due to migration and immigration over the centuries. However, the historical records and notable individuals mentioned above provide insights into the rich heritage and significance of this surname in English history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pegg families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pegg 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. Derbyshire leads with 427 Peggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.51x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 427 9.51x
Leicestershire 404 12.71x
Norfolk 310 7.03x
Staffordshire 282 2.91x
Middlesex 238 0.83x
Warwickshire 227 3.14x
Yorkshire 143 0.50x
Nottinghamshire 136 3.52x
Lancashire 117 0.34x
Surrey 98 0.70x
Suffolk 72 2.06x
Lincolnshire 71 1.55x
Kent 51 0.52x
Cheshire 48 0.76x
Cambridgeshire 46 2.53x
Durham 41 0.48x
Worcestershire 36 0.96x
Essex 25 0.44x
Hampshire 25 0.43x
Shropshire 19 0.77x
Glamorgan 18 0.36x
Northumberland 17 0.40x
Gloucestershire 11 0.20x
Berkshire 9 0.42x
Montgomeryshire 8 1.22x
Bedfordshire 7 0.47x
Northamptonshire 7 0.26x
West Lothian 7 1.62x
Huntingdonshire 5 0.88x
Lanarkshire 5 0.05x
Oxfordshire 5 0.28x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.23x
Midlothian 4 0.10x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.25x
Dorset 2 0.11x
Hertfordshire 2 0.10x
Royal Navy 2 0.59x
Sussex 2 0.04x
Berwickshire 1 0.29x
Channel Islands 1 0.12x
Devon 1 0.02x
Renfrewshire 1 0.05x
Westmorland 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 104 Peggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.42x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 104 13.42x
Nottingham St Mary 60 6.00x
Littleover 46 603.67x
Derby St Werburgh 41 15.82x
Islington London 40 1.44x
Burton Upon Trent 38 16.78x
Leicester St Mary 38 14.80x
Sheringham 37 325.70x
Normanton 35 92.32x
Aston 33 1.66x
Birmingham 32 1.33x
Derby St Alkmund 32 23.79x
Bulkington 29 185.66x
Camberwell 28 1.53x
Heigham 28 11.83x
Litchurch 28 15.50x
Derby St Peter 27 18.89x
Coventry St Michael 26 11.19x
Amington Stonydelph 23 365.66x
Calthorpe 21 1050.00x
Kirkby Mallory Earl 21 137.70x
Norton Juxta Twycross 21 541.24x
Bow London 20 5.48x
Norton In Moors 20 39.04x
Leek Lowe 19 14.76x
Newington 19 1.79x
Holy Trinity 17 2.49x
Harborne 16 5.16x
Lambeth 16 0.64x
Macclesfield 16 5.69x
Normanton 16 1142.86x
St Marylebone London 16 1.05x
Aylsham 15 57.16x
Hackney London 15 0.93x
Hinckley 15 19.89x
Impington 15 383.63x
West Ham 15 1.20x
Battersea 14 1.33x
Chellaston 14 286.30x
Derby All Sts 14 37.34x
Etwall 14 270.79x
Hartshorn 14 82.55x
Hindolveston 14 217.39x
Horninglow 14 30.72x
Hucknall Torkard 14 14.29x
Loughborough 14 9.71x
Sheffield 14 1.55x
Swanton Morley 14 206.79x
Castle Donnington 13 49.32x
Corpusty 13 349.46x
Deptford St Paul 13 1.72x
Great Grimsby 13 4.47x
Stow Upland 13 113.24x
Tottenham 13 2.85x
Toxteth Park 13 1.13x
Anslow 12 319.15x
Chilvers Coton 12 40.35x
Leicester All Sts 12 19.22x
Nuneaton 12 14.33x
St George Hanover 12 3.21x
St Pancras London 12 0.52x
Tamworth 12 23.19x
Blaby 11 85.94x
Bolton In Bradford 11 60.41x
Coventry Holy Trinity 11 5.10x
Erpingham 11 308.12x
Kegworth 11 52.06x
Kensington London 11 0.69x
Leicester Black Friars 11 53.17x
Radford 11 5.60x
Sherburn 11 47.11x
Thurlaston 11 209.92x
Worcester St Clement 11 46.20x
Church Gresley 10 14.00x
Collierley 10 26.32x
Hulme 10 1.41x
Long Eaton 10 16.88x
Redenhall 10 58.41x
Shardlow 10 117.37x
Stowmarket 10 24.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 203
Sarah 130
Elizabeth 120
Eliza 59
Ann 51
Alice 44
Annie 43
Emma 43
Jane 43
Hannah 41
Ellen 38
Maria 34
Martha 32
Emily 30
Charlotte 23
Harriet 22
Margaret 21
Louisa 20
Catherine 19
Clara 19
Edith 19
Harriett 19
Susan 15
Caroline 14
Anne 13
Florence 12
Frances 12
Kate 11
Lucy 11
Ada 10
Fanny 10
Esther 9
Rose 9
Eleanor 8
Rebecca 8
Bertha 7
Lydia 7
Agnes 6
Flora 6
Julia 6
Minnie 6
Rosa 6
Elizth. 5
Isabella 5
Laura 5
Susanna 5
Amelia 4
Amy 4
Elisabeth 4
Rosina 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 205
John 183
George 140
James 110
Thomas 100
Joseph 60
Henry 59
Charles 58
Robert 47
Arthur 45
Samuel 42
Alfred 28
Walter 24
Richard 20
Frederick 18
Ernest 17
Harry 17
Albert 14
Edward 12
Francis 12
Herbert 12
David 10
Isaac 10
Daniel 8
Edwin 8
Geo. 8
Frank 6
Saml. 6
Wm. 6
Tom 5
Josiah 4
Leonard 4
Matthew 4
Abraham 3
Benjamin 3
Edmund 3
Fred 3
Fredrick 3
Lewis 3
Louis 3
Philip 3
Stephen 3
Sydney 3
Thos. 3
Frederic 2
Oliver 2
Percy 2
Phillip 2
Richd. 2
Robt. 2

FAQ

Pegg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pegg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,935 people were recorded with the Pegg surname. That placed it at #1,522 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pegg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,634 in 2016. That gives Pegg a modern rank of #1,872.

What does the Pegg surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of pegs or nails.

What does the Pegg map show?

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