NameCensus.

UK surname

Peggs

An English surname derived from the pet form of the given name "Margaret".

In the 1881 census there were 313 people recorded with the Peggs surname, ranking it #9,436 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 277, ranked #15,619, down from #9,436 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Brightlingsea, Stalham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Fenland and Tendring.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peggs is 399 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.5%.

1881 census count

313

Ranked #9,436

Modern count

277

2016, ranked #15,619

Peak year

1911

399 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peggs had 313 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,436 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016, ranked #15,619.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 399 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Peggs surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peggs surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peggs 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 234 #9,241
1861 historical 203 #11,865
1881 historical 313 #9,436
1891 historical 309 #10,848
1901 historical 384 #9,745
1911 historical 399 #9,298
1997 modern 324 #12,859
1998 modern 336 #12,889
1999 modern 339 #12,892
2000 modern 320 #13,360
2001 modern 327 #12,970
2002 modern 321 #13,378
2003 modern 314 #13,419
2004 modern 303 #13,812
2005 modern 301 #13,812
2006 modern 304 #13,797
2007 modern 305 #13,891
2008 modern 300 #14,135
2009 modern 301 #14,386
2010 modern 312 #14,314
2011 modern 297 #14,698
2012 modern 281 #15,198
2013 modern 272 #15,836
2014 modern 272 #15,949
2015 modern 281 #15,457
2016 modern 277 #15,619

Geography

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Where Peggs' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Brightlingsea, Stalham, London parishes, Chatteris and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, Fenland and Tendring. 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 Brightlingsea Essex
2 Stalham Norfolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Chatteris Cambridgeshire
5 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 018 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Redcar and Cleveland 013 Redcar and Cleveland
3 Fenland 001 Fenland
4 Redcar and Cleveland 012 Redcar and Cleveland
5 Tendring 011 Tendring

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peggs

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peggs

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Peggs, 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 Peggs surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Peggs 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, Peggs 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

Peggs is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Peggs falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Peggs is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Peggs

The surname Peggs is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "pegg," which referred to a peg or a stake used for various purposes, such as securing tents or marking boundaries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a land holder named Pegg is mentioned in the county of Wiltshire. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Peggs family was primarily concentrated in the southern and central regions of England, particularly in counties like Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. Some early variations of the spelling included Pegge, Pegg, and Pigg.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Samuel Peggs (1548-1621) was a prominent clergyman and scholar who served as the rector of St. Andrew's Church in Peterborough. He was known for his contributions to religious literature and his involvement in theological debates of the time.

Another individual of note was John Peggs (1629-1690), a military officer who served in the English Civil War and later became a prominent landowner in Shropshire. His descendants continued to play a role in the local gentry and politics of the region.

During the 18th century, a family of Peggs resided in the village of Idridgehay in Derbyshire. One of its members, Thomas Peggs (1737-1806), was a renowned clockmaker whose works are still highly regarded by horological enthusiasts.

In the 19th century, a notable figure was Sir James Peggs (1810-1887), a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Birmingham. He amassed a significant fortune through his manufacturing business and was known for his charitable contributions to various causes, including the establishment of schools and hospitals.

Another individual of interest was Mary Peggs (1827-1906), a prominent suffragette and activist for women's rights. She was involved in the campaign for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom and was a vocal advocate for gender equality.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals bearing the surname Peggs throughout history, reflecting its origins and presence across various regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peggs families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peggs 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 66 Peggs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.01x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 66 14.01x
Essex 56 9.26x
Cambridgeshire 42 21.65x
Middlesex 42 1.37x
Suffolk 35 9.38x
Yorkshire 18 0.59x
Surrey 12 0.80x
Sussex 8 1.55x
Nottinghamshire 7 1.70x
Northamptonshire 6 2.08x
Renfrewshire 6 2.53x
Warwickshire 5 0.65x
Durham 3 0.33x
Lincolnshire 2 0.41x
Somerset 2 0.41x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.54x
Channel Islands 1 1.10x
Cornwall 1 0.29x
Staffordshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chatteris in Cambridgeshire leads with 36 Peggs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 727.27x.

Place Total Index
Chatteris 36 727.27x
Newton 21 4468.09x
Brightlingsea 18 521.74x
Islington London 17 5.73x
Stalham 16 1777.78x
Dilham 15 3333.33x
West Ham 11 8.24x
Skelton In Guisbrough 9 109.62x
Horsey 8 3809.52x
Lambeth 8 3.00x
Bethnal Green London 7 5.26x
East Dereham 7 117.65x
Epping 7 284.55x
Newark Upon Trent 7 47.17x
Shoreditch London 7 5.27x
Preston 6 66.52x
Bradford 5 6.81x
Castor 5 406.50x
Colchester Holy Trinity 5 373.13x
Ipswich St Mary At Elms 5 423.73x
Leamington Priors 5 26.30x
Ludham 5 602.41x
Port Glasgow 5 43.59x
Colchester St Mary At 4 186.92x
Harwich St Nicholas 4 85.65x
Hinderwell 4 154.44x
Histon 4 392.16x
Long Melford 4 115.27x
Colchester St Peter 3 123.97x
Dennington 3 361.45x
St Marylebone London 3 1.83x
Sutton 3 750.00x
Walsoken 3 106.01x
Westminster St John 3 8.04x
Antingham 2 740.74x
Bishopwearmouth 2 2.56x
Brighton 2 1.92x
Colchester St Botolph 2 38.91x
Great Grimsby 2 6.44x
Great Yarmouth 2 5.13x
Hampstead London 2 4.19x
Southwark St Saviour 2 12.71x
Upwell 2 140.85x
Walcot 2 7.62x
Barton Turf 1 270.27x
Chesham 1 14.66x
Clapham 1 2.61x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.38x
Dunton 1 666.67x
Gateshead 1 1.47x
Great Bentley 1 104.17x
Great Waldingfield 1 161.29x
Greenock East 1 1111.11x
Handsworth 1 3.92x
Happisburgh 1 169.49x
Irstead 1 625.00x
Kersey 1 192.31x
Madron Penzance 1 7.93x
Newington 1 0.88x
Paddington London 1 0.89x
Peterborough 1 4.79x
Skeyton 1 303.03x
St Helier 1 3.38x
Westminster St James 1 3.18x
Worstead 1 123.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 14
George 10
James 10
Charles 9
Arthur 8
Robert 5
Benjamin 4
Henry 4
Thomas 4
Francis 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Dennis 2
Jeremiah 2
Joseph 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Alfd. 1
Artur 1
Bartholomew 1
Benjn. 1
Bernard 1
Charlie 1
Christmas 1
Cornelius 1
Donald 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Elizabeth 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Geo 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
J.W. 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Nathan 1
Newman 1
Owen 1
Phillip 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
Willm 1
Wm.James 1

FAQ

Peggs surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peggs surname in 1881?

In 1881, 313 people were recorded with the Peggs surname. That placed it at #9,436 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peggs surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016. That gives Peggs a modern rank of #15,619.

What does the Peggs surname mean?

An English surname derived from the pet form of the given name "Margaret".

What does the Peggs map show?

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