NameCensus.

UK surname

Pegram

A surname of English origin, derived from a place name meaning "village where pea plants grow."

In the 1881 census there were 356 people recorded with the Pegram surname, ranking it #8,665 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 696, ranked #7,738, up from #8,665 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Wyddiall, Throcking, Layston, Aspeden, Wakely, Westmill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chelmsford, Castle Point and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pegram is 795 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.5%.

1881 census count

356

Ranked #8,665

Modern count

696

2016, ranked #7,738

Peak year

1998

795 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pegram had 356 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,665 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 696 in 2016, ranked #7,738.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 619 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pegram surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pegram surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pegram 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 164 #12,116
1861 historical 231 #10,572
1881 historical 356 #8,665
1891 historical 414 #8,628
1901 historical 584 #7,219
1911 historical 619 #6,681
1997 modern 744 #6,926
1998 modern 795 #6,779
1999 modern 778 #6,942
2000 modern 791 #6,837
2001 modern 758 #6,937
2002 modern 788 #6,856
2003 modern 749 #7,027
2004 modern 769 #6,888
2005 modern 733 #7,081
2006 modern 710 #7,273
2007 modern 707 #7,362
2008 modern 717 #7,349
2009 modern 729 #7,401
2010 modern 733 #7,504
2011 modern 714 #7,581
2012 modern 701 #7,601
2013 modern 713 #7,623
2014 modern 722 #7,590
2015 modern 716 #7,591
2016 modern 696 #7,738

Geography

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Where Pegrams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Wyddiall, Throcking, Layston, Aspeden, Wakely, Westmill and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chelmsford, Castle Point, Liverpool, Gateshead and Hillingdon. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Wyddiall, Throcking, Layston, Aspeden, Wakely, Westmill Hertfordshire
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chelmsford 016 Chelmsford
2 Castle Point 002 Castle Point
3 Liverpool 057 Liverpool
4 Gateshead 003 Gateshead
5 Hillingdon 011 Hillingdon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pegram

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pegram

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pegram, 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 Pegram surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pegram 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, Pegram 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

Pegram is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pegram

The surname Pegram is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the early medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English words "pecc" and "grama," which together translate to "woodpecker." It is believed that the name originally referred to someone who lived near a prominent or notable tree, possibly one frequented by woodpeckers.

The earliest recorded instances of the Pegram surname can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries, primarily concentrated in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in eastern England. One notable early record is that of John Pegram, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Norfolk in 1332.

During the Middle Ages, the Pegram name appeared in several variations, including Pekgrame, Pekgrom, and Peckgram, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during that time. Some of these early spellings may have been influenced by regional dialects or the personal preferences of scribes who recorded the name.

In the 16th century, the Pegram surname gained recognition through the exploits of Sir Edward Pegram (c. 1530-1588), an English military commander who served under Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the suppression of the Northern Rebellion in 1569 and later served as the Governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Another notable figure bearing the Pegram surname was George Pegram (c. 1580-1631), a British merchant and colonist who was among the early settlers of Virginia in the early 17th century. He was involved in the establishment of the colony and served as a member of the Virginia Company of London.

In the 18th century, the Pegram family gained prominence in the American colonies, particularly in Virginia. One prominent individual was William Pegram (1707-1788), a planter and landowner who served as a vestryman and church warden in Brunswick County, Virginia.

During the American Civil War, the Pegram name was carried by several notable military figures, including John Pegram (1832-1916), a Confederate Army officer who fought in various battles and campaigns throughout the conflict. His brother, Robert Baker Pegram (1839-1923), also served as a Confederate officer and later pursued a career in law and education.

Throughout its history, the Pegram surname has been associated with various locations, particularly in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in England, as well as in parts of Virginia and other Southern states in the United States. The name has endured for centuries, reflecting the rich tapestry of cultural and historical influences that have shaped its evolution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pegram families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pegram 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. Middlesex leads with 147 Pegrams recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.22x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 147 4.22x
Essex 78 11.35x
Hertfordshire 57 23.75x
Surrey 29 1.71x
Lancashire 14 0.34x
Worcestershire 8 1.76x
Hampshire 6 0.84x
Kent 5 0.42x
Monmouthshire 4 1.59x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.91x
Cheshire 1 0.13x
Devon 1 0.14x
Leicestershire 1 0.26x
Oxfordshire 1 0.47x
Royal Navy 1 2.41x
Warwickshire 1 0.11x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 30 Pegrams recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.70x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 30 10.70x
Barking 10 49.73x
Hackney London 10 5.12x
Islington London 10 2.96x
Romford 10 92.00x
Barkway 9 957.45x
Cheshunt 9 107.27x
Toxteth Park 9 6.43x
West Ham 9 5.93x
Kings Norton 8 19.62x
Shadwell London 8 82.14x
Theydon Mount 8 4444.44x
Bethnal Green London 7 4.63x
Camberwell 7 3.15x
Enfield 7 30.63x
Newington 7 5.44x
Hatfield 6 123.20x
Prittlewell 6 62.96x
Stoke Newington London 6 22.12x
Waltham Holy Cross 6 93.46x
Woodford 6 77.12x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 5.54x
Chelsea London 5 4.77x
Fareham 5 58.28x
Kelvedon Hatch 5 1111.11x
Mile End Old Town 5 9.10x
Rotherhithe 5 11.62x
Spitalfields London 5 19.09x
Teddington London 5 63.37x
Abergavenny 4 42.42x
Acton 4 19.60x
Brickendon 4 360.36x
Bromley London 4 5.22x
Broxbourne 4 84.03x
Edmonton 4 14.26x
Gillingham 4 16.33x
Hertford St John 4 111.73x
St Luke London 4 7.16x
Whitechapel London 4 11.66x
Widford 4 655.74x
Croydon 3 3.19x
Essendon 3 410.96x
Great Coggeshall 3 84.03x
Hampstead London 3 5.53x
Reed 3 1304.35x
Royston 3 147.06x
Shoreditch London 3 1.99x
St Martin In Fields 3 14.39x
St Marylebone London 3 1.61x
Therfield 3 214.29x
West Thurrock 3 131.00x
Battersea 2 1.56x
Bobbingworth 2 555.56x
Clapham 2 4.59x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 2 20.79x
Finchley 2 14.98x
Hertford St Andrew 2 67.57x
Hornsey 2 4.54x
Kensington London 2 1.03x
Lambeth 2 0.66x
Paddington London 2 1.56x
St Andrew Holborn 2 16.93x
St George Hanover 2 4.40x
Wanstead 2 16.61x
Alverstoke 1 3.87x
Bridewell Precinct 1 357.14x
Chester Castle 1 243.90x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.22x
Cowley 1 14.90x
Epping 1 35.84x
Great Hadham 1 64.52x
Harlow 1 33.78x
Horton Kirby 1 54.35x
Navestock 1 101.01x
Oakthorpe Donsthorpe 1 97.09x
Royal Navy 1 2.82x
St Botolph Aldgate 1 21.05x
St George In East 1 4.22x
Stanford Le Hope 1 101.01x
Walthamstow 1 4.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 17
Emma 14
Alice 11
Eliza 9
Emily 9
Clara 6
Jane 6
Sarah 5
Ann 4
Caroline 4
Florence 4
Hannah 4
Louisa 4
Susan 4
Amelia 3
Ellen 3
Frances 3
Jessie 3
Rose 3
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Rebecca 2
Alicia 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
E. 1
Ester 1
Fanney 1
Gertrude 1
H. 1
Harriot 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Jeanette 1
Jenny 1
Lilly 1
Louise 1
Mahala 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Pegram surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pegram surname in 1881?

In 1881, 356 people were recorded with the Pegram surname. That placed it at #8,665 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pegram surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 696 in 2016. That gives Pegram a modern rank of #7,738.

What does the Pegram surname mean?

A surname of English origin, derived from a place name meaning "village where pea plants grow."

What does the Pegram map show?

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