NameCensus.

UK surname

Peirson

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "son of Peter".

In the 1881 census there were 480 people recorded with the Peirson surname, ranking it #6,976 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 559, ranked #9,178, down from #6,976 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lastingham, Darlington and Pickering. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, Scarborough and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peirson is 649 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.5%.

1881 census count

480

Ranked #6,976

Modern count

559

2016, ranked #9,178

Peak year

1911

649 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peirson had 480 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,976 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 559 in 2016, ranked #9,178.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 649 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Peirson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peirson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peirson 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 425 #5,746
1861 historical 299 #8,460
1881 historical 480 #6,976
1891 historical 481 #7,664
1901 historical 519 #7,831
1911 historical 649 #6,449
1997 modern 592 #8,226
1998 modern 635 #8,050
1999 modern 637 #8,084
2000 modern 628 #8,156
2001 modern 610 #8,193
2002 modern 595 #8,510
2003 modern 606 #8,261
2004 modern 603 #8,322
2005 modern 568 #8,601
2006 modern 569 #8,612
2007 modern 568 #8,690
2008 modern 567 #8,761
2009 modern 579 #8,814
2010 modern 580 #8,999
2011 modern 560 #9,130
2012 modern 537 #9,348
2013 modern 564 #9,139
2014 modern 573 #9,089
2015 modern 566 #9,096
2016 modern 559 #9,178

Geography

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Where Peirsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lastingham, Darlington, Pickering, Hitchin and Danby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, Scarborough and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Lastingham Yorkshire, North Riding
2 Darlington Durham
3 Pickering Yorkshire, North Riding
4 Hitchin Hertfordshire
5 Danby Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 002 Ryedale
2 Scarborough 004 Scarborough
3 Ryedale 001 Ryedale
4 Scarborough 002 Scarborough
5 Redcar and Cleveland 012 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peirson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peirson

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Peirson is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Peirson 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

Peirson falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Peirson

The surname Peirson is of English origin, deriving from the medieval English personal name Peter, itself originating from the Greek name Petros, meaning "rock." The surname is a patronymic, meaning it was initially used to denote the son of Peter.

Peirson is an anglicized variant of the surname Pearson, which was initially spelled as Person or Persoun in medieval times. The earliest recorded instances of the surname Peirson can be traced back to the late 16th century in various parish records across England.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Peirson was John Peirson, who was born around 1580 in Lincolnshire, England. Another notable individual was William Peirson, a merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

In the 17th century, the surname Peirson appeared in various historical records, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662-1666, which documented households in England and Wales. One notable entry listed a Thomas Peirson from the village of Rothwell in Northamptonshire.

During the 18th century, the Peirson surname became more widespread across England, with bearers residing in various counties such as Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, and Staffordshire. One notable figure from this period was John Peirson (1724-1808), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy.

In the 19th century, the Peirson surname continued to gain prominence, with individuals such as Samuel Peirson (1807-1874), a successful industrialist and entrepreneur from Manchester, and William Peirson (1837-1914), a renowned architect and civil engineer from Nottinghamshire.

Throughout history, the Peirson surname has been associated with various locations across England, including Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, and Staffordshire, reflecting the diverse geographical origins and migrations of its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peirson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peirson 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. Yorkshire leads with 297 Peirsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.40x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 297 6.40x
Middlesex 60 1.28x
Surrey 28 1.23x
Hampshire 15 1.56x
Suffolk 14 2.45x
Kent 13 0.81x
Durham 12 0.86x
Somerset 8 1.06x
Hertfordshire 7 2.17x
Warwickshire 7 0.59x
Sussex 6 0.76x
Norfolk 3 0.42x
Cheshire 2 0.19x
Leicestershire 2 0.39x
Northamptonshire 2 0.45x
Northumberland 2 0.29x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Oxfordshire 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Egton in Yorkshire leads with 43 Peirsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2118.23x.

Place Total Index
Egton 43 2118.23x
Goathland 31 3780.49x
Danby 27 1436.17x
Rosedale East Side 23 3650.79x
Rosedale West Side 22 4400.00x
Roxby 17 5666.67x
Glaisdale 16 903.95x
Eskdaleside 15 657.89x
Islington London 12 2.64x
Camberwell 10 3.34x
Chattisham 10 2857.14x
Petersfield 10 378.79x
Whitby 10 63.94x
Bishopwearmouth 8 6.69x
Edmonton 8 21.21x
Nether Hallam 8 12.74x
Coventry Holy Trinity 7 19.85x
East Cowton 7 1129.03x
St Anne Soho London 7 26.18x
Enfield 6 19.53x
Fadmoor 6 2500.00x
Frimley 6 92.31x
Hawsker Cum Stainsacre 6 389.61x
Hinderwell 6 151.52x
St Marylebone London 6 2.40x
Walcot 6 14.95x
Allerston 5 704.23x
Brighton 5 3.14x
Goole 5 64.35x
Goudhurst 5 113.12x
Hitchin 5 34.32x
Holbeck 5 16.27x
Broughton In Stokesley 4 439.56x
Dorking 4 26.11x
Little Smeaton In 4 869.57x
Pickering 4 68.49x
St George Hanover 4 6.55x
St Pauls Cray 4 327.87x
Stokesley 4 138.41x
Swinton Broughton In 4 547.95x
Westminster St James 4 8.31x
Westminster St John 4 7.02x
Darlington 3 5.58x
Heigham 3 7.76x
Howden 3 95.24x
Lambeth 3 0.73x
Lythe 3 162.16x
Newholme Cum Dunsley 3 468.75x
Ruswarp 3 58.14x
St Peter Colebrook 3 222.22x
Aislaby In Whitby 2 370.37x
Beccles 2 21.79x
Bedminster 2 2.82x
Croydon 2 1.58x
Heworth 2 165.29x
Ickleford 2 222.22x
Kensington London 2 0.77x
Knapton 2 357.14x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.58x
Lewisham 2 2.35x
Mobberley 2 84.75x
Portsea 2 1.06x
St Pancras London 2 0.53x
Tynemouth 2 5.36x
Westerdale 2 465.12x
Crawley 1 138.89x
Ealing 1 2.39x
Kingston On Thames 1 1.82x
Lofthouse 1 14.43x
Lowestoft 1 3.71x
Marske In Guisbrough 1 12.14x
Norton 1 19.53x
Oxford St Giles 1 7.25x
Paddington London 1 0.58x
Rotherhithe 1 1.73x
Shadingfield 1 384.62x
Tonbridge 1 1.74x
Wellingborough 1 4.52x
Whitechapel London 1 2.17x
Woodford 1 40.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Sarah 25
Jane 20
Hannah 17
Elizabeth 16
Ann 12
Margaret 7
Eliza 6
Alice 5
Ellen 5
Emma 4
Fanny 4
Amelia 3
Charlotte 3
Emily 3
Ethel 3
Maria 3
Annie 2
Beatrice 2
Blanch 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Mabel 2
Rebecca 2
Sophia 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Barbara 1
Christiana 1
Dinah 1
Dorothy 1
Eleanor 1
Florence 1
Helene 1
Honor 1
Jeannie 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Lovina 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Margeret 1
Theressa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 37
William 32
Robert 27
George 21
Thomas 18
Francis 13
Charles 10
Joseph 10
Henry 9
James 9
Alfred 6
Aaron 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Watson 2
Augustus 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dickerson 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Jabez 1
Jas. 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Percy 1
Robt.H. 1
Rowland 1
Sarah 1
Sidney 1
Willm 1
Willm. 1
Wilson 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Peirson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peirson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 480 people were recorded with the Peirson surname. That placed it at #6,976 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peirson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 559 in 2016. That gives Peirson a modern rank of #9,178.

What does the Peirson surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "son of Peter".

What does the Peirson map show?

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