UK surname
A surname derived from the spice pepper, possibly related to an occupation involving pepper or spices.
In the 1881 census there were 28 people recorded with the Peper surname, ranking it #29,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #29,646 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Acton, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Monkwearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peper is 243 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.0%.
1881 census count
28
Ranked #29,646
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1891
243 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Peper surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Peper surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 88 | #18,569 |
| 1861 | historical | 179 | #13,127 |
| 1881 | historical | 28 | #29,646 |
| 1891 | historical | 243 | #13,011 |
| 1901 | historical | 59 | #27,609 |
| 1911 | historical | 41 | #28,802 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 8 | #37,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Acton, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Monkwearmouth, Exbourne and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acton | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 3 | Monkwearmouth | Durham |
| 4 | Exbourne | Devon |
| 5 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Peper surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Peper, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Peper surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Peper household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Peper is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Peper is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Peper, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Peper originated in the Netherlands, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Dutch word "peper," meaning "pepper," and was likely an occupational name for someone involved in the pepper trade or a merchant dealing in spices. The earliest known bearer of the name was Hendrick Peper, who was born in Amsterdam in 1568.
In the Netherlands, the name Peper was concentrated in the provinces of North Holland and South Holland, particularly in the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Leiden. The first recorded spelling of the name was "Peeper," which appeared in a 1598 document from the city of Haarlem.
One notable historical figure with the surname Peper was Pieter Peper, a Dutch painter born in Haarlem in 1625. He was known for his still-life paintings and genre scenes depicting everyday life in the Dutch Golden Age.
Another prominent individual with the Peper name was Jacobus Peper, a Dutch theologian born in Rotterdam in 1705. He served as a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church and published several works on theology and religious philosophy.
In the 18th century, the Peper family gained prominence in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Jan Peper, born in Amsterdam in 1722, was a Dutch colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Moluccas Islands from 1765 to 1770.
The name Peper also appeared in historical records from other parts of Europe. In England, there was a record of a Thomas Peper living in the village of Weston, Somerset, in the 1379 Poll Tax returns.
Over time, the surname Peper has also been found with variations in spelling, such as Peeper, Pepper, and Peppere. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects, phonetic translations, and variations in record-keeping practices.
While the surname Peper has Dutch origins, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, through emigration and migration patterns. However, the earliest recorded examples and historical references for the name can be traced back to the Netherlands and the surrounding regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peper surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 9 Pepers recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.49x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 9 | 11.49x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.90x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 10.28x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 4.85x |
| Sussex | 2 | 4.51x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.92x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 2.18x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 2.38x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 1.13x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.78x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.38x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Monkwearmouth in Durham leads with 9 Pepers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1200.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Monkwearmouth | 9 | 1200.00x |
| Shadwell London | 4 | 540.54x |
| Loughborough | 3 | 227.27x |
| South Normanton | 2 | 689.66x |
| Wisborough Green | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Middlesbrough | 1 | 29.41x |
| Prittlewell | 1 | 138.89x |
| Richmond | 1 | 55.56x |
| St Clement Danes | 1 | 232.56x |
| Stroxton | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Swansea Town | 1 | 26.60x |
| Upper Penn | 1 | 454.55x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Peper surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Peper surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Peper households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Quarryman (Stone) | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Able Seaman And Cook | 1 |
| Assistant | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Cashmere Factory Hand | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Coal Miner Wife | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic (Servant) | 1 |
| Engine Driver At Road Works | 1 |
| Formerly Ag Lab | 1 |
| Formerly Ag Lab Wife | 1 |
| General Lab | 1 |
| General Servent (Dom) | 1 |
| Grocers Assistant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 28 people were recorded with the Peper surname. That placed it at #29,646 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Peper a modern rank of #37,967.
A surname derived from the spice pepper, possibly related to an occupation involving pepper or spices.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Peper bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.