NameCensus.

UK surname

Peralta

A Spanish surname likely derived from a place name meaning "high pass" or "crossing."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Kingston upon Thames and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peralta is 160 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

160

2016, ranked #22,694

Peak year

2014

160 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016, ranked #22,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Peralta surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peralta surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peralta 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 #33,412
1997 modern 62 #31,412
1998 modern 65 #31,477
1999 modern 76 #30,546
2000 modern 70 #31,180
2001 modern 67 #31,297
2002 modern 72 #31,269
2003 modern 70 #31,486
2004 modern 76 #31,125
2005 modern 81 #30,740
2006 modern 88 #30,160
2007 modern 102 #28,351
2008 modern 113 #26,920
2009 modern 123 #26,098
2010 modern 142 #24,352
2011 modern 145 #23,837
2012 modern 144 #23,902
2013 modern 159 #22,706
2014 modern 160 #22,824
2015 modern 159 #22,796
2016 modern 160 #22,694

Geography

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Where Peraltas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brent, Kingston upon Thames, Teignbridge, Southwark and Three Rivers. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brent 026 Brent
2 Kingston upon Thames 013 Kingston upon Thames
3 Teignbridge 009 Teignbridge
4 Southwark 016 Southwark
5 Three Rivers 006 Three Rivers

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peralta

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peralta

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Peralta surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Peralta 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Peralta is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Peralta is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Peralta falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Peralta 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Peralta

The surname Peralta is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval Iberian Peninsula. It is derived from the Basque words "pera" meaning "pear" and "alta" meaning "high" or "elevated," suggesting a connection to a place or region with pear orchards or groves situated at a higher elevation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Peralta can be found in the 12th century, when it appeared in various documents and manuscripts from the Kingdom of Aragon and the Kingdom of Castile. This indicates that the name was already well-established during that time period.

In the 13th century, the town of Peralta de la Sal in the province of Huesca, Aragon, was mentioned in historical records. It is believed that the surname Peralta may have originated from this particular location or nearby areas.

The name Peralta gained prominence during the Reconquista, the centuries-long period of the Iberian Christian conquest of the Moorish territories. Pedro Martínez de Peralta (c. 1330-1391), a notable military leader and strategist, played a significant role in the battles against the Moors and was instrumental in the conquest of the Kingdom of Granada.

Another historical figure bearing the surname Peralta was Juan de Peralta (c. 1480-1557), a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico. He was granted extensive lands and privileges for his contributions to the Spanish colonization efforts in the Americas.

In the 16th century, the Peralta family established themselves as a prominent noble house in Aragon and Navarre. Juan de Peralta y Bazán (1530-1594), a military commander and diplomat, served as the Viceroy of New Spain (modern-day Mexico) from 1567 to 1568.

During the 17th century, the name Peralta appeared in various historical records across Spain and its overseas territories. One notable figure from this period was Pedro de Peralta Barnuevo (1663-1743), a Spanish poet and dramatist who gained recognition for his literary works.

As the Spanish Empire expanded, the surname Peralta spread to various parts of the world, including Latin America, where it continues to be a prevalent name in countries like Mexico, Peru, and Argentina.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Peralta surname: questions and answers

How common is the Peralta surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016. That gives Peralta a modern rank of #22,694.

What does the Peralta surname mean?

A Spanish surname likely derived from a place name meaning "high pass" or "crossing."

What does the Peralta map show?

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