UK surname
A surname derived from the Norman French place name "Percey" or "Percy".
In the 1881 census there were 200 people recorded with the Percey surname, ranking it #12,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 66, ranked #33,948, down from #12,836 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Chertsey, London parishes and Kentisbere, Blackborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Percey is 282 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 67.0%.
1881 census count
200
Ranked #12,836
Modern count
66
2016, ranked #33,948
Peak year
1861
282 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Percey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Percey surname density by area, 1881 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 | 252 | #8,733 |
| 1861 | historical | 282 | #8,895 |
| 1881 | historical | 200 | #12,836 |
| 1891 | historical | 216 | #14,107 |
| 1901 | historical | 129 | #19,735 |
| 1911 | historical | 149 | #17,937 |
| 1997 | modern | 54 | #32,210 |
| 1998 | modern | 68 | #31,181 |
| 1999 | modern | 67 | #31,409 |
| 2000 | modern | 61 | #32,039 |
| 2001 | modern | 64 | #31,602 |
| 2002 | modern | 65 | #31,903 |
| 2003 | modern | 68 | #31,689 |
| 2004 | modern | 64 | #32,286 |
| 2005 | modern | 65 | #32,387 |
| 2006 | modern | 62 | #33,043 |
| 2007 | modern | 66 | #32,948 |
| 2008 | modern | 65 | #33,303 |
| 2009 | modern | 63 | #33,751 |
| 2010 | modern | 67 | #33,713 |
| 2011 | modern | 70 | #33,465 |
| 2012 | modern | 64 | #34,028 |
| 2013 | modern | 65 | #34,059 |
| 2014 | modern | 65 | #34,082 |
| 2015 | modern | 68 | #33,854 |
| 2016 | modern | 66 | #33,948 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Chertsey, London parishes, Kentisbere, Blackborough, Broadhembury and Shillingstone or Shilling Okeford. 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 | Chertsey | Surrey |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Kentisbere, Blackborough | Devon |
| 4 | Broadhembury | Devon |
| 5 | Shillingstone or Shilling Okeford | Dorset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Percey 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 Percey, 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 Percey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Percey 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, Percey 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 Percey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Percey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Percey has its origins in medieval England and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French name "Percy" or "Perci", which in turn originates from the Norman town of Percy-en-Auge located in the Calvados region of Normandy, France.
The earliest recorded mention of the Percey surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Perci". This important historical record compiled by William the Conqueror indicates that the name was already established in England shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
During the Middle Ages, the Percey family held significant land and influence in the county of Northumberland in northern England. One notable member was Henry Percy (1364-1403), known as "Harry Hotspur", who fought alongside King Henry IV during the early years of the Lancastrian dynasty.
Another prominent figure was Henry Percy (1446-1489), 4th Earl of Northumberland, who played a crucial role in the Wars of the Roses, initially supporting the Yorkist cause before switching allegiance to the Lancastrians. His son, Henry Algernon Percy (1478-1537), 5th Earl of Northumberland, was a close companion of King Henry VIII.
In the 16th century, the Percey surname also appears in various records related to the exploration and settlement of the Americas. One such individual was George Percy (c.1580-1631), a colonial governor of Virginia who served as the leader of the Jamestown Colony from 1609 to 1610.
The Percey name has also been associated with notable literary figures, including the English poet and dramatist William Percy (1575-1648), known for his works such as "The Cuckqueans and Cuckold Errants" and "The Faerie Pastorall".
Throughout its long history, the Percey surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Percy, Percie, Percye, and Perse. While the name has maintained a strong presence in England, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and descendants of the original Norman lineage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Percey 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. Devon leads with 33 Perceys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.17x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 33 | 8.17x |
| Middlesex | 27 | 1.39x |
| Surrey | 23 | 2.43x |
| Lancashire | 17 | 0.74x |
| Wiltshire | 12 | 6.99x |
| Yorkshire | 12 | 0.62x |
| Hampshire | 11 | 2.76x |
| Northumberland | 9 | 3.12x |
| Essex | 8 | 2.09x |
| Kent | 7 | 1.06x |
| Nottinghamshire | 7 | 2.68x |
| Somerset | 6 | 1.92x |
| Berkshire | 4 | 2.75x |
| Dorset | 4 | 3.14x |
| Sussex | 4 | 1.22x |
| Buckinghamshire | 3 | 2.56x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 1.01x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 1.20x |
| Flintshire | 2 | 3.83x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 0.85x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 0.69x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.16x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.32x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Martin in Wiltshire leads with 12 Perceys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3529.41x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Percey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 11 |
| Mary | 8 |
| Sarah | 8 |
| Jane | 6 |
| Emily | 5 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Anne | 3 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Agnes | 2 |
| Frances | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Isabella | 2 |
| Kate | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Susan | 2 |
| Adalain | 1 |
| Albert | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Bessie | 1 |
| Bethia | 1 |
| Bettsy | 1 |
| Bridget | 1 |
| Carrey | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Dorcas | 1 |
| E. | 1 |
| Elizt. | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Evelyne | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Hester | 1 |
| Lilley | 1 |
| Lottie | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| M. | 1 |
| Margt. | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Nellie | 1 |
| R. | 1 |
| Rosa | 1 |
| Ruth | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Percey 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 Percey households.
FAQ
In 1881, 200 people were recorded with the Percey surname. That placed it at #12,836 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 66 in 2016. That gives Percey a modern rank of #33,948.
A surname derived from the Norman French place name "Percey" or "Percy".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Percey 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.