NameCensus.

UK surname

Pereira

A Portuguese topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a pear tree or in a pear orchard.

In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Pereira surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,512, ranked #1,218, up from #20,467 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Leicester and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pereira is 5,512 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5763.8%.

1881 census count

94

Ranked #20,467

Modern count

5,512

2016, ranked #1,218

Peak year

2016

5,512 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pereira had 94 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,467 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,512 in 2016, ranked #1,218.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 205 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Pereira surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pereira surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pereira 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 62 #22,232
1861 historical 54 #27,127
1881 historical 94 #20,467
1891 historical 127 #20,496
1901 historical 139 #18,876
1911 historical 205 #14,733
1997 modern 2,227 #2,784
1998 modern 2,372 #2,737
1999 modern 2,463 #2,667
2000 modern 2,566 #2,551
2001 modern 2,526 #2,537
2002 modern 2,778 #2,399
2003 modern 2,835 #2,319
2004 modern 3,124 #2,097
2005 modern 3,272 #1,990
2006 modern 3,562 #1,836
2007 modern 3,756 #1,758
2008 modern 4,033 #1,641
2009 modern 4,377 #1,560
2010 modern 4,711 #1,484
2011 modern 4,623 #1,488
2012 modern 4,864 #1,380
2013 modern 5,122 #1,333
2014 modern 5,323 #1,292
2015 modern 5,337 #1,270
2016 modern 5,512 #1,218

Geography

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Where Pereiras are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth 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 Swindon, Leicester and Brent. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Leicester 017 Leicester
3 Brent 020 Brent
4 Brent 019 Brent
5 Brent 031 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pereira

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pereira

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Pereira surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Pereira household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Pereira is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pereira 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

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

Meaning and origin of Pereira

The surname Pereira is of Portuguese origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It derived from the word "pereira," which translates to "pear tree" in Portuguese, indicating that the name likely originated from someone who lived near a pear orchard or a place known for its abundance of pear trees.

The earliest recorded instances of the Pereira surname can be found in various historical documents from the 12th and 13th centuries. It appears in the Inquirições de D. Afonso III, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties conducted in Portugal during the reign of King Afonso III (1210-1279).

One of the notable historical figures bearing the Pereira surname was Nuno Álvares Pereira (1360-1431), a Portuguese military leader and nobleman who played a pivotal role in the Portuguese struggle for independence from Castile. He was later canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.

Another prominent individual with the Pereira surname was Tomé Pires (1468-1540), a Portuguese apothecary and one of the earliest European writers to provide detailed accounts of maritime Southeast Asia. His work, "Suma Oriental," is a valuable source of information on the region's geography, commerce, and culture during the 16th century.

In the literary realm, João Fernandes Pereira (1566-1628) was a Portuguese poet and dramatist known for his contributions to the Portuguese Renaissance literature. His most famous work, "Ulisseia," is an epic poem inspired by Homer's Odyssey.

The Pereira surname also has a notable presence in Spanish history. Fernando Núñez Pereira (1677-1721) was a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Captaincy General of Chile from 1714 to 1717.

Another historical figure with the Pereira surname was José Joaquim Pereira (1787-1838), a Brazilian military leader and politician who played a significant role in the movement for Brazilian independence from Portugal. He served as the first President of the Regency Junta of Brazil in 1822.

While the Pereira surname has its roots in Portugal, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly to former Portuguese colonies and territories, as well as to countries with significant Portuguese immigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pereira families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pereira 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 56 Pereiras recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.11x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 56 6.11x
Surrey 15 3.36x
Essex 9 4.97x
Hampshire 7 3.73x
Midlothian 3 2.44x
Kent 2 0.64x
Berkshire 1 1.45x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 13 Pereiras recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.29x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 13 25.29x
Shoreditch London 13 32.71x
Islington London 8 9.00x
West Ham 8 20.03x
Clapham 7 61.08x
Lambeth 7 8.76x
Kensington London 6 11.77x
Southampton All Sts 5 155.28x
Bethnal Green London 3 7.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 6.07x
Limehouse London 3 29.82x
Westminster St John 3 26.88x
Deptford St Paul 2 8.29x
Portsea 2 5.43x
St George Hanover 2 16.71x
St Marylebone London 2 4.09x
East Ham 1 29.76x
Hendon 1 30.30x
Newington 1 2.95x
Reading St Mary 1 18.15x
St Benedict Cambridge 1 303.03x
St Katherine 1 909.09x
Tottenham 1 6.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 3
Alice 2
Amy 2
Annie 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Adela 1
Augusta 1
Blanche 1
Capatilina 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Lottie 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Maud 1
Miriam 1
Rose 1
Susanna 1
Tumsden 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 6
George 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
James 3
Robert 3
Fredrick 2
John 2
Joseph 2
Aloysuis 1
Anthony 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Horace 1
Jesse 1
Lius 1
Mandel 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Pereira surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pereira surname in 1881?

In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Pereira surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pereira surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,512 in 2016. That gives Pereira a modern rank of #1,218.

What does the Pereira surname mean?

A Portuguese topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a pear tree or in a pear orchard.

What does the Pereira map show?

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