UK surname
A surname derived from the French village of Perey.
In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Perey surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #30,077 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tilston, London parishes and Hoo or St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Perey is 215 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 60.0%.
1881 census count
25
Ranked #30,077
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1861
215 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Perey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Perey surname density by area, 1861 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 | 84 | #19,067 |
| 1861 | historical | 215 | #11,316 |
| 1881 | historical | 25 | #30,077 |
| 1891 | historical | 63 | #28,881 |
| 1901 | historical | 9 | #33,154 |
| 1911 | historical | 38 | #29,147 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tilston, London parishes, Hoo or St Werburgh, St Pancras and Gwennap. 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 | Tilston | Cheshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Hoo or St Werburgh | Kent |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Gwennap | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Perey 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 Perey, 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 Perey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Perey 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, Perey 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 Perey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Perey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Perey has its origins in medieval England, specifically in the county of Yorkshire. It is believed to have emerged around the 12th century, derived from the Old English word "perie," which referred to a small enclosed area or a parceled out piece of land. This suggests that the name may have originally been given to someone who lived in or was associated with such a place.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Perey can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a certain William Perey is mentioned. This document also makes reference to a place called "Periby," which is likely the source of the surname.
During the 13th century, the name Perey appeared in various forms, such as Perie, Pery, and Perye, in various Yorkshire records and charters. This indicates that the spelling of the name was not entirely standardized at the time.
In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Perey was Sir Henry Perey, a Yorkshire knight who fought in the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War in 1346. Another prominent individual was Richard Perey, who served as the Bishop of Carlisle from 1397 to 1427.
The Domesday Book, the great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not appear to contain any direct references to the Perey surname. However, it does mention several places with similar names, such as Pirie and Peria, which may be related to the origin of the name.
As the centuries progressed, the Perey surname continued to be found in various regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. Some notable individuals bearing this name include:
1. Sir Thomas Perey (1499-1560), an English soldier and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament. 2. Robert Perey (1623-1689), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. 3. Elizabeth Perey (1748-1825), an English poet and writer who published a collection of poems and plays. 4. John Perey (1789-1868), an English physician and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of botany. 5. William Perey (1842-1923), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas.
While the Perey surname is not extremely common, it has persisted throughout the centuries, with its roots firmly planted in the English county of Yorkshire. The name serves as a testament to the rich history and cultural heritage of this region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Perey 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. Middlesex leads with 11 Pereys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.51x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 11 | 4.51x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 2.90x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 3.81x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.69x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.84x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 3.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Poplar London in Middlesex leads with 7 Pereys recorded in 1881 and an index of 152.17x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Poplar London | 7 | 152.17x |
| Wortley In Wortley | 6 | 6666.67x |
| Old Artillery Ground | 4 | 1904.76x |
| Glasgow | 3 | 21.44x |
| West Derby | 2 | 23.64x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 1 | 21.10x |
| Epsom | 1 | 172.41x |
| Yardley | 1 | 123.46x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Perey 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 Perey 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 Perey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Cigar Maker | 1 |
| Cutter Out | 1 |
| Governess (Private) | 1 |
| Groom Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Laborer At A Brick Yard | 1 |
| Laborers Wife | 1 |
| Labourer In Iron Works | 1 |
| Pipe Maker | 1 |
| Shipwright | 1 |
| Shirt Maker | 1 |
| Shop Boy | 1 |
| Toy Dealer(10/8) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Perey surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Perey a modern rank of #37,599.
A surname derived from the French village of Perey.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Perey 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.