NameCensus.

UK surname

Perfect

A surname suggesting the bearer had high moral standards or was flawless.

In the 1881 census there were 674 people recorded with the Perfect surname, ranking it #5,347 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 994, ranked #5,829, down from #5,347 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Penn and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Guildford, South Bucks and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Perfect is 1,062 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.5%.

1881 census count

674

Ranked #5,347

Modern count

994

2016, ranked #5,829

Peak year

1999

1,062 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Perfect had 674 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,347 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 994 in 2016, ranked #5,829.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 932 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Perfect surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Perfect surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Perfect 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 483 #5,157
1861 historical 450 #5,752
1881 historical 674 #5,347
1891 historical 732 #5,422
1901 historical 866 #5,290
1911 historical 932 #4,815
1997 modern 1,042 #5,306
1998 modern 1,048 #5,450
1999 modern 1,062 #5,428
2000 modern 1,056 #5,444
2001 modern 1,036 #5,427
2002 modern 1,058 #5,437
2003 modern 1,042 #5,415
2004 modern 1,020 #5,507
2005 modern 1,000 #5,549
2006 modern 981 #5,641
2007 modern 995 #5,630
2008 modern 1,009 #5,613
2009 modern 1,013 #5,705
2010 modern 1,019 #5,795
2011 modern 996 #5,843
2012 modern 990 #5,784
2013 modern 1,017 #5,745
2014 modern 1,011 #5,804
2015 modern 1,003 #5,792
2016 modern 994 #5,829

Geography

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Where Perfects are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Penn, Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John and Bexley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Guildford, South Bucks, Medway, Melton and Sevenoaks. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Penn Buckinghamshire
4 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk
5 Bexley Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Guildford 010 Guildford
2 South Bucks 001 South Bucks
3 Medway 027 Medway
4 Melton 003 Melton
5 Sevenoaks 003 Sevenoaks

Forenames

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First names often paired with Perfect

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Perfect

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Perfect surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Perfect household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Perfect is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Perfect is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Perfect falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Perfect is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Perfect

The surname PERFECT is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old French word "parfait," meaning "complete" or "flawless." The name may have initially been used as a descriptive term to refer to someone who was perceived as perfect or exceptional in some way.

The earliest known record of the surname PERFECT dates back to the late 13th century, appearing in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275. This document listed individuals who were subject to tax payments, suggesting that the PERFECT family had already established themselves in the region by that time.

In the 14th century, the surname PERFECT appeared in various records across England, including the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1332 and the Poll Tax Returns of Huntingdonshire from 1379. These records provide insights into the geographical distribution and occupations of individuals bearing the PERFECT surname during this period.

One notable historical figure with the surname PERFECT was Sir John PERFECT (c. 1400-1472), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reigns of Henry V and Henry VI. He played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses, initially supporting the Lancastrian cause but later switching allegiance to the Yorkists.

In the 16th century, the PERFECT surname gained further recognition with the birth of Richard PERFECT (1550-1611), an English clergyman and academic. He served as the Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and was known for his scholarly works on theology and philosophy.

Another notable figure bearing the PERFECT surname was Sir Thomas PERFECT (1620-1698), an English politician and judge who served as the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. He was a prominent figure during the turbulent years of the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the PERFECT surname could be found in various parts of England, with concentrations in counties such as Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. The name also appeared in the Parish Registers of Batcombe, Somerset, in the early 18th century, indicating the continued presence of the PERFECT family in the region.

In the 19th century, the PERFECT surname gained literary prominence with the birth of William PERFECT (1830-1897), an English writer and poet. He authored several works, including "The Betrothed of Venice" and "The Rebel Rose," and was celebrated for his lyrical style and romantic themes.

While the PERFECT surname is not among the most common in England today, it has a rich history spanning centuries and has been associated with notable individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, clergymen, politicians, judges, and literary figures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Perfect families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Perfect 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 102 Perfects recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.56x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 102 1.56x
Norfolk 97 9.64x
Kent 91 4.07x
Buckinghamshire 73 18.45x
Yorkshire 70 1.08x
Lancashire 49 0.63x
Surrey 45 1.41x
Essex 32 2.48x
Warwickshire 24 1.45x
Nottinghamshire 13 1.47x
Sussex 12 1.09x
Hampshire 11 0.82x
Suffolk 10 1.25x
Somerset 7 0.66x
Hertfordshire 6 1.33x
Derbyshire 5 0.49x
Devon 4 0.29x
Durham 4 0.21x
Berkshire 3 0.61x
Northumberland 3 0.31x
Cornwall 2 0.27x
Staffordshire 2 0.09x
Bedfordshire 1 0.30x
Channel Islands 1 0.52x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Leicestershire 1 0.14x
Worcestershire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Penn in Buckinghamshire leads with 54 Perfects recorded in 1881 and an index of 2195.12x.

Place Total Index
Penn 54 2195.12x
Bexley 26 131.71x
West Ham 21 7.36x
Heigham 20 37.02x
Shoreditch London 19 6.70x
Aston 18 3.96x
Kensington London 16 4.40x
Crayford 14 143.59x
Erith 13 59.09x
Islington London 13 2.05x
Chatham 12 19.53x
Newark Upon Trent 11 34.69x
Dorney 10 1428.57x
Harrow 10 100.00x
Hulme 10 6.17x
Norwich St Stephen 10 108.23x
Wimbledon 10 27.93x
Attleborough 9 177.17x
Lewes All Sts 9 204.55x
Maidstone 9 13.53x
Newington 9 3.72x
Bingley 8 19.37x
Flixton 8 201.01x
Lambeth 8 1.40x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 7 29.72x
Besthorpe 7 642.20x
Burgh St Peter 7 853.66x
Urmston 7 138.89x
Whitley 7 760.87x
York St John Micklegate 7 445.86x
Bermondsey 6 3.08x
Bromley London 6 4.17x
Gate Fulford 6 39.60x
Ipswich St Margaret 6 22.18x
Leyton Low 6 22.85x
Norwich St Julian 6 141.51x
Paddington London 6 2.49x
Portsmouth 6 19.42x
St Albans 6 64.94x
Walmersley Cum 6 48.35x
Carnforth 5 117.10x
Keswick 5 1515.15x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 5 81.70x
Oldham 5 1.99x
Runton 5 438.60x
Stainforth In Settle 5 1063.83x
Stanton Drew 5 485.44x
Warton With Lindeth 5 153.37x
Weybridge 5 73.10x
Barnard Castle 4 41.54x
Birmingham 4 0.73x
Castleford 4 16.93x
Chigwell 4 32.79x
Hammersmith London 4 2.48x
Sittingbourne 4 22.69x
Southampton St Michael 4 90.50x
Tormoham 4 6.94x
Wakefield 4 8.03x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.06x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.74x
Eaton St Andrew 3 107.53x
Hackney London 3 0.82x
Halifax 3 3.15x
Heston 3 13.80x
Isleworth 3 10.31x
Knottingley 3 26.32x
Lewisham 3 2.52x
St Gilesin Fields 3 78.74x
Tynemouth 3 5.75x
Aldeby 2 138.89x
Battersea 2 0.83x
Beaconsfield 2 54.50x
Bray 2 13.85x
North Walsham 2 27.55x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 2 39.60x
Rotherham 2 5.47x
Scarning 2 134.23x
Sudbourne 2 153.85x
Uxbridge 2 26.74x
Whorlton 2 130.72x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 37
William 33
John 31
Henry 19
James 17
Thomas 15
Charles 13
Joseph 12
Arthur 11
Alfred 10
Edward 10
Albert 9
Samuel 8
Frederick 7
Robert 7
Walter 6
Frank 5
Fred 4
Harry 4
Epton 3
Ernest 3
Isaac 3
Abraham 2
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Horace 2
Jabez 2
Richard 2
Sydney 2
Willm. 2
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Jonas 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Octaivas 1
Reginald 1
Reuben 1
Robt.J. 1
Rochford 1
Rupert 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Perfect surname: questions and answers

How common was the Perfect surname in 1881?

In 1881, 674 people were recorded with the Perfect surname. That placed it at #5,347 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Perfect surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 994 in 2016. That gives Perfect a modern rank of #5,829.

What does the Perfect surname mean?

A surname suggesting the bearer had high moral standards or was flawless.

What does the Perfect map show?

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