NameCensus.

UK surname

Perkins

Derived from the medieval given name Peterkin, meaning "little Peter" or "son of Peter."

In the 1881 census there were 13,410 people recorded with the Perkins surname, ranking it #305 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17,212, ranked #359, down from #305 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Somerset, Bassetlaw and Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Perkins is 18,432 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.4%.

1881 census count

13,410

Ranked #305

Modern count

17,212

2016, ranked #359

Peak year

1911

18,432 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Perkins had 13,410 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #305 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 17,212 in 2016, ranked #359.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 18,432 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Perkins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Perkins surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Perkins 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 8,059 #345
1861 historical 7,937 #346
1881 historical 13,410 #305
1891 historical 14,316 #296
1901 historical 16,896 #299
1911 historical 18,432 #253
1997 modern 17,510 #338
1998 modern 18,078 #340
1999 modern 18,124 #340
2000 modern 18,008 #340
2001 modern 17,588 #341
2002 modern 17,848 #344
2003 modern 17,317 #344
2004 modern 17,270 #345
2005 modern 16,963 #347
2006 modern 16,863 #348
2007 modern 16,795 #356
2008 modern 16,808 #356
2009 modern 17,242 #354
2010 modern 17,590 #355
2011 modern 17,428 #353
2012 modern 17,130 #354
2013 modern 17,469 #358
2014 modern 17,491 #358
2015 modern 17,321 #357
2016 modern 17,212 #359

Geography

Back to top

Where Perkins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Somerset, Bassetlaw, Kettering, Harborough and Stratford-on-Avon. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Somerset 003 West Somerset
2 Bassetlaw 016 Bassetlaw
3 Kettering 011 Kettering
4 Harborough 010 Harborough
5 Stratford-on-Avon 015 Stratford-on-Avon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Perkins

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Perkins

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Perkins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Perkins 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Perkins is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Perkins is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Perkins falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Perkins 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 Perkins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Perkins

The surname Perkins is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "perken" or "parken," which means "little park" or "enclosed area." The name first appeared in England during the 12th century, indicating that the original bearers of this name were likely involved in maintaining or overseeing parks or enclosed lands.

The earliest recorded instance of the Perkins surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Perchin" or "Perchyn," suggesting that it was initially a nickname or descriptive surname.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Perkins was John Perkins, born around 1200 in Oxfordshire, England. He was a landowner and farmer who held significant property in the region.

During the 13th century, the surname Perkins began to spread across various parts of England, often associated with place names such as Perkins Hill in Worcestershire and Perkins Manor in Hertfordshire. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and enclosed or park-like areas.

A notable bearer of the Perkins surname was Thomas Perkins (1615-1686), an English landowner and Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the Restoration of the English monarchy under Charles II.

Another famous individual with the Perkins surname was Jacob Perkins (1766-1849), an American inventor and engineer known for his contributions to the development of the steam engine and refrigeration technology.

In the literary world, Mary Perkins Bradbury (1837-1917) was a prominent American author and educator, best known for her novels and short stories depicting life in New England during the 19th century.

The name Perkins has also been associated with notable figures in the field of education, such as James A. Perkins (1911-1998), who served as the president of Cornell University from 1951 to 1963, and played a pivotal role in the university's growth and development.

Throughout history, the Perkins surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, politicians, inventors, authors, and educators, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Perkins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Perkins 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 1,642 Perkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.25x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,642 1.25x
Warwickshire 942 2.84x
Surrey 812 1.27x
Northamptonshire 781 6.32x
Worcestershire 747 4.35x
Staffordshire 684 1.54x
Devon 595 2.18x
Lancashire 584 0.37x
Leicestershire 558 3.83x
Yorkshire 493 0.38x
Kent 468 1.04x
Gloucestershire 443 1.72x
Glamorgan 402 1.76x
Somerset 398 1.88x
Essex 376 1.45x
Hampshire 361 1.34x
Lincolnshire 269 1.28x
Nottinghamshire 236 1.33x
Derbyshire 221 1.07x
Herefordshire 218 4.05x
Monmouthshire 199 2.09x
Buckinghamshire 194 2.44x
Shropshire 167 1.47x
Pembrokeshire 154 3.69x
Bedfordshire 151 2.22x
Wiltshire 118 1.02x
Norfolk 114 0.56x
Cheshire 111 0.38x
Carmarthenshire 102 1.84x
Sussex 88 0.40x
Cambridgeshire 81 0.97x
Hertfordshire 77 0.85x
Oxfordshire 70 0.86x
Huntingdonshire 67 2.57x
Cornwall 63 0.42x
Northumberland 61 0.31x
Durham 60 0.15x
Berkshire 54 0.55x
Suffolk 39 0.24x
Brecknockshire 30 1.14x
Dorset 30 0.35x
Midlothian 30 0.17x
Rutland 30 3.11x
Channel Islands 29 0.74x
Montgomeryshire 23 0.76x
Royal Navy 23 1.47x
Flintshire 13 0.37x
Anglesey 10 0.43x
Cumberland 10 0.09x
Isle of Man 7 0.29x
East Lothian 6 0.34x
Lanarkshire 5 0.01x
Merionethshire 5 0.21x
Clackmannanshire 4 0.37x
Denbighshire 4 0.08x
Perthshire 4 0.07x
Cardiganshire 3 0.09x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.04x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.01x
Ayrshire 1 0.01x
Radnorshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 300 Perkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.72x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 300 2.72x
Aston 223 2.44x
St Pancras London 138 1.30x
Shoreditch London 135 2.37x
Lambeth 133 1.16x
Leicester St Margaret 129 3.63x
Camberwell 128 1.52x
West Ham 112 1.96x
St Marylebone London 111 1.58x
Islington London 108 0.85x
Kensington London 100 1.37x
Bethnal Green London 91 1.59x
Dudley 76 3.64x
Harborne 71 4.99x
Rotherhithe 69 4.25x
Leicester St Mary 67 5.69x
West Bromwich 65 2.56x
Stoke Damerel 64 3.34x
Newington 62 1.28x
Paddington London 62 1.28x
Bermondsey 58 1.48x
Walsall Foreign 58 2.53x
Bedford St Paul 55 11.79x
Hackney London 55 0.75x
Portsea 55 1.04x
Nottingham St Mary 54 1.18x
Coventry St Michael 53 4.98x
Feckenham 52 26.48x
Manchester 52 0.74x
St George In East 51 5.71x
Leeds 50 0.68x
Wellingborough 49 7.88x
Mile End Old Town 47 2.27x
Swansea Town 46 2.45x
Northampton St Giles 45 9.56x
Croydon 44 1.24x
Rock 44 64.19x
Chelsea London 43 1.09x
Limehouse London 43 2.98x
Stoke Upon Trent 43 0.91x
Battersea 41 0.85x
Steeple Claydon 41 106.74x
St George Hanover 40 2.33x
Plymouth St Andrew 39 1.85x
Wollaston 39 57.38x
Ystradyfodwg 39 1.94x
Egham 38 9.67x
Handsworth 38 3.48x
Irthlingborough 38 31.36x
Cheltenham 37 1.86x
Everton 35 0.70x
Greenwich 35 1.67x
Northampton Priory St 35 4.72x
Olney 35 31.86x
Rushden 35 21.17x
Snenton 35 5.03x
East Stonehouse 34 6.31x
Exeter St Sidwell 34 5.43x
Norwood 34 11.32x
Plumstead 34 2.28x
Aberdare 33 2.10x
Darlaston 33 5.38x
Leamington Priors 33 4.05x
Northampton St Sepulchre 33 5.25x
Westminster St James 33 2.44x
Willesden 33 2.66x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 32 1.32x
Great Doddington 32 119.36x
Hammersmith London 32 0.99x
Plympton St Mary 32 20.24x
Brading 31 8.66x
Derby St Peter 31 4.73x
Kettering 31 6.20x
Kilmersdon 31 29.67x
Peterborough 31 3.46x
Whittlesey St Mary St 31 10.66x
Coventry Holy Trinity 30 3.03x
Swaffham 30 18.25x
Liverpool 29 0.31x
Loughborough 29 4.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 855
Elizabeth 568
Sarah 475
Ann 303
Eliza 249
Emma 247
Jane 241
Ellen 203
Alice 185
Emily 185
Annie 182
Hannah 128
Louisa 111
Martha 105
Fanny 104
Caroline 91
Florence 90
Edith 89
Margaret 89
Ada 86
Charlotte 83
Harriet 83
Clara 74
Maria 74
Anne 63
Catherine 62
Kate 57
Susan 57
Lucy 55
Frances 52
Harriett 49
Rose 44
Amelia 43
Agnes 42
Minnie 36
Esther 33
Julia 32
Amy 29
Matilda 29
Rebecca 29
Sophia 27
Elizth. 26
Isabella 26
Susannah 26
Eleanor 24
Ethel 24
Nellie 23
Rosa 22
Ruth 22
Laura 21

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 846
John 714
Thomas 456
George 447
James 379
Charles 315
Joseph 279
Henry 272
Alfred 174
Frederick 151
Edward 144
Arthur 141
Samuel 136
Albert 112
Walter 108
Richard 106
Robert 106
Harry 89
Frank 72
Ernest 59
Herbert 49
David 47
Edwin 44
Benjamin 42
Wm. 35
Francis 33
Stephen 30
Tom 29
Geo. 26
Fredrick 24
Mark 23
Daniel 21
Fred 20
Willm. 18
Chas. 17
Fredk. 16
Thos. 16
Isaac 15
Sidney 14
Philip 13
Jno. 12
Abraham 11
Andrew 11
Edmund 11
Joshua 11
Jas. 10
Jonathan 10
Josiah 10
Phillip 10
Amos 9

Top occupations

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 Perkins households.

FAQ

Perkins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Perkins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13,410 people were recorded with the Perkins surname. That placed it at #305 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Perkins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 17,212 in 2016. That gives Perkins a modern rank of #359.

What does the Perkins surname mean?

Derived from the medieval given name Peterkin, meaning "little Peter" or "son of Peter."

What does the Perkins map show?

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