UK surname
An English surname derived from the Latin word "persona," referring to an individual's character, role, or appearance.
In the 1881 census there were 118 people recorded with the Person surname, ranking it #17,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 95, ranked #31,782, down from #17,935 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Halifax, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Person is 403 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.5%.
1881 census count
118
Ranked #17,935
Modern count
95
2016, ranked #31,782
Peak year
1861
403 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Person surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Person 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 | 202 | #10,323 |
| 1861 | historical | 403 | #6,372 |
| 1881 | historical | 118 | #17,935 |
| 1891 | historical | 241 | #13,089 |
| 1901 | historical | 107 | #21,955 |
| 1911 | historical | 113 | #21,168 |
| 1997 | modern | 66 | #31,038 |
| 1998 | modern | 68 | #31,181 |
| 1999 | modern | 59 | #32,174 |
| 2000 | modern | 54 | #32,710 |
| 2001 | modern | 47 | #33,219 |
| 2002 | modern | 52 | #33,110 |
| 2003 | modern | 53 | #33,076 |
| 2004 | modern | 52 | #33,418 |
| 2005 | modern | 54 | #33,433 |
| 2006 | modern | 59 | #33,330 |
| 2007 | modern | 60 | #33,539 |
| 2008 | modern | 62 | #33,565 |
| 2009 | modern | 69 | #33,257 |
| 2010 | modern | 80 | #32,670 |
| 2011 | modern | 82 | #32,449 |
| 2012 | modern | 89 | #31,934 |
| 2013 | modern | 86 | #32,557 |
| 2014 | modern | 89 | #32,409 |
| 2015 | modern | 95 | #31,749 |
| 2016 | modern | 95 | #31,782 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Halifax, London parishes, Edinburgh, Manchester and St Giles-in-the-Fields. 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 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Giles-in-the-Fields | London (Central Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Person 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 Person, 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 Person surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Person 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, Person 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 Person is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Person, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "PERSON" is believed to have originated in medieval England, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from the Old English words "peor" and "suna," meaning "pear tree" and "son," respectively. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or was associated with a pear tree.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named Willelmus Persone is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Persone," was commonly used in the Middle Ages and is believed to be the precursor to the modern form, "PERSON."
During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records across different regions of England. In the Curia Regis Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1212, a certain Robertus Person is mentioned, while the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1262 contains a reference to a Radulfus Persun.
The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not directly mention the surname "PERSON." However, it does include references to place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as "Persehale" in Staffordshire and "Persore" in Worcestershire.
Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname "PERSON." One of the earliest recorded was John Person (c. 1350 - 1428), an English landowner and member of the gentry from Norfolk. Another prominent figure was Thomas Person (1508 - 1558), a Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Queen Mary I for his religious beliefs.
In the 17th century, Edward Person (1615 - 1686) was a renowned English Puritan minister and author, known for his sermons and theological writings. Later, in the 18th century, Robert Person (1733 - 1808) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Marylebone in London.
One of the most famous bearers of the surname was the American writer and activist Nathaniel Person (1819 - 1886), who is best known for his influential work "The Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave" and his advocacy for abolition and civil rights.
Throughout history, the surname "PERSON" has seen various spelling variations, such as "Peirson," "Pearson," and "Pierson," reflecting regional dialects and linguistic evolutions over time. Despite these variations, the name has maintained a strong presence across different parts of the English-speaking world, leaving a lasting legacy in numerous historical records and notable individuals.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Person 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. Yorkshire leads with 25 Persons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.29x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 25 | 2.29x |
| Lancashire | 19 | 1.45x |
| Angus | 13 | 12.73x |
| Aberdeenshire | 11 | 10.78x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 0.54x |
| Somerset | 5 | 2.82x |
| Durham | 3 | 0.91x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 1.77x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 2.02x |
| Sussex | 3 | 1.61x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 1.04x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 1.13x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 1.35x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 1.22x |
| Perthshire | 2 | 4.04x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 1.21x |
| Banffshire | 1 | 4.37x |
| Cardiganshire | 1 | 3.72x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.41x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.05x |
| Inverness-shire | 1 | 3.04x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.27x |
| Orkney | 1 | 8.24x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 2.85x |
| Shetland | 1 | 8.88x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.36x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 4.13x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sculcoates in Yorkshire leads with 9 Persons recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.96x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sculcoates | 9 | 51.96x |
| Midgley | 6 | 517.24x |
| Drumoak | 5 | 1428.57x |
| Liff Benvie | 5 | 32.26x |
| Lyncombe Widcombe | 5 | 107.53x |
| Monifieth | 5 | 138.50x |
| Oldham | 5 | 11.85x |
| Premnay | 5 | 1428.57x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 4 | 13.99x |
| Hopwood | 4 | 233.92x |
| Lenton | 3 | 85.71x |
| Newton Cap | 3 | 588.24x |
| St George In East | 3 | 40.00x |
| Thorne | 3 | 222.22x |
| Wimbotsham | 3 | 1363.64x |
| Dundee | 2 | 5.25x |
| Newcastle On Tyne | 2 | 1111.11x |
| Redgorton | 2 | 363.64x |
| Twineham | 2 | 1818.18x |
| Aberystwith | 1 | 43.29x |
| Aslackby | 1 | 588.24x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 1 | 9.46x |
| Carnforth | 1 | 138.89x |
| Cheetham | 1 | 10.25x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 3.84x |
| Dalmellington | 1 | 41.15x |
| Delting | 1 | 158.73x |
| Dores | 1 | 227.27x |
| Ecclesfield | 1 | 12.48x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 1.68x |
| Edzell | 1 | 322.58x |
| Evie Rendall | 1 | 196.08x |
| Foleshill | 1 | 34.25x |
| Forgue | 1 | 108.70x |
| Greenwich | 1 | 5.70x |
| Halifax | 1 | 6.23x |
| Hove | 1 | 12.27x |
| Hulme | 1 | 3.66x |
| Islington London | 1 | 0.94x |
| Keith | 1 | 40.98x |
| Leith North | 1 | 357.14x |
| Llanwonno | 1 | 14.49x |
| Macclesfield | 1 | 9.25x |
| Milford Haven | 1 | 357.14x |
| Newchurch | 1 | 9.35x |
| Normanton | 1 | 30.49x |
| Old Hutton Holmescales | 1 | 714.29x |
| Raisthorpe Burdale | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Sandal Magna | 1 | 61.73x |
| Scampton | 1 | 1111.11x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.70x |
| Thornaby | 1 | 24.51x |
| Thursby | 1 | 500.00x |
| Tonge | 1 | 36.50x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 2.26x |
| York St Michael Le | 1 | 285.71x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Person 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 Person 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 Person households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 13 |
| Commercial Clerk | 2 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Gardener | 2 |
| Silk Weaver | 2 |
| Tailor | 2 |
| (Ship Steward) | 1 |
| A B | 1 |
| Abl Seaman | 1 |
| Able Seaman | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Barman Inn Servt (Hotel) | 1 |
| Brick Maker | 1 |
| C Factory Operative | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coachman Dom | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cook (Domestic) | 1 |
| Cotton Operative | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Domestic Servent | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farmer Of 56 Acres | 1 |
| Foreman Mason | 1 |
| Gardener (Dom) | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Genl Servant | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Market Stall Keeper (Gen Dlr) | 1 |
| Mason | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| R Catholic Priest | 1 |
| Railway Shunter (Ptsman) | 1 |
| Servant (Farm) (Indoor) | 1 |
| Tool Saw Hammerer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 118 people were recorded with the Person surname. That placed it at #17,935 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016. That gives Person a modern rank of #31,782.
An English surname derived from the Latin word "persona," referring to an individual's character, role, or appearance.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Person 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.