NameCensus.

UK surname

Pert

Possibly derived from the Old French pert, meaning "wasteful" or "foolish."

In the 1881 census there were 631 people recorded with the Pert surname, ranking it #5,619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 758, ranked #7,224, down from #5,619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Craig. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Montrose South, Montrose North and Broadland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pert is 785 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.1%.

1881 census count

631

Ranked #5,619

Modern count

758

2016, ranked #7,224

Peak year

1901

785 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pert had 631 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 758 in 2016, ranked #7,224.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 785 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Pert surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pert surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pert 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 495 #5,049
1861 historical 565 #4,654
1881 historical 631 #5,619
1891 historical 735 #5,398
1901 historical 785 #5,729
1911 historical 384 #9,571
1997 modern 727 #7,035
1998 modern 738 #7,191
1999 modern 749 #7,153
2000 modern 767 #6,981
2001 modern 747 #7,006
2002 modern 747 #7,131
2003 modern 713 #7,268
2004 modern 704 #7,357
2005 modern 698 #7,369
2006 modern 690 #7,448
2007 modern 685 #7,561
2008 modern 694 #7,538
2009 modern 710 #7,556
2010 modern 741 #7,439
2011 modern 709 #7,627
2012 modern 714 #7,493
2013 modern 742 #7,409
2014 modern 753 #7,352
2015 modern 748 #7,315
2016 modern 758 #7,224

Geography

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Where Perts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Craig, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Montrose South, Montrose North, Broadland, Hillside and North Norfolk. 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 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
2 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
3 Craig Forfar
4 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Montrose South Angus
2 Montrose North Angus
3 Broadland 004 Broadland
4 Hillside Angus
5 North Norfolk 001 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pert

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pert

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Pert surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pert household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Pert is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pert is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pert falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pert

The surname PERT has its origins in medieval England, emerging in the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "apert," meaning "bright" or "open." This adjective was often used to describe a person's character or appearance, suggesting that the name may have been initially given as a nickname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PERT can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a Thomas Pert is mentioned. The name also appears in various other medieval records, such as the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a John Pert.

In the 14th century, variations of the spelling became more common, including Perte, Peart, and Pearte. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling during that time period.

The name PERT has been linked to several place names in England, such as Perton in Staffordshire and Perthire in Shropshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname PERT include:

1. Robert Pert (c. 1420 - 1492), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. 2. John Pert (c. 1550 - 1615), a Scottish playwright and poet who was active during the Renaissance period. 3. William Pert (1609 - 1680), an English merchant and politician who served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1667. 4. Mary Pert (1735 - 1807), a British philanthropist and campaigner for prison reform, known for her work in improving conditions for female prisoners. 5. Arthur Pert (1875 - 1953), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the former headquarters of the Bank of England.

The surname PERT has been present in various regions of England throughout history, with concentrations in areas such as Lincolnshire, Worcestershire, and Staffordshire. While not a particularly common name, it has maintained a presence over the centuries and continues to be found in various parts of the English-speaking world today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pert families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pert 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. Angus leads with 344 Perts recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.85x.

County Total Index
Angus 344 59.85x
Middlesex 48 0.77x
Norfolk 41 4.30x
Berkshire 32 6.87x
Kent 24 1.13x
Lanarkshire 16 0.80x
Kincardineshire 14 18.53x
Yorkshire 13 0.21x
Aberdeenshire 12 2.09x
Fife 9 2.45x
Hampshire 9 0.71x
Durham 8 0.43x
Sussex 8 0.76x
Cumberland 7 1.31x
Gloucestershire 7 0.58x
Lancashire 7 0.10x
Royal Navy 6 8.12x
Renfrewshire 5 1.04x
Suffolk 5 0.66x
Surrey 5 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.36x
Warwickshire 3 0.19x
Denbighshire 2 0.85x
Leicestershire 2 0.29x
Midlothian 2 0.24x
Ayrshire 1 0.22x
Glamorgan 1 0.09x
Wiltshire 1 0.18x
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. Craig in Angus leads with 183 Perts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3297.30x.

Place Total Index
Craig 183 3297.30x
Montrose 99 284.24x
Dundee 28 13.05x
Arbroath 24 125.98x
Govan 14 2.82x
Bray 12 87.72x
Peterhead 12 39.50x
Brightside Bierlow 10 8.29x
Maidstone 10 15.86x
Milton In Gravesend 9 28.36x
Dairsie 7 469.80x
Islington London 7 1.16x
Bromley London 6 4.40x
Ealing 6 10.82x
Kirkandrews Upon Eden 6 1935.48x
Paddington London 6 2.63x
Aylsham 5 88.03x
Barney 5 757.58x
Beccles 5 41.12x
Bervie 5 111.61x
Brighton 5 2.37x
Cumnor 5 232.56x
East West Challow 5 413.22x
Hackney London 5 1.44x
Heigham 5 9.77x
Lambeth 5 0.92x
Nigg 5 80.00x
Portsea 5 2.01x
Wantage 5 67.39x
West Greenock 5 5.79x
Brechin 4 17.71x
Kensington London 4 1.16x
Norwich St Augustine 4 103.90x
Sunderland 4 12.27x
Benholm 3 92.31x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.11x
Birmingham 3 0.58x
Blackburn 3 1.53x
Docking 3 100.00x
East Bedfont 3 97.40x
Norwich St Clement 3 27.12x
Norwich St Paul 3 52.54x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.39x
Pamber 3 204.08x
St Marylebone London 3 0.91x
Ticehurst 3 46.88x
Westoe 3 2.87x
Withington 3 225.56x
Woolwich 3 3.84x
Barry 2 28.99x
Clewer 2 10.48x
Crail 2 53.33x
East Hagbourn 2 180.18x
Forfar 2 6.43x
Glasgow 2 0.56x
Haresfield 2 165.29x
Hugglescote 2 19.76x
Inverkeillor 2 56.18x
Llansannan 2 84.75x
Norwich St Saviour 2 59.70x
Reedham 2 109.89x
Snettisham 2 75.76x
St Pancras London 2 0.40x
Yate 2 74.91x
Banchory Devenick 1 14.16x
Barton Turf 1 135.14x
Binfield 1 28.01x
Cardiff St John 1 2.83x
Chelsea London 1 0.53x
Ingworth 1 322.58x
Lower Mitton 1 14.01x
Middlesbrough 1 1.25x
North Walsham 1 14.53x
Over Darwen 1 1.70x
South Stoneham 1 3.63x
Southwick 1 5.72x
St Cuthbert W O 1 3.84x
St George Hanover 1 1.23x
Swindon 1 2.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 12
Robert 11
John 9
James 8
Charles 6
George 5
Joseph 5
Thomas 5
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Henry 4
Albert 3
Daniel 3
David 3
Ebenezer 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Geo. 2
Jabez 2
Leonard 2
Walter 2
Abner 1
Arthur 1
Benjm. 1
Chas. 1
Earnest 1
Esau 1
Fred 1
Fredk.J. 1
Isaac 1
Laurence 1
Mackie 1
Sadrech 1

FAQ

Pert surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pert surname in 1881?

In 1881, 631 people were recorded with the Pert surname. That placed it at #5,619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pert surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 758 in 2016. That gives Pert a modern rank of #7,224.

What does the Pert surname mean?

Possibly derived from the Old French pert, meaning "wasteful" or "foolish."

What does the Pert map show?

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