NameCensus.

UK surname

Peter

A surname derived from the Greek word "petros," meaning "stone" or "rock."

In the 1881 census there were 1,043 people recorded with the Peter surname, ranking it #3,769 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,003, ranked #3,221, up from #3,769 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Auchterless, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ythsie, Newham and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peter is 2,298 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 92.0%.

1881 census count

1,043

Ranked #3,769

Modern count

2,003

2016, ranked #3,221

Peak year

1861

2,298 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peter had 1,043 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,769 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,003 in 2016, ranked #3,221.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,298 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Peter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peter surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Peter 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 1,465 #1,959
1861 historical 2,298 #1,281
1881 historical 1,043 #3,769
1891 historical 1,399 #3,112
1901 historical 1,094 #4,412
1911 historical 772 #5,620
1997 modern 1,275 #4,467
1998 modern 1,348 #4,415
1999 modern 1,375 #4,369
2000 modern 1,279 #4,646
2001 modern 1,122 #5,080
2002 modern 1,208 #4,878
2003 modern 1,231 #4,707
2004 modern 1,276 #4,562
2005 modern 1,359 #4,289
2006 modern 1,438 #4,111
2007 modern 1,522 #3,944
2008 modern 1,527 #3,948
2009 modern 1,585 #3,909
2010 modern 1,659 #3,840
2011 modern 1,679 #3,751
2012 modern 1,805 #3,474
2013 modern 1,852 #3,445
2014 modern 1,918 #3,369
2015 modern 1,933 #3,321
2016 modern 2,003 #3,221

Geography

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Where Peters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Auchterless, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Northill and Panbride. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ythsie, Newham, Calderdale, Mearns North and Inverbervie and Preston. 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 Auchterless Aberdeen
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Northill Cornwall
5 Panbride Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ythsie Aberdeenshire
2 Newham 018 Newham
3 Calderdale 026 Calderdale
4 Mearns North and Inverbervie Aberdeenshire
5 Preston 009 Preston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Peter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Peter

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Peter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Peter 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Peter 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

Peter is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Peter falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Peter 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Peter

The surname Peter has its origins in the medieval period, stemming from the personal name Peter, which was derived from the Greek name Petros, meaning "rock" or "stone." This name was borne by the apostle Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, and has been a popular name throughout Christian history.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Peter can be traced back to the 11th century in England, where it was initially used as a patronymic surname, indicating a person's lineage as the son of Peter. In the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, several individuals with the surname Peter are mentioned, such as Petrus de Suttuna and Petrus de Minstreu.

In the 12th and 13th centuries, the surname Peter became more widespread throughout England, particularly in regions like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. It was also adopted by families in other parts of Europe, including Germany, where variations like Peters and Petersen emerged.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Peter was John Peter (c. 1310-1384), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire in the 14th century. Another notable figure was Hugh Peter (1598-1660), an English preacher and political activist who played a significant role in the English Civil War and the execution of King Charles I.

In the United States, the surname Peter can be traced back to the colonial era, with early immigrants from England, Germany, and other parts of Europe. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Jonathan Peter (1664-1731), a colonial American merchant and entrepreneur who settled in New York and became one of the wealthiest individuals in the British colonies.

Other notable individuals with the surname Peter include Arno Allan Penzias (1933-), an American physicist and Nobel Prize laureate, and Randolph Peter (1920-2010), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the multibillion-dollar real estate company Trammell Crow Company.

Throughout its history, the surname Peter has also been associated with various place names and locations, such as Peterborough in England, which likely derived its name from the Old English words "peter" (a marsh or meadow) and "burgh" (a fortified town).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Peter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peter 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 256 Peters recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.03x.

County Total Index
Angus 256 27.03x
Aberdeenshire 165 17.43x
Cornwall 107 9.25x
Middlesex 90 0.88x
Lancashire 60 0.49x
Kincardineshire 49 39.36x
Fife 44 7.27x
Devon 31 1.46x
Surrey 28 0.56x
Lanarkshire 20 0.60x
Dunbartonshire 19 6.92x
Yorkshire 17 0.17x
Brecknockshire 12 5.87x
Inverness-shire 12 3.93x
Kent 12 0.34x
Isle of Man 11 5.79x
Stirlingshire 11 2.92x
Midlothian 10 0.73x
Staffordshire 9 0.26x
Northumberland 8 0.53x
Renfrewshire 8 1.01x
Hampshire 7 0.33x
Warwickshire 7 0.27x
Worcestershire 6 0.45x
Carmarthenshire 5 1.16x
Cheshire 5 0.22x
Gloucestershire 4 0.20x
Suffolk 4 0.32x
Sussex 4 0.23x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.73x
Merionethshire 3 1.60x
Morayshire 3 1.89x
Perthshire 3 0.65x
Anglesey 2 1.10x
Dorset 2 0.30x
Durham 2 0.07x
Monmouthshire 2 0.27x
Banffshire 1 0.47x
Cardiganshire 1 0.40x
Essex 1 0.05x
Glamorgan 1 0.06x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.49x
Royal Navy 1 0.82x
Somerset 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liff Benvie in Angus leads with 51 Peters recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.47x.

Place Total Index
Liff Benvie 51 35.47x
Dundee 48 13.58x
St Vigeans 41 80.20x
Arbroath 32 101.94x
Wemyss 32 124.95x
Islington London 31 3.13x
North Hill 21 566.04x
Auchterless 19 252.66x
Tyrie 18 151.52x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 15 8.47x
Garvock 15 1000.00x
Old Deer 15 83.61x
Aberdeen Old Machar 14 7.08x
Kirriemuir 14 59.91x
Panbride 14 283.98x
St Pancras London 13 1.58x
Bootle Cum Linacre 12 12.46x
Kemnay 12 209.06x
Kilmorack 12 129.59x
Arbuthnott 11 388.69x
Lambeth 11 1.23x
Kirkintilloch 10 26.80x
Logie Buchan 10 369.00x
Vaynor 10 100.10x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 1.63x
Falkirk 9 10.20x
Harborne 9 8.14x
Kincardine O Neil 9 133.14x
Old Kilpatrick 9 27.73x
Plymouth Charles The 9 9.60x
Clerkenwell London 8 3.32x
Glasgow 8 1.36x
Liverpool 8 1.09x
Menmuir 8 301.89x
St Cyrus 8 153.85x
St Mary Magdalene 8 94.01x
Tynemouth 8 9.82x
Brechin 7 18.81x
Deptford St Paul 7 2.60x
Fordoun 7 100.43x
Montrose 7 12.20x
Saltash 7 77.95x
South Petherwin 7 242.21x
St Stephen 7 170.73x
Barry 6 52.77x
Birmingham 6 0.70x
Braddan 6 57.86x
Davidstow 6 419.58x
East Looe 6 127.93x
Govan 6 0.73x
Kilton 6 394.74x
Kirkden 6 101.35x
Lewannick 6 265.49x
St Blazey 6 59.06x
Stretford 6 8.99x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.13x
Bradfield 5 12.80x
Camberwell 5 0.77x
Carmarthen St Peter 5 13.58x
Carmyllie 5 124.07x
Dudley 5 3.08x
Enfield 5 7.45x
Forfar 5 9.75x
Fraserburgh 5 18.76x
Hackney London 5 0.87x
Kinghorn 5 38.91x
Kirkdale 5 2.45x
Meldrum 5 62.66x
Patrick 5 54.05x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 3.05x
Reedley Hallows 5 213.68x
St Neot 5 109.65x
Strichen 5 60.75x
West Derby 5 1.41x
Clapham 4 3.13x
Kintore 4 48.60x
Pendleton In Clitheroe 4 87.15x
Rayne 4 88.89x
St Clether 4 533.33x
Udny 4 69.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 14
Ann 13
Margaret 9
Edith 6
Eliza 6
Emily 6
Catherine 5
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Alice 4
Anne 4
Jane 4
Charlotte 3
Fanny 3
Isabella 3
Jessie 3
Louisa 3
Rose 3
Adela 2
Annie 2
Augusta 2
Caroline 2
Dora 2
Frederica 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Olive 2
Rebecca 2
Adeline 1
Alimaid 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Clara 1
Cordelia 1
Dorothea 1
E. 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizebath 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Hariot 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Isabel 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 37
William 23
Thomas 18
Samuel 10
Henry 9
James 9
Edward 8
Richard 7
Robert 7
Arthur 6
David 6
George 6
Alexander 5
Charles 4
Harry 4
Lewis 4
Alfred 3
Frank 3
Albert 2
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Jonathan 2
Archibald 1
Beretta 1
Capper 1
Claude 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Gillem 1
Harold 1
Heinrich 1
Horda 1
Hugh 1
Infant 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Juniper 1
Morris 1
Norman 1
Otho 1
Otto 1
P. 1
Pomeroy 1
Ralph 1
Rees 1
Reginald 1
Rowland 1
Ruben 1
Yanhoska 1

FAQ

Peter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,043 people were recorded with the Peter surname. That placed it at #3,769 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,003 in 2016. That gives Peter a modern rank of #3,221.

What does the Peter surname mean?

A surname derived from the Greek word "petros," meaning "stone" or "rock."

What does the Peter map show?

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