NameCensus.

UK surname

Petherbridge

A locational surname originating from a place in Devon, England.

In the 1881 census there were 343 people recorded with the Petherbridge surname, ranking it #8,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 476, ranked #10,360, down from #8,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Hull Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Hull, Torridge and East Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Petherbridge is 501 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.8%.

1881 census count

343

Ranked #8,889

Modern count

476

2016, ranked #10,360

Peak year

1998

501 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Petherbridge had 343 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 476 in 2016, ranked #10,360.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 455 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Petherbridge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Petherbridge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Petherbridge 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 354 #6,678
1861 historical 284 #8,845
1881 historical 343 #8,889
1891 historical 374 #9,343
1901 historical 379 #9,841
1911 historical 455 #8,428
1997 modern 482 #9,567
1998 modern 501 #9,578
1999 modern 498 #9,687
2000 modern 476 #10,004
2001 modern 471 #9,895
2002 modern 474 #10,027
2003 modern 483 #9,735
2004 modern 460 #10,120
2005 modern 458 #10,077
2006 modern 462 #10,037
2007 modern 464 #10,113
2008 modern 460 #10,250
2009 modern 466 #10,386
2010 modern 474 #10,461
2011 modern 481 #10,244
2012 modern 481 #10,145
2013 modern 491 #10,158
2014 modern 494 #10,170
2015 modern 480 #10,311
2016 modern 476 #10,360

Geography

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Where Petherbridges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingston upon Hull, Torridge and East Devon. 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 Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
4 London parishes London 3
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Hull 002 Kingston upon Hull, City of
2 Torridge 007 Torridge
3 Kingston upon Hull 031 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 Torridge 006 Torridge
5 East Devon 010 East Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Petherbridge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Petherbridge

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Petherbridge, 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 Petherbridge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Petherbridge 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Petherbridge is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Petherbridge 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

Petherbridge 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 Petherbridge is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Petherbridge

The surname Petherbridge is believed to have originated in the county of Somerset, England, in the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name "Petherton," which itself is derived from the Old English words "Peða" and "tun," meaning a farm or settlement belonging to a person named Peða.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, with variations in spelling such as "Petherton," "Petherbrigg," and "Petherbrigge." These early spellings suggest a connection to a bridge or crossing over a river or stream near the settlement of Petherton.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the manor of Petherton is mentioned as "Pedreton," held by the Bishop of Winchester. This provides evidence of the name's antiquity and its association with this specific location in Somerset.

One notable individual with the surname Petherbridge was Sir William Petherbridge (c.1520-1584), a Member of Parliament for Taunton, Somerset, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was known for his involvement in local politics and served as a sheriff of Somerset.

Another noteworthy figure was John Petherbridge (c.1600-1670), a wealthy merchant and benefactor from Bristol, who made significant contributions to the city's infrastructure and charitable institutions.

In the 18th century, Thomas Petherbridge (1718-1795) was a prominent physician and author of medical treatises, including "A Treatise on the Gout" published in 1763.

The name Petherbridge also has connections to the area of Dorset, where a village called Petherbridge exists. This may indicate that some branches of the family originated or settled in that region.

During the 19th century, William Petherbridge (1818-1892) was a renowned architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Croydon.

Throughout its history, the surname Petherbridge has been associated with various professions, including politics, commerce, medicine, and architecture, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of individuals bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Petherbridge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Petherbridge 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. Devon leads with 139 Petherbridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.73x.

County Total Index
Devon 139 19.73x
Surrey 38 2.30x
Yorkshire 38 1.13x
Middlesex 35 1.03x
Gloucestershire 22 3.31x
Lancashire 12 0.30x
Glamorgan 10 1.70x
Hampshire 10 1.44x
Kent 10 0.87x
Somerset 10 1.84x
Lincolnshire 8 1.48x
Sussex 3 0.53x
Wiltshire 3 1.00x
Royal Navy 2 4.96x
Staffordshire 2 0.18x
Ayrshire 1 0.39x
Channel Islands 1 1.00x
Cheshire 1 0.13x
Cornwall 1 0.26x
Durham 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Buckfastleigh in Devon leads with 38 Petherbridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 1169.23x.

Place Total Index
Buckfastleigh 38 1169.23x
Holy Trinity 19 23.55x
Camberwell 15 6.94x
Horton In Bradford 15 28.64x
Diptford 13 1688.31x
Barnes 12 172.17x
Islington London 12 3.66x
Lambeth 8 2.71x
St Pancras London 8 2.94x
Ashburton 7 207.72x
Dodbrooke 7 500.00x
Frithelstock 7 1076.92x
Plymouth Charles The 7 22.55x
Tiverton 7 57.66x
Bristol St Paul In 6 33.94x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 9.60x
Clee With Weelsby 6 50.63x
Dartmouth St Saviour 6 298.51x
Great Torrington 6 150.38x
Olveston 6 320.86x
Over Stowey 6 983.61x
Tormoham 6 20.13x
Beaford 5 735.29x
Lewisham 5 8.12x
Roath 5 18.68x
West Derby 5 4.26x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 18.07x
Fremington 4 279.72x
Llandaff 4 20.40x
Selworthy 4 833.33x
Southampton St Mary 4 9.17x
Stoke Damerel 4 8.11x
Toxteth Park 4 2.94x
Bowling 3 9.03x
Mitcham 3 28.79x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 5.53x
Poplar London 3 4.70x
Ramsgate 3 15.92x
St Faith Winchester 3 92.88x
St George In East 3 13.03x
Tavistock 3 37.36x
Warminster 3 45.73x
Brixham 2 24.51x
Burton Upon Trent 2 7.48x
Deptford St Paul 2 2.25x
Eastbourne 2 7.62x
Great Grimsby 2 5.82x
Kirkdale 2 2.96x
Ottery St Mary 2 43.29x
Royal Navy 2 5.80x
St Clement Danes 2 36.50x
Staverton 2 229.89x
Atherington 1 166.67x
Barnstaple 1 9.04x
Dartington 1 136.99x
Exeter Heavitree 1 19.05x
Exminster 1 39.53x
Harberton 1 62.50x
Knayton With Brawith 1 250.00x
Liverpool 1 0.41x
Maybole 1 12.97x
Mylor 1 38.91x
Newton Abbot St Mary 1 16.92x
Paddington London 1 0.80x
South Shields 1 11.15x
St Andrew Holborn 1 8.72x
St Anne 1 55.87x
St George Hanover 1 2.26x
St Luke London 1 1.84x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.94x
St Marylebone London 1 0.55x
St Maurice Winchester 1 34.72x
St Peter Colebrook 1 102.04x
Stonehouse East 1 28.01x
Stoughton 1 136.99x
Swansea Town 1 2.07x
Tamerton Foliott 1 73.53x
Tranmere 1 3.64x
Ventnor 1 15.15x
Yarnscombe 1 322.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 18
John 17
Thomas 15
James 12
George 10
Henry 7
Samuel 6
Alfred 5
Charles 5
Ernest 5
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Josiah 3
Robert 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Emanuel 2
Geo. 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Andrew 1
David 1
Dennis 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Jane 1
Jno. 1
Nicholas 1
R.G. 1
Reuben 1
Richmond 1
Saml. 1
Stephen 1
W. 1
W.B. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Petherbridge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Petherbridge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 343 people were recorded with the Petherbridge surname. That placed it at #8,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Petherbridge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 476 in 2016. That gives Petherbridge a modern rank of #10,360.

What does the Petherbridge surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place in Devon, England.

What does the Petherbridge map show?

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