NameCensus.

UK surname

Petherick

A surname derived from a Cornish placename, possibly meaning "battle territory".

In the 1881 census there were 504 people recorded with the Petherick surname, ranking it #6,740 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 742, ranked #7,354, down from #6,740 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Beaford and Stratton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include The Vale of Glamorgan, Swale and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Petherick is 821 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.2%.

1881 census count

504

Ranked #6,740

Modern count

742

2016, ranked #7,354

Peak year

1911

821 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Petherick had 504 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,740 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 742 in 2016, ranked #7,354.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 821 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Petherick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Petherick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Petherick 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 372 #6,397
1861 historical 327 #7,788
1881 historical 504 #6,740
1891 historical 577 #6,605
1901 historical 712 #6,199
1911 historical 821 #5,364
1997 modern 759 #6,818
1998 modern 757 #7,041
1999 modern 764 #7,039
2000 modern 786 #6,873
2001 modern 768 #6,852
2002 modern 791 #6,837
2003 modern 766 #6,894
2004 modern 747 #7,040
2005 modern 731 #7,091
2006 modern 747 #7,006
2007 modern 749 #7,068
2008 modern 737 #7,204
2009 modern 751 #7,235
2010 modern 760 #7,315
2011 modern 746 #7,340
2012 modern 750 #7,226
2013 modern 760 #7,269
2014 modern 760 #7,295
2015 modern 742 #7,364
2016 modern 742 #7,354

Geography

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Where Pethericks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Beaford, Stratton and Buckfastleigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to The Vale of Glamorgan, Swale, North Devon and Torridge. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Beaford Devon
3 Stratton Cornwall
4 Buckfastleigh Devon
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 The Vale of Glamorgan 004 Vale of Glamorgan
2 Swale 016 Swale
3 North Devon 013 North Devon
4 Torridge 007 Torridge
5 Torridge 008 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Petherick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Petherick

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Petherick is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Petherick 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

Petherick falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Petherick

The surname Petherick originates from Cornwall, England, during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Cornish place name "Petherick", which is a combination of the Cornish words "peth" meaning "portion" or "share" and "ric" meaning "domain" or "estate". This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who owned or had a share in a particular estate or land holding.

The earliest known record of the name Petherick dates back to the late 12th century, appearing in the "Pipe Rolls of Cornwall" from 1194. This document lists various landowners and taxpayers in the region. The name was also found in the "Assize Rolls of Cornwall" from the 13th century, which recorded legal proceedings and land transactions.

In the 16th century, the Petherick surname was documented in several parish records across Cornwall, particularly in the areas around the villages of Petherick and Little Petherick. The name was sometimes spelled as "Petherick", "Petherick", or "Petherick", reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era.

One notable bearer of the Petherick name was John Petherick (1614-1692), a Cornish merchant and landowner who served as the Mayor of Bodmin, a town in Cornwall, in 1660. Another individual of historical significance was Sir John Petherick (1757-1828), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.

In the 19th century, the Petherick surname gained recognition through the works of Edward Augustus Petherick (1847-1917), a renowned English naturalist and explorer who conducted extensive research in Australia and the Pacific region. His brother, John Petherick (1813-1882), was a notable bibliographer and book collector, known for his extensive collection of works related to the exploration and settlement of Australia.

Another notable figure was Thomas Petherick (1833-1892), a Cornish businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Torquay, a town in Devon, England, from 1885 to 1887.

While the Petherick surname has its roots in Cornwall, it has since spread to other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, with families bearing this name found in various parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Petherick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Petherick 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 232 Pethericks recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.49x.

County Total Index
Devon 232 22.49x
Middlesex 61 1.23x
Cornwall 54 9.63x
Surrey 32 1.33x
Glamorgan 29 3.36x
Somerset 24 3.01x
Gloucestershire 13 1.34x
Lancashire 11 0.19x
Durham 9 0.61x
Cumberland 8 1.88x
Hampshire 8 0.79x
Yorkshire 8 0.16x
Kent 3 0.18x
Sussex 3 0.36x
Wiltshire 3 0.68x
Channel Islands 2 1.36x
Hertfordshire 2 0.59x
Royal Navy 2 3.39x
Angus 1 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.32x
Dorset 1 0.31x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.64x

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 22 Pethericks recorded in 1881 and an index of 462.18x.

Place Total Index
Buckfastleigh 22 462.18x
Beaford 19 1900.00x
Hackney London 19 6.84x
Stoke Damerel 17 23.55x
Taunton St James 16 137.58x
Stratton 11 361.84x
Coedfrank 10 167.22x
Holsworthy 10 343.64x
Islington London 10 2.08x
Battersea 9 4.94x
Clase 9 28.05x
Ashwater 8 547.95x
Berrynarbor 8 683.76x
Dearham 8 142.10x
Fulham London 8 11.13x
Plymouth Charles The 8 17.61x
Roath 8 20.41x
Barnstaple 7 43.24x
Bermondsey 7 4.75x
Bideford 7 63.35x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 7.65x
Chawleigh 7 614.04x
Croydon 7 5.22x
Exeter St Leonard 7 248.23x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 8.81x
Pyworthy 7 823.53x
Sunderland 7 26.89x
Taunton St Mary 7 47.81x
Whitchurch 7 386.74x
Brightside Bierlow 6 6.23x
East Ogwell 6 1333.33x
Pennycross 6 689.66x
St Dennis 6 287.08x
St Mary Magdalene 6 145.63x
St Pancras London 6 1.50x
Tavistock 6 51.06x
Tormoham 6 13.75x
Truro St Mary 6 127.39x
Dawlish 5 65.02x
Monkleigh 5 543.48x
Southampton St Mary 5 7.83x
Tetcott 5 1111.11x
Woolfardisworthy 5 335.57x
Bradworthy 4 266.67x
Everton 4 2.13x
Exeter St George The 4 350.88x
Kilkhampton 4 242.42x
Landkey 4 396.04x
Limehouse London 4 7.35x
Mile End New Town 4 59.08x
Salford 4 2.31x
Silverton 4 186.05x
St Austell 4 20.86x
Calstock 3 27.27x
Chippenham 3 32.64x
Clawton 3 400.00x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 12.70x
Kensington London 3 1.09x
Pendleton In Salford 3 4.28x
Sheviock 3 315.79x
Woolwich 3 4.80x
Bradninch 2 68.73x
Camborne 2 8.65x
Cheriton 2 192.31x
East Stonehouse 2 9.84x
Great Torrington 2 34.19x
Ludgvan 2 44.74x
Milton Damerel 2 246.91x
Newhaven 2 29.46x
Newington 2 1.09x
Parkham 2 147.06x
Penge 2 6.32x
Royal Navy 2 3.96x
St Gennys 2 238.10x
St George Martyr 2 23.95x
St Peter Port 2 7.36x
Westbury On Trym 2 6.08x
Westmill 2 327.87x
Black Torrington 1 67.11x
Tiverton 1 5.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 46
William 40
Thomas 21
George 11
Richard 10
Robert 10
Arthur 9
Charles 8
Henry 8
Albert 6
Daniel 5
Walter 5
Wm. 5
Edward 4
James 4
Samuel 4
Thos. 4
Alfred 3
Frank 3
Philip 3
Benjamin 2
Edmund 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Hugh 2
Joseph 2
Tom 2
Chas.H. 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Ellis 1
Geo. 1
Geor.R. 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Jas. 1
Lewis 1
Lionel 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Nicholas 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Sidney 1
Simon 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Petherick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Petherick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 504 people were recorded with the Petherick surname. That placed it at #6,740 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Petherick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 742 in 2016. That gives Petherick a modern rank of #7,354.

What does the Petherick surname mean?

A surname derived from a Cornish placename, possibly meaning "battle territory".

What does the Petherick map show?

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