NameCensus.

UK surname

Petre

A variant surname derived from the personal name Peter.

In the 1881 census there were 196 people recorded with the Petre surname, ranking it #13,006 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 568, ranked #9,058, up from #13,006 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, County Durham and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Petre is 568 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 189.8%.

1881 census count

196

Ranked #13,006

Modern count

568

2016, ranked #9,058

Peak year

2016

568 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Petre had 196 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,006 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 568 in 2016, ranked #9,058.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 236 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Petre surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Petre surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Petre 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 129 #14,406
1861 historical 171 #13,692
1881 historical 196 #13,006
1891 historical 176 #16,404
1901 historical 236 #13,616
1911 historical 232 #13,592
1997 modern 324 #12,859
1998 modern 343 #12,707
1999 modern 352 #12,552
2000 modern 366 #12,167
2001 modern 349 #12,392
2002 modern 350 #12,620
2003 modern 337 #12,759
2004 modern 337 #12,818
2005 modern 344 #12,521
2006 modern 333 #12,941
2007 modern 342 #12,809
2008 modern 367 #12,264
2009 modern 373 #12,364
2010 modern 413 #11,690
2011 modern 432 #11,132
2012 modern 465 #10,422
2013 modern 480 #10,331
2014 modern 496 #10,124
2015 modern 520 #9,741
2016 modern 568 #9,058

Geography

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Where Petres are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, Cross Cannonby and Dearham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, County Durham, Sunderland and Basingstoke and Deane. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 Cross Cannonby Cumberland
5 Dearham Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 009 Allerdale
2 County Durham 001 County Durham
3 Sunderland 035 Sunderland
4 Allerdale 005 Allerdale
5 Basingstoke and Deane 017 Basingstoke and Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Petre

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Petre

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Petre surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Petre household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Petre 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

Petre 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

Petre falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Petre is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Petre

The surname Petre originates from England, with its roots dating back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old French name "Pierre" or "Piere," which itself comes from the Greek name "Petros," meaning "rock" or "stone." The name was likely introduced to England by Norman settlers after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Petre can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire from the late 12th century, where it was spelled as "Petre" or "Petri." The name was also mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, although it was recorded as a first name rather than a surname.

In the 13th and 14th centuries, the Petre family was prominent in the county of Essex, where they held lands and estates. One notable member of the family was Sir William Petre (1505-1572), who served as a secretary to four successive Tudor monarchs, including Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I.

Another significant figure bearing the Petre surname was Edward Petre (1631-1699), a Jesuit priest and philosopher who played a crucial role in the Catholic intellectual circles of the 17th century. He was a prolific writer and was known for his works on philosophy, theology, and mathematics.

In the 18th century, the Petre family continued to hold significant influence and wealth in Essex. Robert Petre (1742-1801), the 9th Baron Petre, was a prominent Catholic landowner and a respected figure in English society. His son, Robert Edward Petre (1783-1858), was a member of parliament and a noted art collector.

The Petre surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Petre Hall in Essex, which was the ancestral home of the Petre family for several centuries. The name has also been spelled in various ways throughout history, including Petri, Petre, and Petre.

Other notable individuals with the Petre surname include Sir John Petre (1549-1613), a member of the English gentry and a wealthy landowner in Essex; Henry Petre (1598-1659), a Royalist officer during the English Civil War; and William Petre (1624-1672), an English Catholic priest and scholar.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Petre families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Petre 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. Middlesex leads with 54 Petres recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.82x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 54 2.82x
Cumberland 30 18.23x
Essex 26 6.89x
Surrey 14 1.50x
Lancashire 13 0.57x
Kent 10 1.53x
Derbyshire 9 3.01x
Northumberland 8 2.81x
Hampshire 7 1.79x
Warwickshire 6 1.24x
Durham 5 0.88x
Yorkshire 4 0.21x
Staffordshire 3 0.46x
Hertfordshire 2 1.52x
Midlothian 2 0.78x
Norfolk 1 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.39x
Somerset 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 12 Petres recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.48x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 12 6.48x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 10 877.19x
Springfield 9 545.45x
Dearham 8 368.66x
Margaretting 8 2352.94x
Newington 8 11.33x
Clerkenwell London 7 15.51x
Everton 7 9.68x
St Pancras London 7 4.55x
Westgate 7 39.73x
Whitehaven 7 79.82x
Bethnal Green London 6 7.22x
Coventry St Michael 6 38.73x
Odiham 6 348.84x
Shoreditch London 6 7.24x
Brampton 5 119.62x
Greenwich 5 16.43x
Crosscanonby 4 73.53x
Kensington London 4 3.76x
Leyton 4 61.54x
South Weald 4 123.84x
St George Hanover 4 16.03x
St Marylebone London 4 3.92x
Tapton 4 3333.33x
Beckenham 3 35.17x
Chester Le Street 3 68.65x
Salford 3 4.50x
Sheffield 3 4.97x
Chertsey 2 33.22x
Croydon 2 3.87x
Edinburgh St Marys 2 40.16x
Paddington London 2 2.85x
Tonbridge 2 8.50x
Barnby Moor 1 625.00x
Battersea 1 1.42x
Boreham 1 153.85x
Brislington 1 175.44x
Bullers Green 1 454.55x
Burton Upon Trent 1 6.62x
Chiddingfold 1 114.94x
Clayton Le Moors 1 22.73x
Esh 1 24.15x
Fulham London 1 3.61x
Hammersmith London 1 2.12x
Moston 1 43.86x
Nether Hallam 1 3.90x
Oughterside Allerby 1 303.03x
Pleasington 1 333.33x
Portsea 1 1.30x
Shenley 1 114.94x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 1.46x
Watford 1 9.78x
Westoe 1 3.10x
Westwick 1 833.33x
Wolverhampton 1 2.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 10
William 9
Henry 8
Richard 7
John 6
James 5
Charles 4
Louis 4
Thomas 4
Frederick 3
Alfred 2
Christpher 2
Edward 2
Joseph 2
Parkin 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Alfd.Wm. 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
Bertram 1
Edmund 1
Elliot 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Jonah 1
Lawrence 1
Mathew 1
Oswald 1
Philip 1
Richd. 1
Sebastian 1
Thos. 1
Vincent 1

FAQ

Petre surname: questions and answers

How common was the Petre surname in 1881?

In 1881, 196 people were recorded with the Petre surname. That placed it at #13,006 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Petre surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 568 in 2016. That gives Petre a modern rank of #9,058.

What does the Petre surname mean?

A variant surname derived from the personal name Peter.

What does the Petre map show?

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