NameCensus.

UK surname

Petri

Derived from the Greek word "petros," meaning "rock" or "stone," and likely referring to someone who lived near rocks.

In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Petri surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 163, ranked #22,407, up from #29,793 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Canterbury and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Petri is 169 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 503.7%.

1881 census count

27

Ranked #29,793

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

2014

169 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Petri had 27 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,793 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 49 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Petri surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Petri surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Petri 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 7 #32,070
1861 historical 9 #32,724
1881 historical 27 #29,793
1891 historical 20 #32,579
1901 historical 49 #28,696
1911 historical 45 #28,332
1997 modern 140 #22,031
1998 modern 157 #21,058
1999 modern 162 #20,781
2000 modern 155 #21,341
2001 modern 149 #21,568
2002 modern 148 #22,087
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 155 #21,352
2005 modern 156 #21,221
2006 modern 158 #21,229
2007 modern 166 #20,811
2008 modern 159 #21,598
2009 modern 161 #21,879
2010 modern 148 #23,697
2011 modern 150 #23,309
2012 modern 161 #22,157
2013 modern 168 #21,914
2014 modern 169 #22,006
2015 modern 162 #22,509
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

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Where Petris are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, Canterbury, Brent and Wychavon. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 007 Breckland
2 Canterbury 005 Canterbury
3 Brent 008 Brent
4 Breckland 008 Breckland
5 Wychavon 018 Wychavon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Petri

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Petri

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Petri surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Petri household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Petri is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Petri 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

Petri falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Petri 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Petri

The surname Petri has its origins in Italy, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Italian word "Pietro," which is the equivalent of the English name "Peter." The name Petri was likely initially used as a patronymic, meaning "son of Peter."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Petri surname can be found in the historic city of Florence, where a family by the name of Petri is mentioned in documents from the late 1200s. These records suggest that the Petri family had established themselves as prominent citizens within the city's powerful merchant class.

In the 14th century, the Petri name appeared in the renowned Florentine tax records known as the "Catasto," which documented the wealth and assets of the city's residents. These records provide valuable insight into the economic status and influence of families bearing the Petri surname during this period.

The Petri name has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was Jacobus Petri (1445-1521), a Dutch humanist scholar and theologian who played a significant role in the early stages of the Protestant Reformation.

Another prominent bearer of the Petri surname was Laurentius Petri (1499-1573), a Swedish theologian and reformer who is regarded as one of the founders of the Lutheran Church in Sweden. He was instrumental in translating the Bible into Swedish and establishing the country's educational system.

In the realm of science, the name Petri is closely linked to the German bacteriologist Julius Richard Petri (1852-1921), who is best known for his invention of the Petri dish, a crucial tool in the study and cultivation of microorganisms.

The Petri surname has also been associated with notable artists and intellectuals, such as the Italian sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680), whose full name was Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini, but who was often referred to as Gian Lorenzo Petri.

Throughout its long history, the Petri surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Petrie, Petre, and Pettri, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic influences of the areas where it was prevalent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Petri families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Petri 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 15 Petris recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.50x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 15 5.50x
Lancashire 7 2.16x
Glamorgan 2 4.21x
Royal Navy 1 30.77x
Shropshire 1 4.24x
Surrey 1 0.75x
Yorkshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 10 Petris recorded in 1881 and an index of 84.53x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 10 84.53x
Rusholme 7 813.95x
St Pancras London 4 18.21x
Swansea Town 2 51.28x
Culmington 1 2000.00x
Egham 1 121.95x
Holy Trinity 1 15.38x
Hornsey 1 28.99x
Royal Navy 1 35.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Charles 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
George 2
Albert 1
Authur 1
Edward 1
John 1
Luzenis 1
Rudolf 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Petri households.

FAQ

Petri surname: questions and answers

How common was the Petri surname in 1881?

In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Petri surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Petri surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Petri a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Petri surname mean?

Derived from the Greek word "petros," meaning "rock" or "stone," and likely referring to someone who lived near rocks.

What does the Petri map show?

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