NameCensus.

UK surname

Pidgeon

A surname derived from the Old French word "pigeon", meaning a pigeon or dove.

In the 1881 census there were 985 people recorded with the Pidgeon surname, ranking it #3,954 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,569, ranked #3,951, up from #3,954 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors and Tormoham with Torquay. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Telford and Wrekin, Mid Devon and West Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pidgeon is 1,683 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.3%.

1881 census count

985

Ranked #3,954

Modern count

1,569

2016, ranked #3,951

Peak year

2002

1,683 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pidgeon had 985 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,954 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,569 in 2016, ranked #3,951.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,462 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pidgeon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pidgeon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pidgeon 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 662 #3,921
1861 historical 628 #4,264
1881 historical 985 #3,954
1891 historical 1,038 #4,024
1901 historical 1,239 #3,993
1911 historical 1,462 #3,298
1997 modern 1,570 #3,756
1998 modern 1,630 #3,771
1999 modern 1,650 #3,762
2000 modern 1,657 #3,724
2001 modern 1,631 #3,706
2002 modern 1,683 #3,674
2003 modern 1,622 #3,720
2004 modern 1,593 #3,803
2005 modern 1,571 #3,792
2006 modern 1,537 #3,870
2007 modern 1,573 #3,816
2008 modern 1,607 #3,777
2009 modern 1,613 #3,859
2010 modern 1,628 #3,903
2011 modern 1,629 #3,854
2012 modern 1,584 #3,887
2013 modern 1,591 #3,935
2014 modern 1,607 #3,924
2015 modern 1,597 #3,907
2016 modern 1,569 #3,951

Geography

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Where Pidgeons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Tormoham with Torquay, Edmonton and Clifton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Telford and Wrekin, Mid Devon, West Devon, Erewash and South Oxfordshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
3 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
4 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Clifton Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Telford and Wrekin 008 Telford and Wrekin
2 Mid Devon 011 Mid Devon
3 West Devon 003 West Devon
4 Erewash 009 Erewash
5 South Oxfordshire 012 South Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pidgeon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pidgeon

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Pidgeon is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pidgeon is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pidgeon falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pidgeon

The surname Pidgeon is of English origin and derives from the Old French word "pigeon" meaning a pigeon or dove. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who attracted pigeons or had some association with the bird.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname dates back to the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Richard Pijon from Huntingdonshire. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 also mention a John Pijun. These early spellings highlight the variations that existed before the surname became standardized.

In later centuries, the name can be found in various historical records. The Hearth Tax Returns of 1674 for London list a Thomas Pidgeon, while the Register of the University of Oxford from 1615 includes a John Pidgeon who matriculated at Magdalen Hall.

Several notable individuals have borne the Pidgeon surname throughout history. One of the earliest was Walter Pidgeon, a 14th-century English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Maldon in 1379. Another was David Pidgeon (1714-1762), a British naval officer who achieved the rank of Admiral.

In the literary world, Ralph Pidgeon (1789-1855) was a Scottish writer and poet, known for his work "The Scenery of Scotland." Meanwhile, Edward Pidgeon (1870-1952) was a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Curzon Cinema.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the name was Walter Pidgeon (1897-1984), the Canadian-American actor who starred in numerous Hollywood films, including Mrs. Miniver (1942) and Forbidden Planet (1956). He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in Mrs. Miniver.

While the name Pidgeon may have originated as a nickname, it has endured through the centuries, with individuals bearing this surname leaving their mark in various fields, from politics and literature to architecture and the performing arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pidgeon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pidgeon 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 193 Pidgeons recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.54x.

County Total Index
Devon 193 9.54x
Middlesex 162 1.67x
Lancashire 72 0.62x
Shropshire 54 6.43x
Surrey 54 1.14x
Norfolk 43 2.88x
Dorset 42 6.59x
Cheshire 38 1.77x
Gloucestershire 38 1.99x
Somerset 34 2.17x
Staffordshire 33 1.01x
Hampshire 28 1.41x
Kent 28 0.84x
Essex 25 1.30x
Warwickshire 15 0.61x
Berkshire 14 1.92x
Cornwall 13 1.18x
Worcestershire 13 1.02x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.84x
Lincolnshire 10 0.64x
Yorkshire 10 0.10x
Sussex 9 0.55x
Channel Islands 8 2.78x
Wiltshire 7 0.81x
Glamorgan 6 0.35x
Oxfordshire 6 1.00x
Bedfordshire 5 0.99x
Derbyshire 5 0.33x
Monmouthshire 5 0.71x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.65x
Royal Navy 3 2.59x
Northumberland 2 0.14x
Angus 1 0.11x
Argyllshire 1 0.37x
Flintshire 1 0.38x
Northamptonshire 1 0.11x
Stirlingshire 1 0.28x
Suffolk 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clifton in Gloucestershire leads with 21 Pidgeons recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.80x.

Place Total Index
Clifton 21 21.80x
Wellington 21 44.51x
Islington London 20 2.12x
Edmonton 19 24.27x
Colaton Raleigh 18 720.00x
Newington 18 5.02x
Camberwell 17 2.74x
West Ham 17 4.01x
Lilleshall 16 124.71x
Sidbury 16 369.52x
Axminster 15 158.23x
Chard 15 79.20x
Poplar London 14 7.63x
Stockland 14 479.45x
Stockport 14 12.68x
Wolborough 14 54.75x
St Marylebone London 13 2.51x
Tormoham 13 15.19x
Warrington 13 9.51x
Bilston 12 18.88x
Heaton Norris 12 18.29x
Basingstoke 11 48.03x
Cullompton 11 124.58x
Powderham 11 1182.80x
Stretford 11 17.34x
Westbury On Trym 11 17.04x
Finchley 10 26.85x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 10 22.30x
Kings Norton 10 8.79x
Battersea 9 2.52x
Chardstock 9 203.62x
Chelsea London 9 3.07x
Great Yarmouth 9 7.27x
Hackney London 9 1.65x
Tottenham 9 5.82x
Antony 8 75.33x
Aston 8 1.19x
Birkenhead 8 4.68x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 4.09x
Exeter St Sidwell 8 17.27x
St Luke London 8 5.13x
St Peter Port 8 15.02x
Stratton St Mary 8 386.47x
Symondsbury 8 197.04x
Wombridge 8 77.22x
Woolwich 8 6.53x
Accrington 7 6.68x
Lighthorne 7 588.24x
Mile End Old Town 7 4.56x
Swindon 7 10.50x
Wolverhampton 7 2.78x
Basford 6 9.94x
Bradninch 6 105.26x
Bramhall 6 67.57x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.62x
Cranham 6 461.54x
Exeter Heavitree 6 39.79x
Ilsington 6 169.49x
New Windsor 6 24.47x
Plumstead 6 5.43x
South Petherton 6 74.26x
St Pancras London 6 0.77x
Stratton 6 606.06x
Wacton 6 769.23x
Warblington 6 75.95x
West Derby 6 1.78x
Withycombe Rawleigh 6 56.93x
Aberystruth 5 8.08x
Broad Clist 5 71.63x
Clifton 5 102.88x
Hornsey 5 4.07x
Melcombe Regis 5 18.92x
Reading St Giles 5 6.99x
Shiplake 5 243.90x
Stafford St Mary 5 10.77x
Tranmere 5 6.34x
West Bromwich 5 2.66x
Woodford 5 23.03x
Barnstaple 4 12.60x
Wisbech St Peter 4 12.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 73
John 58
Henry 37
James 29
George 26
Charles 21
Thomas 21
Walter 17
Robert 15
Arthur 13
Frederick 13
Joseph 12
Alfred 11
Richard 11
Edward 8
Albert 6
Harry 6
Daniel 4
Ernest 4
Samuel 4
Francis 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Saml. 3
Abner 2
Chas. 2
Edwin 2
Eli 2
Elijah 2
Emmanuel 2
Enos 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Job 2
Jonas 2
Michael 2
Nicholas 2
Patrick 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Fredr. 1
Fredrick 1
Josiah 1
Josias 1
Wm.Saml. 1

FAQ

Pidgeon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pidgeon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 985 people were recorded with the Pidgeon surname. That placed it at #3,954 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pidgeon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,569 in 2016. That gives Pidgeon a modern rank of #3,951.

What does the Pidgeon surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "pigeon", meaning a pigeon or dove.

What does the Pidgeon map show?

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