NameCensus.

UK surname

Pierpoint

An English surname derived from the Norman-French place name meaning "bridge or piers located at a specific geographic point".

In the 1881 census there were 641 people recorded with the Pierpoint surname, ranking it #5,556 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 578, ranked #8,965, down from #5,556 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Sandbach. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Shropshire and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pierpoint is 805 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.8%.

1881 census count

641

Ranked #5,556

Modern count

578

2016, ranked #8,965

Peak year

1901

805 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pierpoint had 641 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,556 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 578 in 2016, ranked #8,965.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 805 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pierpoint surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pierpoint surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pierpoint 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 396 #6,083
1861 historical 368 #6,935
1881 historical 641 #5,556
1891 historical 644 #6,030
1901 historical 805 #5,605
1911 historical 750 #5,740
1997 modern 568 #8,469
1998 modern 621 #8,190
1999 modern 618 #8,282
2000 modern 619 #8,249
2001 modern 591 #8,377
2002 modern 598 #8,482
2003 modern 592 #8,415
2004 modern 576 #8,575
2005 modern 567 #8,608
2006 modern 578 #8,521
2007 modern 585 #8,527
2008 modern 592 #8,504
2009 modern 613 #8,461
2010 modern 611 #8,669
2011 modern 606 #8,623
2012 modern 579 #8,830
2013 modern 596 #8,795
2014 modern 596 #8,843
2015 modern 592 #8,815
2016 modern 578 #8,965

Geography

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Where Pierpoints are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Sandbach, Liverpool and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Shropshire, Rotherham and Swale. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Sandbach Cheshire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 022 Cheshire East
2 Shropshire 003 Shropshire
3 Rotherham 027 Rotherham
4 Rotherham 015 Rotherham
5 Swale 003 Swale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pierpoint

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pierpoint

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

Pierpoint is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pierpoint falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pierpoint

The surname Pierpoint has its origins in England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old French term "pier" meaning "stone or rock" and the Middle English word "point" meaning "a promontory or headland". This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone living near a rocky outcrop or cliff.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1199, where it appears as "Pierepunt". This suggests that the name was already established in the northern regions of England at that time. The spelling later evolved to "Pierpoint" by the 13th century.

The Pierpoint name has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir Robert Pierpoint, who served as a member of the English Parliament in the early 14th century. Another prominent individual was Henry Pierpoint (1607-1680), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, the Pierpoint family played a significant role in the colonization of America. Robert Pierpoint (1619-1704) was one of the original settlers of New Haven, Connecticut, arriving in 1638. His descendants went on to establish themselves in various parts of the United States.

The Pierpoint name has also been connected to several place names in England, such as Pierpoint Farm in Oxfordshire and Pierpoint Hill in Warwickshire. These locations likely derived their names from early settlers or landowners bearing the Pierpoint surname.

Other notable individuals with the Pierpoint surname include: 1. Francis Pierpoint (1648-1717), an English barrister and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Tregony. 2. Evelyn Pierpoint (1909-1962), an English actress and singer known for her roles in several films and stage productions. 3. Robert Pierpoint (1920-2014), an American journalist and television correspondent who covered numerous historical events, including World War II and the Vietnam War. 4. Benjamin Pierpoint (1805-1888), an English-born architect who designed several notable buildings in Toronto, Canada. 5. Richard Pierpoint (1744-1838), an African American soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and was one of the earliest recorded African American residents of Massachusetts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pierpoint families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pierpoint 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. Lancashire leads with 173 Pierpoints recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 173 2.33x
Cheshire 133 9.64x
Sussex 49 4.65x
Surrey 45 1.48x
Middlesex 43 0.69x
Staffordshire 36 1.71x
Warwickshire 26 1.65x
Nottinghamshire 21 2.49x
Suffolk 18 2.36x
Yorkshire 18 0.29x
Kent 15 0.70x
Lincolnshire 15 1.50x
Berkshire 13 2.77x
Leicestershire 7 1.01x
Flintshire 6 3.57x
Durham 5 0.27x
Gloucestershire 5 0.41x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.01x
Essex 2 0.16x
Norfolk 2 0.21x
Somerset 2 0.20x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x
Devon 1 0.08x
Westmorland 1 0.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sandbach in Cheshire leads with 37 Pierpoints recorded in 1881 and an index of 314.36x.

Place Total Index
Sandbach 37 314.36x
Camberwell 36 9.01x
Everton 23 9.73x
West Derby 23 10.60x
Birmingham 22 4.19x
Odd Rode 18 263.16x
Brighton 17 7.99x
Burslem 17 28.12x
Warrington 15 17.05x
Golborne 13 134.44x
Bow London 12 15.08x
Liverpool 12 2.66x
Deptford St Paul 11 6.68x
Eagle 11 1111.11x
Salford 11 5.04x
Kimberworth 10 29.08x
Macclesfield 10 16.30x
Lewes St John Southover 9 127.12x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 8 55.98x
Great Bolton 8 8.14x
Wantage 8 106.95x
Winwick With Hulme 8 769.23x
Wolstanton 8 12.48x
Burtonwood 7 257.35x
Chester St Oswald 7 28.01x
Church Hulme 7 496.45x
East Leake 7 346.53x
Latchford 7 76.34x
Newark Upon Trent 7 23.11x
North Meols 7 9.64x
Ashton In Makerfield 6 28.40x
Carlton 6 62.37x
Great Budworth 6 244.90x
Ipswich St Mathew 6 28.12x
Leicester St Margaret 6 3.55x
Lowton 6 118.81x
Manchester 6 1.80x
Runcorn 6 18.86x
Uckfield 6 130.43x
Worthenbury 6 631.58x
Cheltenham 5 5.28x
Elton In Congleton 5 423.73x
Gorton 5 7.17x
Isfield 5 515.46x
Lewes St Ann 5 139.28x
Reading St Giles 5 10.86x
St George Bloomsbury 5 13.94x
Stockton On Tees 5 5.58x
Altrincham 4 16.58x
Aston 4 0.92x
Barnsley 4 6.26x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.47x
Biddulph 4 33.59x
Leese 4 1739.13x
Lower Withington 4 1176.47x
Shoreditch London 4 1.48x
St Martin In Fields 4 10.68x
St Pancras London 4 0.79x
Bramhall 3 52.45x
Checkley 3 54.74x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 2.55x
Eastbourne 3 6.18x
Hastings St Mary 3 11.43x
Haydock 3 23.47x
Helpringham 3 149.25x
Lambeth 3 0.55x
Litherland 3 19.34x
Newton 3 5.25x
Oulton 3 116.73x
St Andrewthe Less 3 6.63x
Streatham 3 6.47x
Sutton 3 12.06x
Bexley 2 10.60x
Bollin Fee 2 32.68x
Chorley In Macclesfield 2 47.51x
Gildersome 2 26.85x
Isleworth 2 7.19x
Thorpe Next Norwich 2 19.63x
Toxteth Park 2 0.80x
West Ham 2 0.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 41
Elizabeth 40
Sarah 33
Jane 15
Hannah 13
Annie 12
Alice 10
Ellen 10
Ann 9
Emily 8
Margaret 8
Emma 7
Florence 7
Harriet 7
Eliza 6
Agnes 5
Catherine 5
Elizth. 4
Ethel 4
Louisa 4
Clara 3
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Lilian 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Celia 2
Charlotte 2
Francis 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Margt. 2
May 2
Mercy 2
Ruth 2
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Eleanor 1
Esther 1
Infant 1
Josephine 1
Katharine 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 45
William 39
James 24
Thomas 22
George 21
Henry 14
Robert 11
Albert 10
Edward 10
Charles 9
Joseph 8
Samuel 6
Arthur 5
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Benjamin 4
Harry 4
Peter 4
Richard 4
Abraham 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Giles 2
Hy. 2
Saml. 2
Stephen 2
Wm. 2
Arnold 1
Caleb 1
Cecil 1
Christopher 1
Ephriam 1
Ernest 1
Ezekel 1
Folliott 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Horace 1
Horatio 1
Hugh 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Lewis 1
Norman 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Pierpoint surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pierpoint surname in 1881?

In 1881, 641 people were recorded with the Pierpoint surname. That placed it at #5,556 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pierpoint surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 578 in 2016. That gives Pierpoint a modern rank of #8,965.

What does the Pierpoint surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Norman-French place name meaning "bridge or piers located at a specific geographic point".

What does the Pierpoint map show?

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