UK surname

Pieterse

A Dutch/Afrikaans surname derived from the medieval given name Peter.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gloucester, South Kesteven and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pieterse is 141 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

137

2016, ranked #25,254

Peak year

2010

141 bearers

Map years

2006 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016, ranked #25,254.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6 in 1911.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Map

Pieterse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pieterse surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Pieterse 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
1911	historical	6	#33,255
1997	modern	29	#34,795
1998	modern	35	#34,344
1999	modern	44	#33,601
2000	modern	53	#32,805
2001	modern	47	#33,219
2002	modern	66	#31,821
2003	modern	76	#30,883
2004	modern	83	#30,352
2005	modern	92	#29,271
2006	modern	107	#27,179
2007	modern	117	#26,066
2008	modern	127	#25,020
2009	modern	136	#24,485
2010	modern	141	#24,460
2011	modern	138	#24,615
2012	modern	128	#25,852
2013	modern	139	#24,912
2014	modern	136	#25,452
2015	modern	132	#25,859
2016	modern	137	#25,254

Geography

Where Pieterses 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 Gloucester, South Kesteven, Camden, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Newham. 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	Gloucester 005	Gloucester
2	South Kesteven 011	South Kesteven
3	Camden 007	Camden
4	King's Lynn and West Norfolk 010	King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5	Newham 037	Newham

Forenames

First names often paired with Pieterse

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Louisa Alison Agnieszka Lesley Diane Jan Ethel Michelle Susan Karen

Recent male names

Brett Francois David Gert Matthew Cornelius Andrew Mark Johannes Abraham

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Pieterse

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Pieterse surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Pieterse 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pieterse is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Pieterse 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pieterse 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pieterse 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.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - Other

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Pieterse

The surname Pieterse originated in the Netherlands and is a Dutch patronymic name, meaning "son of Pieter." The name Pieter is derived from the Greek name Petros, meaning "rock" or "stone." The Pieterse surname likely emerged in the 12th or 13th century when surnames became more common in the Netherlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Pieterse surname can be found in the records of the city of Leiden, where a Jan Pieterse is mentioned in the year 1389. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 14th century.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Pieterse surname was Dirck Pieterse, a Dutch painter and engraver who lived from around 1540 to 1603. He is particularly known for his portraits and religious works, some of which can still be found in museums in the Netherlands and abroad.

Another significant individual was Pieter Pieterse Evertsen, a Dutch naval officer and admiral who lived from 1610 to 1670. He played a crucial role in several naval battles during the Anglo-Dutch Wars and is considered a hero in Dutch naval history.

During the Dutch Golden Age, in the 17th century, a prominent figure was Gerard Pieterse Hulft, a wealthy merchant and investor who lived from 1619 to 1689. He was involved in the Dutch East India Company and was a significant contributor to the economic prosperity of the Netherlands during that period.

In the 18th century, Jan Pieterse Zomer, born in 1741 and died in 1826, was a notable Dutch painter known for his landscapes and marine scenes. His works are still highly regarded and can be found in various art collections across Europe.

As the Dutch Empire expanded and Dutch settlers emigrated to other parts of the world, the Pieterse surname also spread to other countries. However, it remains predominantly concentrated in the Netherlands and among Dutch diaspora communities around the globe.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Pieterse surname: questions and answers

How common is the Pieterse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016. That gives Pieterse a modern rank of #25,254.

What does the Pieterse surname mean?