NameCensus.

UK surname

Pinson

Derived from a place name meaning "pine grove" in French, likely referring to someone who lived near pines.

In the 1881 census there were 433 people recorded with the Pinson surname, ranking it #7,531 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 369, ranked #12,617, down from #7,531 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Walsall and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lichfield, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pinson is 579 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.8%.

1881 census count

433

Ranked #7,531

Modern count

369

2016, ranked #12,617

Peak year

1911

579 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pinson had 433 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,531 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 369 in 2016, ranked #12,617.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 579 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pinson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pinson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pinson 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 279 #8,067
1861 historical 296 #8,532
1881 historical 433 #7,531
1891 historical 445 #8,134
1901 historical 570 #7,353
1911 historical 579 #7,023
1997 modern 363 #11,849
1998 modern 380 #11,827
1999 modern 372 #12,076
2000 modern 387 #11,692
2001 modern 374 #11,805
2002 modern 385 #11,771
2003 modern 387 #11,523
2004 modern 372 #11,886
2005 modern 359 #12,143
2006 modern 357 #12,253
2007 modern 365 #12,205
2008 modern 365 #12,308
2009 modern 374 #12,343
2010 modern 389 #12,251
2011 modern 393 #12,017
2012 modern 379 #12,192
2013 modern 368 #12,676
2014 modern 377 #12,535
2015 modern 370 #12,596
2016 modern 369 #12,617

Geography

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Where Pinsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Walsall, Birmingham Town: Birmingham, Birmingham Town: Aston and Kingswinford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lichfield, Walsall and Wolverhampton. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Walsall Staffordshire
3 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
4 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire
5 Kingswinford Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lichfield 002 Lichfield
2 Walsall 002 Walsall
3 Walsall 027 Walsall
4 Wolverhampton 028 Wolverhampton
5 Lichfield 005 Lichfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pinson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pinson

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pinson 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

Pinson 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

Pinson 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 Pinson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pinson

The surname Pinson has its origins in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "pinçon," meaning "finch" or "small bird." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname given to someone with a connection to these birds, perhaps a bird catcher or someone with bird-like characteristics.

The earliest recorded instances of the Pinson surname can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and the Île-de-France region. In these regions, the name was often associated with specific places or localities, leading to variations such as Pinson de Beaumont or Pinson de Rouen.

One notable early reference to the Pinson name can be found in the Rolls of the Exchequer of Normandy, a medieval record of financial transactions and accounts, which mentions a "Robertus Pinson" in the year 1180. This indicates that the name was already established in Normandy by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure bearing the Pinson surname was Nicolas Pinson, a French poet and musician who served as a court poet to Louis IX, the King of France, in the mid-1200s.

Another historical figure of note was Jean Pinson, a French theologian and scholar who lived in the 15th century. He was known for his contributions to the study of canon law and served as the rector of the University of Paris in 1471.

During the Renaissance period, the Pinson family produced several notable artists and intellectuals. One such figure was Richard Pinson, a French painter and engraver active in the early 16th century, whose works were highly regarded in his time.

In the realm of literature, the surname Pinson is associated with Jacques Pinson, a French poet and playwright born in 1550. He was known for his satirical works and contributed to the development of French theater during the late Renaissance.

Throughout the centuries, the Pinson surname has spread beyond France to other parts of Europe and the world, carried by family lines and migration patterns. While the name may have evolved and taken on new meanings in different cultures, its origins remain rooted in the French countryside and the symbolic connection to small birds.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pinson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pinson 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. Staffordshire leads with 223 Pinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.53x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 223 15.53x
Warwickshire 53 4.94x
Kent 27 1.86x
Devon 24 2.71x
Middlesex 20 0.47x
Worcestershire 14 2.52x
Lancashire 12 0.24x
Surrey 10 0.48x
Sussex 9 1.26x
Durham 8 0.63x
Yorkshire 8 0.19x
Shropshire 6 1.63x
Channel Islands 4 3.17x
Lincolnshire 4 0.59x
Berkshire 3 0.94x
Derbyshire 2 0.30x
Essex 2 0.24x
Norfolk 2 0.31x
Northamptonshire 2 0.50x
Gloucestershire 1 0.12x
Hertfordshire 1 0.34x
Somerset 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingswinford in Staffordshire leads with 47 Pinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.18x.

Place Total Index
Kingswinford 47 90.18x
Willenhall 37 137.60x
Walsall Foreign 32 43.15x
Birmingham 30 8.39x
Wolverhampton 18 16.31x
Upper Penn 14 388.89x
Aston 13 4.40x
Cannock 10 39.92x
Essington 10 529.10x
Pelsall 10 234.19x
St Mary Cray 10 361.01x
Brightside Bierlow 8 9.68x
Edgbaston 8 24.06x
Islington London 8 1.94x
Barrow In Furness 7 10.20x
Brighton 7 4.84x
Gateshead 7 7.39x
Tiverton 7 45.90x
Edgmond 6 148.51x
Saredon 6 1538.46x
Stafford St Mary 6 29.53x
Swanscombe 6 92.02x
Hopton Coton 5 246.31x
Kidderminster Borough 5 15.38x
Rugeley 5 48.54x
Wednesfield 5 23.66x
Bermondsey 4 3.16x
Billinghay 4 190.48x
Bilston 4 14.38x
Membury 4 425.53x
Norton Canes 4 76.48x
St Luke London 4 5.86x
Stretford 4 14.40x
Yardley 4 28.15x
Castlemorton 3 275.23x
Northfleet 3 23.47x
Paddington London 3 1.92x
St Helier 3 7.31x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 1.97x
Weybridge 3 67.42x
Crediton 2 23.84x
Exeter St Mary Steps 2 100.00x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 9.87x
Eynsford 2 80.32x
Fulham London 2 3.24x
Grays Thurrock 2 25.64x
Hastings Holy Trinity 2 37.88x
Lambourn 2 63.29x
Moreton Hampstead 2 87.34x
Northampton Priory St 2 8.33x
Ockbrook 2 70.67x
West Bromwich 2 2.43x
Aldenham 1 37.45x
Amblecote 1 24.45x
Bexley 1 7.79x
Camberwell 1 0.37x
Cheltenham 1 1.55x
Cheslyn Hay 1 38.17x
Clapham 1 1.88x
Exeter St David 1 13.23x
Exeter St Kerrian 1 161.29x
Great Wyrley 1 64.10x
Heaton Norris 1 3.48x
Heigham 1 2.85x
Kingsdown In Dartford 1 163.93x
Kintbury 1 40.49x
Lambeth 1 0.27x
Lewisham 1 1.29x
Margate St John Baptist 1 3.76x
Orpington 1 22.52x
Poughill 1 263.16x
Roughton 1 156.25x
Shildon 1 9.83x
St Mary Le Bow London 1 526.32x
St Matthew Friday 1 2000.00x
Tormoham 1 2.67x
Walcot 1 2.74x
Walmer 1 15.85x
Warwick St Mary 1 10.74x
Welland 1 78.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 35
John 23
Thomas 20
Joseph 17
George 14
Henry 13
Charles 12
Edward 11
James 10
Alfred 8
Arthur 6
Harry 4
Albert 3
David 2
Edmund 2
Enoch 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Matthew 2
Neville 2
Percy 2
Robert 2
Clement 1
E. 1
Edgar 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Philip 1
Radi 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Yves 1

FAQ

Pinson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pinson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 433 people were recorded with the Pinson surname. That placed it at #7,531 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pinson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 369 in 2016. That gives Pinson a modern rank of #12,617.

What does the Pinson surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "pine grove" in French, likely referring to someone who lived near pines.

What does the Pinson map show?

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