NameCensus.

UK surname

Pires

A Portuguese toponymic surname indicating a person who lived near or originated from a place with pear trees.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pires is 799 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

799

2016, ranked #6,918

Peak year

2016

799 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 799 in 2016, ranked #6,918.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Pires surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pires surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pires 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1891 historical 12 #33,181
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 211 #17,048
1998 modern 236 #16,304
1999 modern 267 #15,097
2000 modern 272 #14,868
2001 modern 269 #14,776
2002 modern 328 #13,186
2003 modern 347 #12,479
2004 modern 376 #11,798
2005 modern 405 #11,078
2006 modern 475 #9,848
2007 modern 520 #9,284
2008 modern 567 #8,761
2009 modern 593 #8,672
2010 modern 660 #8,142
2011 modern 648 #8,171
2012 modern 709 #7,534
2013 modern 761 #7,257
2014 modern 778 #7,159
2015 modern 767 #7,177
2016 modern 799 #6,918

Geography

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Where Pires' 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 Swindon, Brent and Westminster. 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 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Swindon 017 Swindon
3 Brent 004 Brent
4 Westminster 019 Westminster
5 Brent 020 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pires

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pires

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Pires surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Pires household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Pires is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pires 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

Pires 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 Pires is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Pires

The surname Pires is of Portuguese origin, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the ancient Portuguese town of Pires, located in the northern region of the country. The name itself is derived from the Latin word "pirus," meaning "pear tree," suggesting that the first bearers of this surname may have lived near or owned land with pear orchards.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Pires surname can be found in the "Livro de Linhagens" (Book of Lineages), a Portuguese manuscript compiled in the 13th century. This document mentions several individuals with the surname Pires, indicating its presence among the noble families of that era.

During the Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries, many Portuguese explorers and navigators bearing the Pires surname played significant roles in the expansion of the Portuguese Empire. One notable figure was Pedro Álvares Cabral (ca. 1467-1520), a Portuguese navigator who is credited with the discovery of Brazil in 1500.

Another prominent individual with the Pires surname was João Rodrigues Pires (fl. 1520-1530), a Portuguese cartographer and explorer who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his historic voyage around the world. His detailed accounts and maps were instrumental in advancing the knowledge of geography and navigation during that period.

In the realm of literature, the Pires surname is associated with Manuel Pires de Almeida (1628-1698), a Portuguese poet and playwright who was a prominent figure in the 17th-century literary circles of Lisbon. His works, including comedies and religious plays, were widely acclaimed and influential in shaping the literary landscape of his time.

Moving forward to the 19th century, José Joaquim Pires de Carvalho e Albuquerque (1802-1857) was a prominent Portuguese politician and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 1853 to 1856. He played a crucial role in the country's political affairs during a turbulent period in its history.

Another notable figure is Francisco Joaquim Pires (1834-1912), a Portuguese architect and urban planner who designed several iconic buildings and infrastructure projects in Lisbon and other cities. His works, including the Rossio Train Station and the Campo Pequeno Bullring, are considered architectural landmarks and testaments to his expertise.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable individuals associated with the Pires surname, highlighting its longstanding presence in Portuguese society and its contributions to various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Pires surname: questions and answers

How common is the Pires surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 799 in 2016. That gives Pires a modern rank of #6,918.

What does the Pires surname mean?

A Portuguese toponymic surname indicating a person who lived near or originated from a place with pear trees.

What does the Pires map show?

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