NameCensus.

UK surname

Pullar

A locational surname for someone residing near a small pool or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 389 people recorded with the Pullar surname, ranking it #8,122 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 504, ranked #9,938, down from #8,122 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Forfar, Little Dunkeld and Methven. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lunan, Kennoway and Bonnybank and Methil Methilhill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pullar is 517 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.6%.

1881 census count

389

Ranked #8,122

Modern count

504

2016, ranked #9,938

Peak year

1999

517 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pullar had 389 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,122 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 504 in 2016, ranked #9,938.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 476 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Pullar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pullar surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pullar 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 347 #6,781
1861 historical 329 #7,748
1881 historical 389 #8,122
1891 historical 402 #8,842
1901 historical 476 #8,356
1911 historical 131 #19,404
1997 modern 478 #9,627
1998 modern 510 #9,448
1999 modern 517 #9,427
2000 modern 513 #9,441
2001 modern 489 #9,629
2002 modern 497 #9,684
2003 modern 485 #9,701
2004 modern 494 #9,589
2005 modern 504 #9,393
2006 modern 498 #9,512
2007 modern 502 #9,538
2008 modern 512 #9,470
2009 modern 500 #9,862
2010 modern 507 #9,947
2011 modern 498 #9,982
2012 modern 504 #9,803
2013 modern 495 #10,093
2014 modern 507 #9,981
2015 modern 499 #10,021
2016 modern 504 #9,938

Geography

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Where Pullars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Forfar, Little Dunkeld, Methven, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lunan, Kennoway and Bonnybank, Methil Methilhill, Law and Leslie and Newcastle. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Forfar Forfar
2 Little Dunkeld Perth
3 Methven Perth
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lunan Angus
2 Kennoway and Bonnybank Fife
3 Methil Methilhill Fife
4 Law Dundee City
5 Leslie and Newcastle Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pullar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pullar

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Pullar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Pullar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pullar 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

Pullar is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pullar 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pullar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pullar

The surname Pullar originated in Scotland during the late medieval period, believed to have derived from the Old French word "pullen" meaning a young fowl or chicken. It is thought to have been an occupational surname, initially given to those who raised or tended to poultry.

The earliest recorded use of the name Pullar can be traced back to the early 15th century in the Scottish Highlands, specifically in the regions of Perthshire and Angus. Historical records show instances of the name being spelled as "Pullar", "Pullair", and "Pullen" during this time.

One notable mention of the name Pullar is found in the "Book of the Thanes of Cawdor", a 16th-century manuscript detailing the history of the Campbells of Cawdor. The document references a "John Pullar" who was a tenant farmer on the Cawdor estates in the year 1512.

The name Pullar is also linked to several place names in Scotland, such as Pullar's Burn in Kinross-shire and Pullar's Field in Perthshire, suggesting that individuals with this surname had established settlements or landholdings in these areas.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Pullar was Robert Pullar, born in 1660 in Methven, Perthshire. He was a prominent merchant and landowner, known for his involvement in the local wool trade.

Another notable figure was William Pullar (1789-1870), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Perthshire. He founded the Pullar Dyeworks, which became a significant employer in the region during the 19th century.

In the literary world, Edith Pullar (1875-1956), a Scottish novelist and poet, gained recognition for her works such as "The Twa Travellers" and "The Beechwoods".

Sir Nigel Pullar (1904-1996), a British businessman and public servant, was knighted for his contributions to the textile industry and his role as the Chairman of the British Wool Marketing Board.

Lastly, Alastair Pullar (1921-2004), a Scottish engineer and inventor, is known for his contributions to the development of radar technology during World War II and his work in the field of electronics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pullar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pullar 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. Perthshire leads with 127 Pullars recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.15x.

County Total Index
Perthshire 127 75.15x
Angus 99 28.38x
Fife 34 15.25x
Lanarkshire 18 1.48x
Middlesex 15 0.40x
Midlothian 11 2.18x
Renfrewshire 11 3.77x
Surrey 11 0.60x
Lancashire 8 0.18x
Clackmannanshire 7 22.51x
Stirlingshire 7 5.04x
Durham 6 0.54x
Gloucestershire 6 0.81x
Inverness-shire 5 4.45x
Cheshire 3 0.36x
Morayshire 3 5.13x
Oxfordshire 3 1.29x
Dunbartonshire 2 1.98x
Essex 2 0.27x
Wiltshire 2 0.60x
Yorkshire 2 0.05x
Hampshire 1 0.13x
Kent 1 0.08x
Somerset 1 0.17x
Worcestershire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 44 Pullars recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.79x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 44 33.79x
Perth East Church 23 144.38x
Liff Benvie 19 35.88x
St Andrews 19 187.38x
Perth West Church 15 187.03x
Kinnoull 10 225.23x
Little Dunkeld 9 313.59x
Methven 9 362.90x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 3.94x
Logie 8 132.01x
Tannadice 8 493.83x
Airth 7 397.73x
Auchtergaven 7 247.35x
Clapham 7 14.87x
Dollar 7 217.39x
Govan 7 2.32x
St Pancras London 7 2.31x
Strathmartine 7 451.61x
Barton Upon Irwell 6 17.84x
Cargill 6 340.91x
Cheltenham 6 10.53x
Crieff 6 95.54x
Madderty 6 882.35x
Maryhill 6 25.17x
Ardoch 5 352.11x
Ceres 5 186.57x
Dunkeld Dowally 5 892.86x
Dysart 5 33.31x
Forfar 5 26.47x
Kingussie Insh 5 193.80x
Montrose 5 23.65x
Perth Middle Church 5 78.62x
Barony 4 1.30x
Inverkip 4 58.14x
Limehouse London 4 9.68x
Stracathro 4 634.92x
Abbey 3 6.74x
Bishop Auckland 3 19.96x
Camberwell 3 1.25x
Holmside 3 108.70x
Kirriemuir 3 34.84x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 3 108.70x
Perth St Pauls 3 76.73x
Tranmere 3 9.82x
Alyth 2 43.96x
Dunfermline 2 5.84x
Durnford 2 344.83x
Edinburgh St Marys 2 20.39x
Forres 2 32.52x
Longforgan 2 83.68x
Meigle 2 158.73x
New Kilpatrick 2 20.77x
Paisley Low Church 2 21.65x
St Andrew Holborn 2 15.66x
Tibbermore 2 82.64x
West Ham 2 1.22x
Windle 2 7.96x
Aldershot 1 3.87x
Auchterhouse 1 116.28x
Charlcombe 1 125.00x
Dover Castle 1 107.53x
Eassie Nevay 1 138.89x
East Greenock 1 3.63x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 8.38x
Elgin 1 8.79x
Elie 1 113.64x
Garforth 1 34.97x
Glamis 1 47.62x
Gorbals 1 13.83x
Hallow 1 41.49x
Kilmalcolm 1 28.57x
Kinnaird 1 294.12x
Leeds 1 0.47x
Leuchars 1 35.46x
Markinch 1 13.21x
Newington 1 0.72x
Paddington London 1 0.72x
Redgorton 1 53.19x
Tealing 1 102.04x
Tottenham 1 1.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 5
John 4
David 3
James 3
Joseph 2
Alex 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Charles 1
Edgar 1
Fedrach 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Horace 1
Lawrence 1
Robert 1
Rufus 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Pullar households.

FAQ

Pullar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pullar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 389 people were recorded with the Pullar surname. That placed it at #8,122 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pullar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 504 in 2016. That gives Pullar a modern rank of #9,938.

What does the Pullar surname mean?

A locational surname for someone residing near a small pool or stream.

What does the Pullar map show?

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