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Origins of the Pearson surname

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What does the name Pearson mean?

The Pearson surname originates in England, where it is believed to have Anglo-Norman roots and has spread throughout Britain. Pearson is a patronymic name, given to those who are the son or descendant of Pierre or Piers (early forms of Peter), and has been discovered in records as early as the 1300s.

Alternative variations of the name Pearson

Pearson, Pierson, Peerson, Pearsone, Pearsan

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Where do most Pearsons live?

In 1921, most Pearsons lived in Yorkshire.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Pearsons

How common is your surname?

88th most common surname in the UK

We have 357,000 records for the Pearson surname. The oldest one dates back to 1264.

Who were Pearsons most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Johnsons

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Pearsons.

What are the most common Pearson first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Pearson family members

Common jobs for Pearsons

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Pearsons in 1921
Dressmaker

1,483

Cotton Weaver

928

Domestic Servant

773

General Servant Domestic

675

Housekeeper

594

Common Male occupations for Pearsons in 1921
Coal Miner

1,660

General Labourer

1,139

Agricultural Labourer

1,027

Farmer

1,025

Joiner

818

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Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 560,000 family trees with the Pearson surname

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