Find out how popular the last name Peary is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Peary.

Peary, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Peary surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peary in America

Peary is the 53419th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peary surname appeared 387 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Peary.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peary to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Peary

The surname Peary has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "pere," which means pear tree, suggesting that the name was initially used to identify someone who lived near or worked with pear trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Peary can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Peri." This document, a census of landowners in England, provides valuable insight into the distribution and variations of surnames during that period.

The name Peary is also believed to have been influenced by the Norman French word "per," meaning peer or equal. This connection may have been made as the surname evolved over time, reflecting the social status or occupation of those who bore the name.

In the 14th century, the surname Peary appeared in various forms, such as "Pery" and "Perye," in records from Oxfordshire and Somerset. These regional variations suggest that the name was present in different parts of England at that time.

One notable individual with the surname Peary was Sir George Peary (1556-1637), an English politician and landowner from Devon. He served as a Member of Parliament and played a significant role in local affairs during the reign of King James I.

Another prominent figure was John Peary (1639-1694), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Alphege in Canterbury. He is known for his works on theology and his contributions to the Church of England during the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name Peary gained further recognition with John Peary (1725-1805), a British naval officer and explorer. He is remembered for his explorations of the Pacific Ocean and his role in the establishment of British settlements in Australia.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Robert E. Peary (1856-1920), an American explorer and naval officer who is renowned for his expeditions to the Arctic regions. He is credited with being the first person to reach the geographic North Pole, a feat he achieved in 1909.

In the literary world, Mary Peary (1823-1901), an English novelist and poet, gained recognition for her works exploring themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. Her novels, such as "The Rose of Avondale" and "The Cottage by the Mill," were widely read during the Victorian era.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peary

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Peary.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Peary was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Peary has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Peary was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Peary, please contact us.

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