The Peacock surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 21,712 people carried this name — #1,659 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 13,600 people counted. That is up 3% from 21,106 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Peacock surname

A surname transferred from the nickname.

From peacock, a nickname for a vain and conceited person.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Peacock» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

An early record he cites: Geoffrey Pokoc, Cambridgeshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Peacock and Pycock.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 591 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 9 births for the Peacock name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 400 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 2 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 4
Leinster 2
Munster 2
Connacht 1

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 27 people named Peacock live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Río Negro.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Río Negro 15
Buenos Aires Province 12

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 24 people named Peacock.

Most of them — 22 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 1 département, most often Paris.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 22
Paris 2

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

22 people named Peacock live in Switzerland.

They live in 4 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Basel-Stadt.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Basel-Stadt 6
Vaud 6
Zurich 6
Bern 4

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In the Nordic population registers

40 people named Peacock is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 40

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Peacock was found among the farmers of 9 counties.

It was most frequent in Yorkshire, North and East Ridings: 44 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 227. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Yorkshire, North and East Ridings 44
Durham 23
Sussex 18
Bedfordshire 17
Cambridgeshire 15
Hertfordshire 12
Norfolk 10
Yorkshire, West Riding 9

And 1 more county.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland’s registers today

Peacock was recorded 36 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 700th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 87. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

39 Peacock families were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 200 people lived in those households, 5.1 to a family on average. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

North Carolina 14
Maryland 10
South Carolina 6
New Hampshire 4
New York 3
Pennsylvania 1
Virginia 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 256 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Peacock in American newspapers,
1860–1921.

Newspaper page from Vernon Parish Democrat carrying the name Peacock
Vernon Parish Democrat 1919-07-19
Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name Peacock
Daily Kennebec Journal 1921-06-01
Newspaper page from Springfield Weekly Republican carrying the name Peacock
Springfield Weekly Republican 1860-03-31

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 4,190 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Peacock in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

104,464 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Peacock. The most, 21,017, date from the 1900s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Victoria, at 1.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 33,653
New South Wales 23,545
South Australia 18,722
Queensland 8,730
Western Australia 7,264
Tasmania 6,237
ACT (Canberra) 5,207
Northern Territory 58

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Peacock.

Who carried it

People named Peacock,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Patrick Peacock d. 2022 · lawyer
  • Justin Peacock d. 2023 · lawyer
  • Harry Peacock d. 1976 · conductor
  • James Peacock d. 1653 · military officer
  • Zoe Peacock d. 2007
  • Frances Peacock d. 1737

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Peacock,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,134 records

2,134 records of the Peacock name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 769
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 437
  • Other U.S. records 928
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record John Robert Peacock

    Born 1946; from Kailua, Hawaii. U.S. Marine Corps, pilot vma; declared dead 1972 in North Vietnam. Buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Clyde M. Peacock

    Born 1920 in Missouri. Enlisted 1944 at Fort Lewis, Washington; laundry worker. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2000, buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Oregon.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Maria Peacock

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Berlin from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 18; servant. From Leitrim, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 2,134 records for Peacock in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia2,051 records

2,051 records of the Peacock name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,076
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 353
  • Other Australian records 622
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Thomas Peacock

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Canton, sailing from London in 1839. Native of Yorkshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1852. Married 1852 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 36.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record George Strongborn Peacock

    Died 1875 in Sorell, Tasmania, aged 76. Will registered in Tasmania in 1875.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Ellen Peacock

    Arrived in Victoria in 1858 aboard the Red Jacket, aged 40; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 2,051 records for Peacock in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada150 records

150 records of the Peacock name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 40
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 33
  • Other Canadian records 77
  1. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record George Stephen Peacock

    Served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion in the First World War, r.q.-m. sergt; of Amherst, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Joseph Peacock

    Came to Ontario in 1873 aboard the Circassian, bound for Hamilton, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Aileen Gertrude Peacock

    Buried in 1993 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 92.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 150 records for Peacock in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom112 records

112 records of the Peacock name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 86
  • Stirling Council burial records 9
  • Other British records 17
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Thomas Forbes Peacock

    Buried in 1969 at Callander Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 59.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Henry Peacock

    Buried in 1818 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 57.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Henry Arthur Peacock

    Will proved in 1929; of Swansea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 112 records for Peacock in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Netherlands54 records

54 records of the Peacock name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 27
  • Dutch population registers 15
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 12
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record David Gerardus Peacock

    Married in 1826 in Leeuwarden. Died 1864 in Leeuwarden, aged 64.

    Open Archives, AlleFriezen (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Nina Emlijn Peacock

    Born 1873 in Rheden. Died 1934 in Beilen, aged 60.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Drents Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Anna Catharina Peacock

    Died 1849 in Goes, aged 58; shopkeeper.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 54 records for Peacock in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

New Zealand28 records

28 records of the Peacock name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 24
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 2
  • Other New Zealand records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Oliver Peacock

    Died 1929, aged 85; buried at Addington Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Lawrence William Gavin Peacock

    Buried in 1967 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 55.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record George William Peacock

    Died 1995, aged 73; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 28 records for Peacock in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France6 records

6 records of the Peacock name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Tom Gebson Peacock

    Born 1931 in Great Britain; died 1994 in Argelès-sur-Mer (Pyrénées-Orientales).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jessie Rosemary Peacock

    Born 1917 in the United Kingdom; died 1993 in Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 6 records for Peacock in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Peacock.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Peacock is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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