NameCensus.

UK surname

Maas

A Dutch toponymic surname indicating an origin near a body of water, such as a river or lake.

In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Maas surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 226, ranked #18,044, up from #23,670 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Willesden and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Elie Colinsburgh and Largoward, Trafford and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maas is 228 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 222.9%.

1881 census count

70

Ranked #23,670

Modern count

226

2016, ranked #18,044

Peak year

2015

228 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maas had 70 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,670 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016, ranked #18,044.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 115 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Maas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maas surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maas 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 24 #29,038
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 70 #23,670
1891 historical 107 #22,967
1901 historical 115 #21,050
1911 historical 108 #21,736
1997 modern 174 #19,231
1998 modern 180 #19,298
1999 modern 186 #19,073
2000 modern 190 #18,806
2001 modern 180 #19,161
2002 modern 197 #18,474
2003 modern 179 #19,416
2004 modern 166 #20,441
2005 modern 169 #20,153
2006 modern 166 #20,534
2007 modern 172 #20,321
2008 modern 178 #20,094
2009 modern 188 #19,797
2010 modern 194 #19,819
2011 modern 196 #19,538
2012 modern 215 #18,304
2013 modern 226 #17,969
2014 modern 227 #18,029
2015 modern 228 #17,899
2016 modern 226 #18,044

Geography

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Where Maas' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Willesden, St Pancras, Ealing, Chiswick and Margate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Elie Colinsburgh and Largoward, Trafford, Wirral and Tendring. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Margate Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Elie Colinsburgh and Largoward Fife
2 Trafford 007 Trafford
3 Trafford 017 Trafford
4 Wirral 042 Wirral
5 Tendring 009 Tendring

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maas

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maas

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Maas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Maas household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Maas 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

Maas 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

Maas 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 Maas is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Maas

The surname MAAS has its origins in the Netherlands and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old Dutch word "maes," which referred to a meadow or grassy field. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to denote someone who lived near or owned such a meadow.

In the early records, the name appears with various spellings, such as Maes, Maes, and Maesse, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic variations of the time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Oorkondenboek van Holland en Zeeland, a collection of historical documents from the 13th century, where a certain Wilhelmus Maes is mentioned.

The name MAAS gained prominence in the Netherlands during the Renaissance period, and several notable individuals bore this surname. One such figure was Dirck Maas (1535-1615), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his landscapes and portraits. Another was Philips Maas (1585-1650), a Dutch engraver and printmaker who worked in the Baroque style.

In the 17th century, the name MAAS also appeared in various European countries due to migration and trade. For instance, in England, there are records of a William Maas (1612-1688), a merchant and landowner from London. Similarly, in Germany, there was Johann Maas (1649-1726), a Lutheran theologian and author from Saxony.

As the Dutch colonial empire expanded, the name MAAS traveled across the globe. One notable example is Nicolaas Maas (1786-1858), a Dutch-born soldier and colonial administrator who served as the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) from 1844 to 1848.

Throughout its history, the surname MAAS has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, merchants, and military leaders. While its origins can be traced back to the Netherlands, the name has since spread across the world, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural exchanges of the past centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maas families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maas 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. Middlesex leads with 30 Maas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.39x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 30 4.39x
Kent 14 6.01x
Surrey 7 2.10x
Yorkshire 6 0.89x
Staffordshire 4 1.74x
Sussex 3 2.61x
Wiltshire 3 4.97x
Lancashire 2 0.25x
Warwickshire 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 9 Maas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.60x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 9 13.60x
St Pancras London 8 14.56x
Lewisham 6 48.31x
Deptford St Paul 5 27.82x
Middlesbrough 5 56.75x
Camberwell 4 9.17x
Handsworth 4 70.42x
Hampstead London 3 28.22x
Hastings St Mary In The 3 121.95x
Mile End Old Town 3 27.83x
Swindon 3 64.10x
Clerkenwell London 2 12.41x
Fulham London 2 20.20x
Tonbridge 2 23.81x
Birmingham 1 1.74x
Clapham 1 11.71x
Holy Trinity 1 6.15x
Lambeth 1 1.68x
Liverpool 1 2.03x
Manchester 1 2.75x
Rotherhithe 1 11.85x
St George Bloomsbury 1 25.51x
St Lawrence 1 62.50x
St Marylebone London 1 2.74x
Westminster St 1 39.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 3
Florence 3
Elizabeth 2
Mary 2
Rosa 2
Anne 1
Augusta 1
Bessy 1
Cecilia 1
Christine 1
Clara 1
Dina 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Heldrig 1
Hilda 1
L. 1
Luicette 1
Margaret 1
Marie 1
Netty 1
Pauline 1
Sofie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 4
Francis 2
J. 2
Joseph 2
Walter 2
A. 1
Albert 1
August 1
Clement 1
D. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Herman 1
Hermann 1
Hugh 1
Jacob 1
Lawrence 1
Leopard 1
Manfred 1
Maurice 1
Perry 1
Robert 1
Saidor 1
Sigismund 1
Theodor 1
Victor 1
William 1

FAQ

Maas surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maas surname in 1881?

In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Maas surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016. That gives Maas a modern rank of #18,044.

What does the Maas surname mean?

A Dutch toponymic surname indicating an origin near a body of water, such as a river or lake.

What does the Maas map show?

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