NameCensus.

UK surname

Mabb

An Arabic surname derived from a nickname referring to someone important or distinguished.

In the 1881 census there were 162 people recorded with the Mabb surname, ranking it #14,746 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 174, ranked #21,466, down from #14,746 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barming, Lamberhurst and Otford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashford, Hastings and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mabb is 210 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.4%.

1881 census count

162

Ranked #14,746

Modern count

174

2016, ranked #21,466

Peak year

1901

210 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mabb had 162 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,746 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016, ranked #21,466.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 210 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Mabb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mabb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mabb 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 98 #17,383
1861 historical 149 #15,373
1881 historical 162 #14,746
1891 historical 197 #15,101
1901 historical 210 #14,677
1911 historical 194 #15,250
1997 modern 179 #18,889
1998 modern 182 #19,162
1999 modern 172 #20,009
2000 modern 169 #20,199
2001 modern 163 #20,372
2002 modern 162 #20,839
2003 modern 150 #21,669
2004 modern 142 #22,573
2005 modern 135 #23,297
2006 modern 135 #23,486
2007 modern 135 #23,824
2008 modern 148 #22,627
2009 modern 157 #22,271
2010 modern 159 #22,577
2011 modern 168 #21,563
2012 modern 168 #21,516
2013 modern 171 #21,654
2014 modern 172 #21,731
2015 modern 175 #21,372
2016 modern 174 #21,466

Geography

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Where Mabbs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barming, Lamberhurst, Otford, Southampton St Mary and Melcombe Regis. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashford, Hastings and Medway. 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 Barming Kent
2 Lamberhurst Sussex
3 Otford Kent
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Melcombe Regis Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashford 008 Ashford
2 Hastings 010 Hastings
3 Ashford 005 Ashford
4 Medway 018 Medway
5 Ashford 014 Ashford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mabb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mabb

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Mabb surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mabb household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mabb 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

Mabb is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mabb falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mabb 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mabb

The surname MABB is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. Some historians suggest that the name may have derived from the Old English word "mæbbe," which means a kinsman or relative. It's possible that the name was initially used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who had a close family connection or resemblance to another individual.

One of the earliest recorded references to the MABB surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, a historical record of land ownership and taxation from 1273. The document mentions a certain William Mabb residing in the village of Caddington during that time period. This suggests that the MABB family had established roots in the English countryside by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the MABB surname appeared in various legal documents and manorial records across different counties in England. For instance, a John Mabb was listed as a landowner in the village of Sutton, Bedfordshire, in the 1327 Lay Subsidy Rolls. Similarly, a Richard Mabb was recorded as a taxpayer in the 1379 Poll Tax returns for the county of Norfolk.

During the 16th century, the MABB surname gained further prominence, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was William Mabb, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, who lived from around 1520 to 1590. Another was John Mabb, a churchman and author who served as the Vicar of Stratton in Cornwall between 1573 and 1620.

In the 17th century, the MABB surname continued to spread across various regions of England. One noteworthy individual was Thomas Mabb, a clergyman who served as the Rector of Standon in Hertfordshire from 1638 until his death in 1674. Additionally, the Mabb family had established a presence in the county of Sussex, with records indicating that a Robert Mabb was a landowner in the village of Petworth in the 1670s.

As the centuries progressed, the MABB surname experienced various spelling variations, including Mabbe, Mabe, and Mabbs. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the interpretations of scribes who recorded the name in official documents. Despite these variations, the core surname has maintained its distinct identity throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mabb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mabb 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. Kent leads with 39 Mabbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.37x.

County Total Index
Kent 39 7.37x
Dorset 34 33.40x
Sussex 30 11.47x
Hampshire 23 7.24x
Middlesex 11 0.71x
Yorkshire 5 0.33x
Essex 4 1.31x
Lancashire 4 0.22x
Somerset 4 1.60x
Glamorgan 3 1.11x
Royal Navy 1 5.41x
Surrey 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Melcombe Regis in Dorset leads with 17 Mabbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 402.84x.

Place Total Index
Melcombe Regis 17 402.84x
Wadhurst 15 872.09x
Southampton St Mary 11 55.03x
Portsea 10 16.05x
Burham 8 1095.89x
Lamberhurst 8 1212.12x
Bridport 7 333.33x
Brenchley 6 317.46x
Salehurst 6 530.97x
St Marylebone London 6 7.25x
Maidstone 5 31.73x
Hinton St George 4 1111.11x
South Weald 4 152.67x
Weymouth 4 207.25x
Chalk 3 1666.67x
Hollingbourn 3 491.80x
Holy Trinity St Mary 3 128.21x
Neath 3 54.64x
Oldham 3 5.05x
Sittingbourne 3 71.77x
Tonbridge 3 15.72x
Buckland In Dover 2 114.29x
Chickerell 2 465.12x
Horsemonden 2 259.74x
Patrington 2 273.97x
Rochester St Margaret 2 35.84x
Wyke Regis 2 136.99x
Alverstoke 1 8.69x
Bradpole 1 120.48x
Brighton 1 1.90x
Burton Bradstock 1 200.00x
Chelsea London 1 2.14x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.73x
Croydon 1 2.38x
Greenwich 1 4.05x
Paddington London 1 1.75x
Royal Navy 1 6.33x
Sevenoaks 1 23.31x
Southampton 1 400.00x
St Clement Danes 1 39.84x
Wavertree 1 16.98x
Westminster St John 1 5.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 11
William 11
Alfred 7
John 7
Joseph 6
Albert 4
Henry 4
Charles 3
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Jabez 2
James 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Adolphus 1
Alex. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Fredk. 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Mabb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mabb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 162 people were recorded with the Mabb surname. That placed it at #14,746 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mabb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016. That gives Mabb a modern rank of #21,466.

What does the Mabb surname mean?

An Arabic surname derived from a nickname referring to someone important or distinguished.

What does the Mabb map show?

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