NameCensus.

UK surname

Machon

A surname derived from the Hebrew word for "shelter" or "refuge".

In the 1881 census there were 242 people recorded with the Machon surname, ranking it #11,333 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 355, ranked #13,020, down from #11,333 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barkway, London parishes and Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, North East Lincolnshire and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Machon is 370 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.7%.

1881 census count

242

Ranked #11,333

Modern count

355

2016, ranked #13,020

Peak year

2013

370 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Machon had 242 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,333 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 355 in 2016, ranked #13,020.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 293 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Machon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Machon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Machon 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 214 #9,898
1861 historical 175 #13,409
1881 historical 242 #11,333
1891 historical 253 #12,645
1901 historical 281 #12,167
1911 historical 293 #11,650
1997 modern 309 #13,268
1998 modern 319 #13,330
1999 modern 321 #13,362
2000 modern 327 #13,164
2001 modern 329 #12,921
2002 modern 332 #13,090
2003 modern 315 #13,384
2004 modern 331 #12,973
2005 modern 337 #12,738
2006 modern 349 #12,473
2007 modern 351 #12,571
2008 modern 336 #13,095
2009 modern 346 #13,075
2010 modern 353 #13,156
2011 modern 344 #13,249
2012 modern 364 #12,564
2013 modern 370 #12,626
2014 modern 363 #12,908
2015 modern 356 #13,009
2016 modern 355 #13,020

Geography

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Where Machons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barkway, London parishes, Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton), Sheffield and West Ham,Wanstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, North East Lincolnshire and Sheffield. 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 Barkway Hertfordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 West Ham,Wanstead Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 005 Rotherham
2 Rotherham 006 Rotherham
3 Rotherham 008 Rotherham
4 North East Lincolnshire 020 North East Lincolnshire
5 Sheffield 032 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Machon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Machon

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Machon, 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 Machon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Machon 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, Machon 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

Machon is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Machon falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Machon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Machon

The surname Machon has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "machon," which means "mason" or "stone worker." This suggests that the name was originally an occupational surname given to those who worked as stonemasons or builders.

Historically, the surname Machon was most prevalent in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire in northern England. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1176, where a person named Adam Machon is mentioned.

In the 13th century, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include references to individuals with the surname Machon living in various parts of England, such as William Machon in Oxfordshire and Robert Machon in Cambridgeshire.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct mentions of the surname Machon. However, it is possible that some of the entries for individuals with occupational surnames related to masonry or construction may have been early ancestors of those who later adopted the surname Machon.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Machon was Sir John Machon, a prominent English military commander who lived during the 14th century. He served under King Edward III and participated in the Hundred Years' War against France, distinguishing himself in battles such as Crécy in 1346 and Poitiers in 1356.

Another notable figure with the surname Machon was Thomas Machon, a 16th-century English scholar and author. Born in Yorkshire around 1490, he was educated at Cambridge University and later became a fellow of St. John's College. Machon is known for his Latin translations of ancient Greek texts and his commentary on the works of Aristotle.

In the 17th century, Robert Machon (1591-1663) was a prominent Puritan minister and preacher in the Church of England. He served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, and was known for his religious writings and sermons.

During the 18th century, John Machon (1724-1809) was a respected English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Assembly Rooms in Bath and the Pump Room in Harrogate.

Another notable individual with the surname Machon was Sir Edward Machon (1807-1892), a British civil engineer and surveyor. He was involved in the construction of several major railway lines in England and served as the president of the Institution of Civil Engineers from 1871 to 1873.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Machon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Machon 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. Channel Islands leads with 131 Machons recorded in 1881 and an index of 121.18x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 131 121.18x
Yorkshire 104 2.88x
Hertfordshire 15 5.96x
Lincolnshire 14 2.40x
Kent 12 0.96x
Derbyshire 11 1.93x
Radnorshire 10 33.98x
Surrey 10 0.56x
Middlesex 9 0.25x
Gloucestershire 8 1.12x
Angus 7 2.07x
Durham 7 0.64x
Essex 7 0.97x
Warwickshire 7 0.76x
Glamorgan 6 0.94x
East Lothian 4 8.28x
Lanarkshire 3 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.43x
Cheshire 1 0.12x
Devon 1 0.13x
Dunbartonshire 1 1.02x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Leicestershire 1 0.25x
Renfrewshire 1 0.35x
Royal Navy 1 2.30x
West Lothian 1 1.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Peter Port in Channel Islands leads with 46 Machons recorded in 1881 and an index of 230.00x.

Place Total Index
St Peter Port 46 230.00x
Sheffield 29 25.20x
St Helier 27 76.73x
Rawmarsh 21 164.45x
Trinity 17 680.00x
Kimberworth 15 74.78x
Nantmel 10 649.35x
Woolwich 10 21.74x
St Saviour 9 150.50x
Bristol St Stephen 8 430.11x
Camberwell 8 3.43x
St Martin 8 120.85x
Birmingham 7 2.28x
Nether Hallam 7 14.31x
St Botolph Lincoln 7 167.06x
St Sampson 7 143.74x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 8.16x
Grouville 6 199.34x
St Lawrence 6 203.39x
Barley 5 641.03x
Derby St Peter 5 27.49x
Garforth 5 180.51x
Mile End Old Town 5 8.68x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 23.60x
Burgh Upon Bain 4 1904.76x
Eckington 4 28.82x
Haddington 4 56.10x
Holy Trinity 4 4.60x
Liff Benvie 4 7.80x
Wombwell 4 37.95x
Anstey 3 612.24x
Cwmdu 3 38.76x
Dewsbury 3 8.09x
Glasgow 3 1.43x
Rand 3 3750.00x
Walthamstow 3 11.57x
Ware 3 41.61x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 2 5.94x
Batley 2 5.82x
Bishopwearmouth 2 2.15x
Cottingham 2 25.67x
Ecclesfield 2 7.54x
Monifieth 2 16.75x
Saffron Walden 2 26.28x
Shoreditch London 2 1.26x
St Maryde Castro 2 75.19x
Swansea Town 2 3.84x
Whitwell 2 88.11x
Barkway 1 101.01x
Blackburn 1 0.87x
Boness 1 13.21x
Brentwood 1 22.78x
Dorking 1 8.38x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 1 9.92x
Epping 1 34.13x
Flamstead 1 43.10x
Greenwich 1 1.72x
Higher Bebington 1 19.38x
Hitchin 1 8.81x
Inverarity 1 91.74x
Islington London 1 0.28x
Kirkleatham 1 20.49x
Lee 1 5.53x
Leeds 1 0.49x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.01x
New Kilpatrick 1 10.72x
Penge 1 4.29x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.71x
Royal Navy 1 2.69x
St Brelade 1 35.97x
St Clement 1 60.98x
St Peterinthe Wood 1 68.03x
Swansea 1 140.85x
Therfield 1 68.03x
West Greenock 1 1.97x
Whitechapel London 1 2.78x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Machon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Machon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 242 people were recorded with the Machon surname. That placed it at #11,333 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Machon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 355 in 2016. That gives Machon a modern rank of #13,020.

What does the Machon surname mean?

A surname derived from the Hebrew word for "shelter" or "refuge".

What does the Machon map show?

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