NameCensus.

UK surname

Maggs

An English surname likely derived from a medieval nickname for one who is small or short in stature.

In the 1881 census there were 2,004 people recorded with the Maggs surname, ranking it #2,197 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,706, ranked #2,483, down from #2,197 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maggs is 2,968 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.0%.

1881 census count

2,004

Ranked #2,197

Modern count

2,706

2016, ranked #2,483

Peak year

2000

2,968 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maggs had 2,004 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,197 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,706 in 2016, ranked #2,483.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,902 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Maggs surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maggs surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Maggs 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 1,279 #2,235
1861 historical 1,262 #2,261
1881 historical 2,004 #2,197
1891 historical 2,141 #2,178
1901 historical 2,555 #2,152
1911 historical 2,902 #1,797
1997 modern 2,872 #2,245
1998 modern 2,928 #2,301
1999 modern 2,954 #2,292
2000 modern 2,968 #2,270
2001 modern 2,901 #2,270
2002 modern 2,944 #2,290
2003 modern 2,861 #2,296
2004 modern 2,843 #2,314
2005 modern 2,796 #2,323
2006 modern 2,803 #2,323
2007 modern 2,783 #2,354
2008 modern 2,801 #2,355
2009 modern 2,831 #2,389
2010 modern 2,830 #2,430
2011 modern 2,825 #2,404
2012 modern 2,716 #2,445
2013 modern 2,796 #2,431
2014 modern 2,816 #2,428
2015 modern 2,758 #2,450
2016 modern 2,706 #2,483

Geography

Back to top

Where Maggs' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
4 Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton Somerset
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 023 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Bath and North East Somerset 025 Bath and North East Somerset
3 Bath and North East Somerset 026 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Bath and North East Somerset 027 Bath and North East Somerset
5 South Gloucestershire 016 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Maggs

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Maggs

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Maggs 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

Maggs is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Maggs falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Maggs is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Maggs

The surname Maggs has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "magga," which means "maggot" or "grub." This nickname was likely given to someone who was considered small or insignificant, perhaps a young boy or a person of diminutive stature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Maggs can be found in the parish records of St. Michael's Church in Coventry, Warwickshire, where a certain Thomas Maggs was christened in 1592. The name also appears in various documents from the 17th and 18th centuries, indicating its prevalence in the Midlands region of England.

In the late 17th century, a family by the name of Maggs settled in the village of Stratton St. Margaret in Wiltshire. This family produced several notable individuals, including John Maggs (1690-1756), a respected farmer and landowner, and his son, William Maggs (1719-1794), who served as the village constable.

Another prominent figure bearing the Maggs surname was Sir John Maggs (1801-1879), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Bristol. He made his fortune in the West Indies trade and later became a Member of Parliament for Newtown, Isle of Wight. Sir John Maggs was also a generous benefactor, contributing to the construction of several churches and schools in the Bristol area.

In the literary world, one cannot overlook the contributions of Charles Maggs (1855-1931), a renowned antiquarian bookseller from London. His bookshop, Maggs Bros. Ltd., was a favorite haunt of bibliophiles and collectors from around the globe. Charles Maggs was also a prolific writer, publishing numerous catalogs and articles on rare books and manuscripts.

Another notable figure was Sir John Maggs (1865-1942), a British Army officer who served with distinction in the Second Boer War and World War I. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

While the surname Maggs may have originated from a humble nickname, it has been borne by individuals who have made their mark in various fields, from agriculture and politics to literature and military service. Despite its modest beginnings, the name Maggs has become a part of the rich tapestry of English history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Maggs families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maggs 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. Gloucestershire leads with 554 Maggs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.43x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 554 14.43x
Somerset 548 17.39x
Middlesex 167 0.85x
Monmouthshire 129 9.11x
Glamorgan 98 2.87x
Wiltshire 98 5.66x
Surrey 61 0.64x
Hampshire 38 0.95x
Norfolk 38 1.26x
Durham 35 0.60x
Worcestershire 34 1.33x
Lancashire 25 0.11x
Staffordshire 23 0.35x
Yorkshire 22 0.11x
Berkshire 21 1.43x
Dorset 19 1.48x
Kent 14 0.21x
Cheshire 13 0.30x
Brecknockshire 11 2.81x
Devon 11 0.27x
Sussex 11 0.33x
Derbyshire 8 0.26x
Essex 8 0.21x
Royal Navy 3 1.29x
Herefordshire 2 0.25x
Lincolnshire 2 0.06x
Oxfordshire 2 0.17x
Renfrewshire 2 0.13x
Suffolk 2 0.08x
Warwickshire 2 0.04x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.12x
Cornwall 1 0.05x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.26x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Northamptonshire 1 0.05x
Shropshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Midsomer Norton in Somerset leads with 146 Maggs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 491.75x.

Place Total Index
Midsomer Norton 146 491.75x
Winterbourne 124 584.35x
Bristol St George 101 56.87x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 87 24.07x
Trevethin 54 40.40x
Bedminster 53 17.90x
Clifton 53 27.30x
Bristol St James In 34 60.21x
Lyncombe Widcombe 31 37.57x
Clutton 29 423.98x
Paulton 27 187.11x
Lambeth 26 1.52x
Stapleton 26 35.69x
Walcot 25 14.90x
Bristol St James St Paul 24 18.75x
Islington London 23 1.21x
St Marylebone London 23 2.20x
Bedwellty 21 8.40x
Reading St Giles 20 13.87x
Paddington London 18 2.50x
Twerton 18 55.38x
Bristol St Paul In 17 16.62x
Dudley 17 5.47x
Dunkerton 16 234.26x
Bath St Michael 15 94.22x
Farrington Gurney 15 416.67x
Easton In Gordano 14 110.32x
Ystradyfodwg 14 4.68x
Bath St James 13 39.55x
Bethnal Green London 13 1.53x
Cardiff St John 13 11.67x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 13 48.17x
Wolverhampton 13 2.56x
Shoreditch London 12 1.41x
Southampton St Mary 12 4.76x
Fittleton 11 472.10x
Potterne Marston 11 990.99x
Feltwell Feltwell Anchor 10 182.48x
Hastings St Leonards 10 20.61x
High Littleton 10 192.68x
Kensington London 10 0.92x
Llandaff 10 8.82x
Melksham 10 33.27x
Portsea 10 1.27x
Shepton Mallet 10 28.28x
St Woollos 10 6.33x
Aberdare 9 3.85x
Bourton 9 160.14x
Cameley 9 254.96x
Chew Stoke 9 193.13x
Dawdon 9 12.56x
Frampton Cotterell 9 66.77x
Limehouse London 9 4.19x
Llanhilleth 9 96.77x
Swansea Town 9 3.22x
Timsbury 9 94.24x
Westbury On Trym 9 6.92x
Ince In Makerfield 8 7.40x
Llanelly 8 17.08x
Newington 8 1.11x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 8 40.94x
Rock 8 78.35x
Stanton Prior 8 1194.03x
Swansea St Thomas 8 23.36x
Tranmere 8 5.04x
Brancepeth 7 66.16x
Bristol St Augustine 7 11.30x
Bristol St Peter 7 50.98x
Chelsea London 7 1.19x
Clapham 7 2.86x
Hackney London 7 0.64x
Llanwonno 7 5.71x
Norwich St Michael At 7 40.09x
Rollestone 7 3333.33x
Swansea Higher 7 19.71x
Bitton 6 17.95x
Camerton 6 65.43x
Durnford 6 199.34x
Hetton Le Hole 6 8.13x
St Anne Soho London 6 5.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 117
Elizabeth 84
Sarah 67
Eliza 44
Ann 41
Alice 37
Emma 34
Jane 32
Martha 29
Emily 26
Ellen 24
Annie 20
Harriet 20
Louisa 20
Clara 19
Edith 16
Maria 16
Ada 15
Charlotte 13
Florence 13
Amelia 11
Hannah 11
Julia 11
Caroline 9
Kate 9
Susan 9
Fanny 8
Minnie 7
Anne 6
Bessie 6
Harriett 6
Rebecca 6
Rosa 6
Rose 6
Blanche 5
Catherine 5
Esther 5
Frances 5
Laura 5
Matilda 5
Agnes 4
Beatrice 4
Bertha 4
Elizth. 4
Gertrude 4
Lydia 4
Margaret 4
Selina 4
Sophia 4
Susannah 4

Top male names

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

FAQ

Maggs surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maggs surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,004 people were recorded with the Maggs surname. That placed it at #2,197 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maggs surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,706 in 2016. That gives Maggs a modern rank of #2,483.

What does the Maggs surname mean?

An English surname likely derived from a medieval nickname for one who is small or short in stature.

What does the Maggs map show?

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