NameCensus.

UK surname

Maier

A German occupational surname referring to a steward, bailiff, or administrator of a farm or estate.

In the 1881 census there were 30 people recorded with the Maier surname, ranking it #29,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 231, ranked #17,764, up from #29,363 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Chichester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maier is 231 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 670.0%.

1881 census count

30

Ranked #29,363

Modern count

231

2016, ranked #17,764

Peak year

2016

231 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maier had 30 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,363 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016, ranked #17,764.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 86 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Maier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maier surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maier 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 19 #31,470
1881 historical 30 #29,363
1891 historical 55 #29,744
1901 historical 72 #26,162
1911 historical 86 #24,243
1997 modern 122 #23,917
1998 modern 144 #22,221
1999 modern 157 #21,201
2000 modern 174 #19,829
2001 modern 170 #19,838
2002 modern 158 #21,178
2003 modern 172 #19,893
2004 modern 166 #20,441
2005 modern 169 #20,153
2006 modern 177 #19,738
2007 modern 180 #19,745
2008 modern 189 #19,315
2009 modern 194 #19,398
2010 modern 209 #18,893
2011 modern 208 #18,783
2012 modern 216 #18,251
2013 modern 219 #18,385
2014 modern 222 #18,355
2015 modern 220 #18,346
2016 modern 231 #17,764

Geography

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Where Maiers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Chichester, Bromley and Christchurch. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hammersmith and Fulham 010 Hammersmith and Fulham
2 Kensington and Chelsea 016 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Chichester 003 Chichester
4 Bromley 037 Bromley
5 Christchurch 003 Christchurch

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maier

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Maier, 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 Maier surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Maier 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, Maier 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

Maier 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

Maier 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 Maier 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Maier

The surname Maier originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Meier," which referred to a bailiff or farm manager who oversaw agricultural workers on a feudal estate. The name is closely related to the English word "mayor," which stems from the same Latin root, "maior," meaning "larger" or "greater."

The earliest known records of the Maier surname date back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. It was often spelled as "Meier," "Meyer," or "Mayer" in historical documents from this era.

One notable early reference to the name can be found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis," a collection of historical records from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, which mentions a "Henricus Meier" in the year 1284.

During the Middle Ages, the Maier surname was often associated with individuals who held positions of authority or management in rural areas, reflecting the occupation of a bailiff or farm overseer. As the name became more widespread, it was adopted by families across various social classes.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the Maier surname. One example is Johann Friedrich Maier (1708-1766), a German composer and music theorist who made significant contributions to the development of early Classical music.

Another prominent figure was Konrad Maier (1828-1888), a German entrepreneur and industrialist who founded the Maier-Werke, a successful machinery manufacturing company in Württemberg.

In the realm of science, Ernst Maier (1838-1915) was a renowned German physicist and mathematician who made important contributions to the study of electromagnetism and thermodynamics.

The name Maier also has a strong literary presence, with figures such as Hans Maier (1867-1933), a German poet and novelist known for his works depicting rural life in Bavaria.

Lastly, a notable contemporary bearer of the Maier surname is Norbert Maier (born 1952), a German politician and former government minister who served as the Minister of Justice for the state of Baden-Württemberg.

These examples illustrate the widespread presence of the Maier surname throughout German history, spanning various professions and regions, and highlighting its enduring legacy as a name deeply rooted in the country's cultural and occupational traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maier 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. Surrey leads with 15 Maiers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.53x.

County Total Index
Surrey 15 10.53x
Middlesex 5 1.71x
Gloucestershire 3 5.23x
Angus 1 3.69x
Bedfordshire 1 6.61x
Berkshire 1 4.56x
Inverness-shire 1 11.45x
Kent 1 1.00x
Lancashire 1 0.29x
Sussex 1 2.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southwark St George Martyr in Surrey leads with 10 Maiers recorded in 1881 and an index of 170.07x.

Place Total Index
Southwark St George Martyr 10 170.07x
Newington 4 37.04x
Cheltenham 3 67.87x
Clerkenwell London 2 28.99x
Accrington 1 31.75x
Croydon 1 12.64x
Deptford St Paul 1 12.99x
Duirinish 1 222.22x
Eastbourne 1 44.05x
Kensington London 1 6.15x
Luton 1 38.17x
Montrose 1 60.98x
Reading St Giles 1 46.51x
St Marylebone London 1 6.41x
St Pancras London 1 4.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Fanny 2
Amy 1
Elizabeth 1
Frida 1
Henrietta 1
Katina 1
Louise 1
Magdalen 1
Maria 1
Rosa 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Joseph 2
Adolphus 1
Daniel 1
Fredrick 1
George 1
Gustav 1
John 1
Julius 1
Paul 1
Richard 1
Sales 1
Wilhelm 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Maier households.

FAQ

Maier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 30 people were recorded with the Maier surname. That placed it at #29,363 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016. That gives Maier a modern rank of #17,764.

What does the Maier surname mean?

A German occupational surname referring to a steward, bailiff, or administrator of a farm or estate.

What does the Maier map show?

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