NameCensus.

UK surname

Mail

A surname derived from the Old French word "maille," meaning a rent or tax.

In the 1881 census there were 226 people recorded with the Mail surname, ranking it #11,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 272, ranked #15,832, down from #11,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lerwick and Wells St Cuthbert In and Out. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mearnskirk and South Kirkhill, Derby and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mail is 305 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.4%.

1881 census count

226

Ranked #11,889

Modern count

272

2016, ranked #15,832

Peak year

1999

305 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mail had 226 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 272 in 2016, ranked #15,832.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 292 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Mail surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mail surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mail 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 195 #10,620
1861 historical 276 #9,052
1881 historical 226 #11,889
1891 historical 250 #12,762
1901 historical 292 #11,861
1911 historical 244 #13,127
1997 modern 297 #13,623
1998 modern 294 #14,060
1999 modern 305 #13,808
2000 modern 283 #14,488
2001 modern 275 #14,540
2002 modern 284 #14,524
2003 modern 287 #14,219
2004 modern 270 #14,913
2005 modern 284 #14,306
2006 modern 280 #14,535
2007 modern 275 #14,888
2008 modern 277 #14,940
2009 modern 278 #15,230
2010 modern 284 #15,312
2011 modern 290 #14,933
2012 modern 283 #15,115
2013 modern 281 #15,487
2014 modern 275 #15,831
2015 modern 278 #15,586
2016 modern 272 #15,832

Geography

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Where Mails are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lerwick, Wells St Cuthbert In and Out, Almondbury and Dunrossness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mearnskirk and South Kirkhill, Derby, Bath and North East Somerset, Leeds and Kirklees. 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 Lerwick Shetland
3 Wells St Cuthbert In and Out Somerset
4 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Dunrossness Shetland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mearnskirk and South Kirkhill East Renfrewshire
2 Derby 003 Derby
3 Bath and North East Somerset 021 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Leeds 069 Leeds
5 Kirklees 055 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mail

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mail

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mail, 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 Mail surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mail 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Mail is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mail is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mail 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 Mail 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mail

The surname MAIL is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "maille," which referred to a type of chain or mesh armor worn by medieval knights and soldiers.

During the Middle Ages, surnames often emerged as a way to distinguish individuals, with many people adopting names related to their occupations or areas of expertise. In this case, the surname MAIL likely indicated a connection to the manufacture or trade of chain mail armor. It's possible that early bearers of this name were blacksmiths, armorers, or merchants involved in the production or sale of this type of protective gear.

One of the earliest known references to the surname MAIL can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from the year 1176, where a certain William Mail is mentioned. This record provides evidence of the name's existence in England during the latter part of the 12th century.

Another notable figure bearing the surname MAIL was Sir John Mail, a distinguished English soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France in the 14th century. He was knighted for his bravery and military service during the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

In the 15th century, the surname MAIL appeared in various records and documents across different regions of England, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where a John Mail is listed among the taxpayers.

During the Tudor period, a prominent individual named Thomas Mail (1475-1546) held the prestigious position of Sheriff of London and served as an alderman in the City of London. His name can be found in historical accounts and records from that era.

Another noteworthy bearer of the surname MAIL was Sir Richard Mail (1610-1678), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire during the reign of King Charles II. He played an active role in the political landscape of the time and was known for his contributions to local governance and affairs.

Throughout its history, the surname MAIL has been associated with various locations across England, including areas like Northamptonshire, Yorkshire, and Bedfordshire, where records of individuals bearing this name have been found. The name has also been subject to slight variations in spelling over time, such as Mayle and Maill, but the core meaning and origin remain rooted in the concept of chain mail armor.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mail families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mail 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. Yorkshire leads with 43 Mails recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.97x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 43 1.97x
Shetland 34 151.04x
Somerset 15 4.23x
Wiltshire 15 7.69x
Cambridgeshire 14 10.03x
Warwickshire 14 2.52x
Durham 12 1.83x
Middlesex 11 0.50x
Essex 10 2.30x
Gloucestershire 10 2.31x
Nottinghamshire 6 2.02x
Staffordshire 6 0.81x
Argyllshire 5 8.15x
Clackmannanshire 5 27.46x
Lancashire 5 0.19x
Surrey 4 0.37x
Stirlingshire 3 3.69x
Cheshire 2 0.41x
Huntingdonshire 2 4.57x
Lanarkshire 2 0.28x
Midlothian 2 0.68x
Brecknockshire 1 2.27x
Derbyshire 1 0.29x
Glamorgan 1 0.26x
Hampshire 1 0.22x
Leicestershire 1 0.41x
Perthshire 1 1.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Almondbury in Yorkshire leads with 18 Mails recorded in 1881 and an index of 170.45x.

Place Total Index
Almondbury 18 170.45x
Lerwick Gulberwick 18 517.24x
Sculcoates 18 51.98x
Dunrossness 16 540.54x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 12 419.58x
Bishopwearmouth 11 19.54x
Compton Bassett 11 3928.57x
March 11 235.04x
Aston 9 5.88x
West Ham 7 7.29x
Alloa 5 56.63x
Kilchoman 5 259.07x
Kingswinford 5 18.50x
Normanton 5 76.22x
Radford 5 33.11x
Bromley London 4 8.25x
Birmingham 3 1.62x
Bitton Oldland 3 67.87x
Easton 3 1875.00x
Garston 3 38.86x
Woodford 3 60.85x
Alva 2 51.55x
Bermondsey 2 3.05x
Birkenhead 2 5.16x
Bolehall Glascote 2 84.75x
Godmanchester 2 120.48x
Highworth 2 80.32x
Lambeth 2 1.04x
Mangotsfield 2 46.40x
South Leith 2 6.02x
St Pancras London 2 1.13x
Aldershot 1 6.61x
Barmston 1 204.08x
Barony 1 0.55x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 5.08x
Callander 1 61.35x
Chesterton 1 23.26x
Corsham 1 35.21x
Dinckley 1 1111.11x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 1 16.42x
Falkirk 1 5.25x
Glasgow 1 0.79x
Gwenddwr North 1 625.00x
Hampstead London 1 2.91x
Hendon 1 12.61x
Horfield 1 22.99x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.68x
Little Somerford 1 344.83x
Manningham 1 3.72x
Marnham 1 666.67x
Newent 1 45.45x
Normanton 1 34.25x
Paddington London 1 1.23x
Painswick 1 32.68x
Scarborough 1 5.04x
St Marylebone London 1 0.85x
St Marythe Less 1 117.65x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 1.27x
Swansea St Thomas 1 25.91x
Tetbury 1 40.82x
Westminster St John 1 3.72x
Wotton Under Edge 1 39.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 8
Ellen 6
Emma 5
Sarah 5
Alice 4
Eliza 4
Fanny 4
Kate 4
Ann 3
Emily 3
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Ethel 2
Jane 2
Maria 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eleanora 1
Fannetta 1
Flor 1
Florence 1
Helene 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Rosa 1
Rosina 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Sushannah 1
Willi 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 12
George 11
Thomas 6
Charles 5
Henry 4
Arthur 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
David 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Magnus 2
Samuel 2
Allen 1
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
Douglass 1
Edward 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Jeremiah 1
Joe 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Mail surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mail surname in 1881?

In 1881, 226 people were recorded with the Mail surname. That placed it at #11,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mail surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 272 in 2016. That gives Mail a modern rank of #15,832.

What does the Mail surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "maille," meaning a rent or tax.

What does the Mail map show?

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