NameCensus.

UK surname

Mainwaring

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "manor settlement".

In the 1881 census there were 1,159 people recorded with the Mainwaring surname, ranking it #3,459 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,132, ranked #3,030, up from #3,459 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle-under-Lyme and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mainwaring is 2,230 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.0%.

1881 census count

1,159

Ranked #3,459

Modern count

2,132

2016, ranked #3,030

Peak year

2010

2,230 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mainwaring had 1,159 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,459 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,132 in 2016, ranked #3,030.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,774 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mainwaring surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mainwaring surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mainwaring 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 460 #5,388
1861 historical 580 #4,544
1881 historical 1,159 #3,459
1891 historical 1,189 #3,609
1901 historical 1,615 #3,202
1911 historical 1,774 #2,760
1997 modern 2,012 #3,038
1998 modern 2,150 #2,980
1999 modern 2,175 #2,966
2000 modern 2,137 #2,999
2001 modern 2,115 #2,967
2002 modern 2,183 #2,939
2003 modern 2,141 #2,933
2004 modern 2,152 #2,922
2005 modern 2,118 #2,926
2006 modern 2,111 #2,940
2007 modern 2,105 #2,982
2008 modern 2,143 #2,953
2009 modern 2,214 #2,933
2010 modern 2,230 #2,980
2011 modern 2,185 #2,992
2012 modern 2,159 #2,964
2013 modern 2,194 #2,976
2014 modern 2,185 #3,002
2015 modern 2,164 #2,997
2016 modern 2,132 #3,030

Geography

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Where Mainwarings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Wolstanton, Llanguick and Margam. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle-under-Lyme and Swansea. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
3 Wolstanton Staffordshire
4 Llanguick Glamorganshire
5 Margam Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle-under-Lyme 005 Newcastle-under-Lyme
2 Swansea 004 Swansea
3 Swansea 001 Swansea
4 Swansea 016 Swansea
5 Swansea 013 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mainwaring

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mainwaring

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Mainwaring surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mainwaring 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Mainwaring 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

Mainwaring is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mainwaring falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mainwaring is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mainwaring

The surname Mainwaring originates from the area of Cheshire in England, where it first emerged around the 12th century. It is believed to derive from the Old English words "maene" meaning "common" and "waru" meaning "dwelling place", suggesting it referred to someone who lived in a communal or shared dwelling.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Manwaring". This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time. Other historical spellings include Manwaring, Maynwaring, and Manwaringe.

The name is closely associated with the town of Peover in Cheshire, where the Mainwaring family held substantial estates and lands from the 13th century onwards. The family's ancestral home, Peover Hall, dates back to the 16th century and remains a prominent landmark in the area.

One notable member of the Mainwaring family was Sir John Mainwaring (1545-1614), a courtier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Sir Henry Mainwaring (1587-1653), a naval officer and influential figure in the English Civil War.

In the literary world, the name is associated with George William Mainwaring (1719-1807), an English clergyman and author who wrote the popular memoir "The Life and Works of the Late Reverend Thomas Bingham". Additionally, Reginald Mainwaring (1892-1976) was a British actor known for his roles in films such as "The Importance of Being Earnest" and "The Winslow Boy".

Beyond England, the Mainwaring surname has also been found in other parts of the British Isles and in areas with significant British emigration, such as North America and Australia. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval English gentry and landowners of Cheshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mainwaring families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mainwaring 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. Glamorgan leads with 363 Mainwarings recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.44x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 363 18.44x
Lancashire 122 0.91x
Cheshire 103 4.13x
Staffordshire 96 2.52x
Carmarthenshire 82 17.21x
Shropshire 70 7.17x
Middlesex 44 0.39x
Herefordshire 38 8.20x
Monmouthshire 32 3.92x
Gloucestershire 20 0.90x
Brecknockshire 19 8.40x
Hampshire 18 0.78x
Sussex 18 0.94x
Surrey 17 0.31x
Kent 14 0.36x
Yorkshire 12 0.11x
Durham 11 0.33x
Worcestershire 11 0.75x
Warwickshire 10 0.35x
Somerset 9 0.49x
Northamptonshire 8 0.75x
Radnorshire 8 8.77x
Essex 6 0.27x
Lincolnshire 6 0.33x
Cornwall 5 0.39x
Berkshire 4 0.47x
Denbighshire 4 0.94x
Derbyshire 3 0.17x
Devon 2 0.09x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.14x
Leicestershire 1 0.08x
Midlothian 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llanguick in Glamorgan leads with 44 Mainwarings recorded in 1881 and an index of 124.75x.

Place Total Index
Llanguick 44 124.75x
Swansea Higher 43 209.76x
Ystradyfodwg 42 24.32x
Llanelly 38 35.41x
Swansea Town 38 23.55x
Margam 31 141.23x
Wrockwardine 27 125.70x
Burslem 25 22.87x
Aberdare 24 17.76x
Clase 21 28.69x
Everton 21 4.91x
Llangyfelach 20 271.37x
Merthyr Tydfil 18 9.51x
Llandebie 17 123.01x
Mawr 17 410.63x
Wolstanton 16 13.80x
Sandbach 15 70.46x
Bedwellty 14 9.70x
Weaverham Cum Milton 14 212.12x
Audley 13 34.43x
Ellesmere 13 77.52x
Salford 12 3.04x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 12 54.03x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 11 5.27x
Cwmdu 11 297.30x
Hulme 11 3.93x
Neath 11 27.47x
Stockton On Tees 11 6.78x
Liverpool 10 1.23x
Wolverhampton 10 3.41x
Kirkdale 9 3.99x
Mynyddyslwyn 9 27.92x
St John Near Swansea 9 36.98x
Walcot 9 9.29x
Brimfield 8 326.53x
Congleton 8 18.55x
Wharton 8 58.87x
Betley 7 220.13x
Bromley London 7 2.81x
Dawley 7 19.70x
Llanarthney 7 97.36x
Llannon 7 107.20x
Manchester 7 1.16x
Pembridge 7 136.99x
Wellingborough 7 13.09x
Almeley 6 256.41x
Aston 6 0.76x
Brading 6 19.48x
Clifford 6 195.44x
Deptford St Paul 6 2.02x
East Grinstead 6 22.24x
Grappenhall 6 196.72x
Hastings St Clement 6 33.44x
Leyton 6 15.61x
Lilleshall 6 40.19x
Llandilo Talybont 6 58.03x
Llanvair Kilgedin 6 512.82x
Llanwonno 6 8.48x
Monks Coppenhall 6 6.37x
Much Woolton 6 32.97x
Norton 6 447.76x
Aldershot 5 6.44x
Brinnington 5 21.45x
Bryngwyn 5 520.83x
Cheltenham 5 2.92x
Colwinstone 5 609.76x
Hornsey 5 3.50x
Lambeth 5 0.51x
Lower Ystradgynlais 5 35.84x
Michaelstone Super Avon 5 23.46x
Newington 5 1.20x
Portsea 5 1.10x
South Rauceby 5 333.33x
St Mary Magdalene 5 53.14x
Stauntonon Arrow 5 378.79x
Stretford 5 6.77x
West Derby 5 1.27x
Westminster St 5 12.00x
Wolstanton Oldcott 5 36.18x
Yardley 5 13.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 100
Elizabeth 50
Sarah 45
Hannah 28
Ann 23
Margaret 21
Martha 19
Annie 18
Emma 14
Jane 14
Eliza 12
Catherine 11
Rachel 11
Alice 10
Harriet 10
Anne 9
Emily 8
Ada 7
Ellen 7
Edith 6
Fanny 6
Frances 6
Kate 6
Charlotte 5
Eleanor 5
Gwenllian 5
Caroline 4
Jennet 4
Lucy 4
Agnes 3
Amy 3
Ethel 3
Julia 3
Leah 3
Maria 3
Betsy 2
Clara 2
Esther 2
Evelyn 2
Flora 2
Florence 2
Francis 2
Gertrude 2
Lilian 2
Lily 2
Lydia 2
Mabel 2
Maude 2
Nelly 2
Ruth 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 76
John 73
Thomas 53
David 48
James 28
Edward 24
Charles 23
George 23
Henry 20
Richard 19
Samuel 16
Daniel 12
Evan 10
Arthur 9
Alfred 6
Joseph 6
Robert 6
Edwin 4
Herbert 4
Wm. 4
Albert 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Lewis 3
Noah 3
Rees 3
Walter 3
Adam 2
Andrew 2
Frederick 2
Guy 2
Harry 2
Josiah 2
Morgan 2
Norman 2
Owen 2
Rd. 2
Reginald 2
Sydney 2
Archibald 1
Archypool 1
Dd.John 1
Denis 1
Eugene 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Jonah 1
Wm.P. 1

FAQ

Mainwaring surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mainwaring surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,159 people were recorded with the Mainwaring surname. That placed it at #3,459 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mainwaring surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,132 in 2016. That gives Mainwaring a modern rank of #3,030.

What does the Mainwaring surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "manor settlement".

What does the Mainwaring map show?

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