UK surname
A surname with possible origins in Germany meaning "thick and broad" or "meek and mild".
In the 1881 census there were 65 people recorded with the Maish surname, ranking it #24,420 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 34, ranked #35,768, down from #24,420 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Wigan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maish is 166 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 47.7%.
1881 census count
65
Ranked #24,420
Modern count
34
2016, ranked #35,768
Peak year
1891
166 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Maish surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Maish surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 95 | #17,707 |
| 1861 | historical | 123 | #17,914 |
| 1881 | historical | 65 | #24,420 |
| 1891 | historical | 166 | #17,077 |
| 1901 | historical | 119 | #20,624 |
| 1911 | historical | 99 | #22,850 |
| 1997 | modern | 46 | #33,077 |
| 1998 | modern | 46 | #33,286 |
| 1999 | modern | 45 | #33,511 |
| 2000 | modern | 35 | #34,420 |
| 2001 | modern | 35 | #34,261 |
| 2002 | modern | 39 | #34,219 |
| 2003 | modern | 40 | #34,215 |
| 2004 | modern | 39 | #34,477 |
| 2005 | modern | 41 | #34,478 |
| 2006 | modern | 38 | #35,003 |
| 2007 | modern | 38 | #35,153 |
| 2008 | modern | 42 | #34,994 |
| 2009 | modern | 46 | #34,918 |
| 2010 | modern | 48 | #34,946 |
| 2011 | modern | 42 | #35,283 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
| 2014 | modern | 36 | #35,662 |
| 2015 | modern | 37 | #35,593 |
| 2016 | modern | 34 | #35,768 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Wigan and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Maish surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Maish, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Maish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Maish household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Maish is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Maish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Maish, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Maish is of Germanic origin, likely stemming from the Old High German word "meisa" or "meissa," which means "titmouse" or a type of small bird. It is believed to have originated as a nickname or descriptive name for someone with certain physical or behavioral characteristics resembling a titmouse.
The earliest known record of the name Maish can be traced back to the 13th century in the region of Bavaria, Germany. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Heinrich Meish, who was mentioned in a document from the town of Nuremberg in 1287.
Throughout the Middle Ages, variations of the name were found in various historical records across Germany, including the Meisner, Meissner, and Maischer spellings. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.
In the 16th century, the surname Maish appeared in the Duchy of Württemberg, a region in southwestern Germany. One notable individual from this period was Johannes Maisch (1522-1588), a Lutheran theologian and reformer who served as a professor at the University of Tübingen.
As the name spread across Europe, it found its way to other regions, including Switzerland and Austria. In the 17th century, the surname Maisch was recorded in the Swiss canton of Bern, with the earliest known bearer being Hans Maisch, a farmer mentioned in a land registry from 1642.
Another notable figure was Johann Georg Maisch (1768-1842), a German botanist and pharmacist who made significant contributions to the study of medicinal plants. He was born in the town of Göppingen, in the Kingdom of Württemberg.
In the 19th century, the name Maish started appearing in the United States, likely due to immigration from German-speaking regions of Europe. One of the earliest recorded instances was Jacob Maish (1808-1887), a farmer and landowner who settled in Pennsylvania.
Throughout history, the surname Maish has been associated with various professions, including theology, academia, agriculture, and science. While not a particularly common name, it has left its mark across different regions and time periods, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of its bearers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maish surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Gloucestershire leads with 21 Maishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.89x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire | 21 | 16.89x |
| Surrey | 16 | 5.18x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.42x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.06x |
| Worcestershire | 6 | 7.25x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.32x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.76x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.77x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.46x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chorlton On Medlock in Lancashire leads with 8 Maishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.95x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Chorlton On Medlock | 8 | 66.95x |
| Almondsbury | 7 | 1489.36x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 7 | 59.78x |
| Camberwell | 7 | 17.29x |
| Mile End Old Town | 7 | 69.93x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 5 | 120.48x |
| Egham | 5 | 263.16x |
| Kidderminster Borough | 5 | 103.09x |
| Newington | 4 | 17.08x |
| Horton In Bradford | 2 | 20.39x |
| Mangotsfield | 2 | 161.29x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 3.63x |
| Deptford St Nicholas | 1 | 58.14x |
| Exeter St Sidwell | 1 | 33.11x |
| Millbrook | 1 | 30.58x |
| Stanwell | 1 | 212.77x |
| Upperswinford | 1 | 142.86x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Maish surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Maish surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Maish households.
FAQ
In 1881, 65 people were recorded with the Maish surname. That placed it at #24,420 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 34 in 2016. That gives Maish a modern rank of #35,768.
A surname with possible origins in Germany meaning "thick and broad" or "meek and mild".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Maish bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.