NameCensus.

UK surname

Maison

A surname of French origin meaning "house" or "mansion".

In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Maison surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 187, ranked #20,488, up from #24,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include The Calders, East Craigs North and Blaby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maison is 201 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 201.6%.

1881 census count

62

Ranked #24,843

Modern count

187

2016, ranked #20,488

Peak year

2010

201 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maison had 62 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 187 in 2016, ranked #20,488.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 72 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Maison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maison surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maison 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 34 #27,194
1861 historical 72 #24,643
1881 historical 62 #24,843
1891 historical 68 #28,300
1901 historical 24 #31,365
1911 historical 44 #28,454
1997 modern 115 #24,834
1998 modern 139 #22,720
1999 modern 144 #22,405
2000 modern 147 #22,081
2001 modern 146 #21,857
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 155 #21,217
2004 modern 164 #20,609
2005 modern 162 #20,716
2006 modern 170 #20,214
2007 modern 175 #20,090
2008 modern 172 #20,523
2009 modern 186 #19,946
2010 modern 201 #19,387
2011 modern 174 #21,096
2012 modern 179 #20,679
2013 modern 183 #20,722
2014 modern 191 #20,302
2015 modern 184 #20,719
2016 modern 187 #20,488

Geography

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Where Maisons 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 The Calders, East Craigs North, Blaby, Colinton Mains and Firrhill and Barnet. 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 The Calders City of Edinburgh
2 East Craigs North City of Edinburgh
3 Blaby 004 Blaby
4 Colinton Mains and Firrhill City of Edinburgh
5 Barnet 017 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maison

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maison

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Maison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Maison 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Maison 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

Maison 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

Maison falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Maison 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 Maison, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Maison

The surname Maison originates from France, where it first appeared in the early 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "maison," meaning "house" or "dwelling." The name likely referred to someone who lived in a large or prominent house, or perhaps a person who worked as a builder of houses.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Maison can be found in medieval French records and documents. One notable example is Jacques Maison, a merchant from Rouen who was mentioned in a trade agreement dated 1234. Another early bearer of the name was Gilles Maison, a knight from Normandy who fought in the Hundred Years' War against the English in the 14th century.

By the 15th century, the name Maison had spread to other regions of France, including Brittany and Provence. In some areas, the name evolved into slightly different spellings, such as Maisons or Maisonne. These variations likely stemmed from local dialects or regional pronunciations.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Maison was Nicolas Joseph Maison (1770-1840), a French military commander who served under Napoleon Bonaparte. He rose to the rank of Marshal of France and played a significant role in several battles, including the Battle of Aspern-Essling in 1809.

Another notable bearer of the name was Pierre Maison (1635-1718), a French architect and military engineer who designed fortifications and military structures throughout France and its colonies. His work can still be seen in cities like Lille and Montreal.

In the 17th century, the name Maison was also found in French-speaking regions of Switzerland, where it was sometimes spelled as Meison or Meyson. One example is Jean-Jacques Meyson (1684-1768), a Swiss painter and engraver known for his religious works and portraits.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Maison surname continued to be prominent in France, with several individuals making their mark in various fields. For instance, Joseph Maison (1770-1835) was a French painter and engraver who specialized in landscapes and historical scenes, while François Maison (1818-1896) was a French architect responsible for the design of several notable buildings in Paris.

As the name spread across Europe and beyond, it took on various spellings and adaptations in different languages. However, the core meaning and origin remained rooted in the French word "maison," reflecting the name's association with dwellings and the building trades.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maison 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. Middlesex leads with 21 Maisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.42x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 21 3.42x
Lincolnshire 11 11.20x
Yorkshire 10 1.64x
Durham 4 2.19x
Northumberland 4 4.38x
Sussex 4 3.86x
Lancashire 2 0.27x
Surrey 2 0.67x
Channel Islands 1 5.49x
Essex 1 0.82x
Hampshire 1 0.79x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.21x
Warwickshire 1 0.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bow London in Middlesex leads with 9 Maisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 115.09x.

Place Total Index
Bow London 9 115.09x
Harlington 8 2500.00x
Holy Trinity 8 54.64x
Mareham Le Fen 7 4666.67x
Chirton 4 193.24x
Leake 4 888.89x
Tanfield 2 92.17x
Birmingham 1 1.94x
Broadwater 1 42.02x
Camberwell 1 2.55x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 8.64x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 27.32x
Hackney London 1 2.90x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 12.63x
Hove 1 21.98x
Huggate 1 833.33x
Lambeth 1 1.87x
Linthorpe 1 27.55x
Newhaven 1 119.05x
Norwood 1 71.43x
Nottingham St Mary 1 4.67x
Portsea 1 4.05x
Rye 1 102.04x
Shoreditch London 1 3.76x
St Clement 1 357.14x
St Pancras London 1 2.02x
Stockton On Tees 1 11.35x
West Ham 1 3.73x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

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 Maison households.

FAQ

Maison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Maison surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 187 in 2016. That gives Maison a modern rank of #20,488.

What does the Maison surname mean?

A surname of French origin meaning "house" or "mansion".

What does the Maison map show?

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