NameCensus.

UK surname

Male

An English surname likely derived from the Old French "masle" meaning male or masculine.

In the 1881 census there were 1,769 people recorded with the Male surname, ranking it #2,446 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,262, ranked #2,871, down from #2,446 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kingsbury Episcopi, Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset and Weymouth and Portland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Male is 2,514 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.9%.

1881 census count

1,769

Ranked #2,446

Modern count

2,262

2016, ranked #2,871

Peak year

1999

2,514 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Male had 1,769 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,446 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,262 in 2016, ranked #2,871.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,461 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Male surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Male surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Male 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 1,134 #2,483
1861 historical 1,402 #2,043
1881 historical 1,769 #2,446
1891 historical 1,927 #2,392
1901 historical 2,098 #2,558
1911 historical 2,461 #2,086
1997 modern 2,454 #2,559
1998 modern 2,511 #2,604
1999 modern 2,514 #2,622
2000 modern 2,497 #2,621
2001 modern 2,398 #2,665
2002 modern 2,474 #2,643
2003 modern 2,405 #2,654
2004 modern 2,406 #2,650
2005 modern 2,321 #2,702
2006 modern 2,305 #2,717
2007 modern 2,268 #2,776
2008 modern 2,276 #2,789
2009 modern 2,346 #2,784
2010 modern 2,418 #2,765
2011 modern 2,377 #2,781
2012 modern 2,299 #2,812
2013 modern 2,332 #2,825
2014 modern 2,329 #2,837
2015 modern 2,289 #2,848
2016 modern 2,262 #2,871

Geography

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Where Males are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kingsbury Episcopi, Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire), London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset and Weymouth and Portland. 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 Kingsbury Episcopi Somerset
2 Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington Somerset
3 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 010 South Somerset
2 South Somerset 007 South Somerset
3 South Somerset 019 South Somerset
4 Weymouth and Portland 009 Weymouth and Portland
5 South Somerset 023 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Male

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Male

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Male, 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 Male surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Male 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, Male 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

Male 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

Male falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Male 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Male

The surname Male has its origins in the medieval period, stemming from the Old French word "masle" or "malle," which means male or masculine. This name likely originated in northern France, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Brittany, where the Old French language was prevalent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Male can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical record mentions individuals with the surname Male residing in various parts of England, suggesting that the name had already spread across the English Channel by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Male was often associated with occupations or trades that were traditionally considered masculine or male-dominated. It could have been used to distinguish men working in specific professions or to indicate the male heir in a family lineage.

In the 13th century, a notable figure with the surname Male was Robert Male, a prominent merchant and landowner from Essex, England. He is mentioned in several historical records from the time, indicating the surname's established presence in the region.

Another early example is William Male, born around 1450 in Somersetshire, England. He was a respected landowner and served as a member of Parliament for the county during the reign of Edward IV.

In the 16th century, the surname Male appeared in various parts of Europe, including France and Germany. One notable individual was Hans Male, a German artist and engraver born in Nuremberg in 1537. His intricate engravings and woodcuts were highly regarded during the Renaissance period.

During the 17th century, the name Male was found in various parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. One notable figure was John Male, born in 1643 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a renowned scholar and clergyman who served as the Bishop of Norwich from 1708 to 1714.

In the 18th century, the surname Male continued to be present in various regions of Europe and the Americas. One notable individual was Benjamin Male, born in 1732 in Massachusetts. He was a prominent figure in the American Revolutionary War and served as a captain in the Continental Army.

Throughout history, the surname Male has been found in various spellings, including Maile, Mayle, and Maill, reflecting regional variations and linguistic influences. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained consistent, tracing back to the Old French "masle" and its association with masculinity and traditionally male occupations or roles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Male families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Male 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. Somerset leads with 525 Males recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.65x.

County Total Index
Somerset 525 18.65x
Staffordshire 200 3.39x
Worcestershire 162 7.09x
Middlesex 133 0.76x
Hampshire 70 1.95x
Cambridgeshire 68 6.14x
Cornwall 64 3.23x
Dorset 61 5.31x
Yorkshire 53 0.31x
Warwickshire 52 1.18x
Cheshire 45 1.17x
Devon 44 1.21x
Lancashire 42 0.20x
Surrey 37 0.43x
Glamorgan 34 1.12x
Kent 33 0.55x
Norfolk 33 1.23x
Sussex 21 0.71x
Gloucestershire 20 0.58x
Channel Islands 19 3.67x
Durham 12 0.23x
Brecknockshire 8 2.29x
Essex 8 0.23x
Hertfordshire 5 0.41x
Leicestershire 5 0.26x
Royal Navy 5 2.40x
Derbyshire 4 0.15x
Oxfordshire 4 0.37x
Shropshire 4 0.26x
Huntingdonshire 3 0.86x
Monmouthshire 3 0.24x
Northamptonshire 3 0.18x
Bedfordshire 2 0.22x
Berkshire 2 0.15x
Isle of Man 2 0.62x
Lincolnshire 2 0.07x
Wiltshire 2 0.13x
Flintshire 1 0.21x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Suffolk 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingsbury Episcopi in Somerset leads with 109 Males recorded in 1881 and an index of 1195.18x.

Place Total Index
Kingsbury Episcopi 109 1195.18x
Barrington 98 3920.00x
Portsea 63 8.97x
Kingswinford 60 27.99x
Shepton Beauchamp 45 1174.93x
Dudley 33 11.88x
Birmingham 31 2.11x
Portland 25 40.50x
Swell 25 2906.98x
St Minver 24 398.01x
Stoke Under Hambdon 24 259.74x
Birkenhead 23 7.47x
Cottenham 19 129.08x
Ilminster 18 91.51x
Amblecote 17 101.01x
Shoreditch London 17 2.24x
Crewkerne 16 53.51x
Rowley Regis 16 9.72x
West Bromwich 16 4.73x
Kidderminster Borough 15 11.22x
Oldbury 15 13.35x
Wolverhampton 15 3.30x
Bromley London 14 3.64x
Hackney London 14 1.43x
South Petherton 14 96.29x
St Andrewthe Less 14 11.06x
St Teath 14 117.35x
Isle Brewers 13 687.83x
Puckington 13 948.91x
Bermondsey 12 2.30x
Brighton 12 2.02x
Gradley 12 108.79x
Harborne 12 6.34x
Hasbury 12 80.32x
Curry Rivell 11 116.77x
Deptford St Paul 11 2.39x
Fivehead 11 441.77x
Somerton 11 95.65x
Tormoham 11 7.14x
Ashill 10 355.87x
Chislet 10 148.37x
Darlington 10 4.98x
Islington London 10 0.59x
Aldridge 9 79.30x
Bradpole 9 95.64x
Colyton 9 64.38x
Drayton 9 357.14x
Henstridge 9 115.68x
Mile End Old Town 9 3.26x
Nailsea 9 80.94x
Nether Hallam 9 3.84x
Newton Abbot St Mary 9 29.47x
Oxton 9 41.23x
Sedgley 9 4.10x
St Pancras London 9 0.64x
Stourbridge 9 15.31x
Taunton St Mary 9 17.41x
Wednesfield 9 10.36x
Aberdare 8 3.83x
Aston 8 0.66x
Feckenham 8 30.60x
Havercroft Cum Cold 8 268.46x
Manningham 8 3.75x
Warley Salop 8 243.90x
Wollaston 8 55.21x
Ashcott 7 162.79x
Cardinham 7 386.74x
Chiswick 7 7.32x
Cradley 7 33.88x
Kensington London 7 0.72x
Montacute 7 135.66x
St Andrewthe Great 7 48.88x
Tipton 7 3.87x
Bradford Peverell 6 303.03x
Failsworth 6 12.64x
Hawn 6 140.19x
Hoath 6 297.03x
Hulme 6 1.38x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 6 7.43x
Newland 6 20.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 114
John 88
George 61
Thomas 58
Henry 49
James 49
Charles 36
Alfred 29
Joseph 28
Arthur 25
Edward 19
Harry 17
Samuel 17
Robert 13
Walter 13
Albert 12
Richard 12
Benjamin 11
Herbert 10
Edwin 9
Frank 9
Job 9
David 8
Frederick 8
Ernest 7
Francis 7
Fredrick 5
Simeon 5
Stephen 5
Wm. 5
Andrew 4
Chas. 4
Enos 4
Isaac 4
Soloman 4
Vincent 4
Daniel 3
Ezra 3
Fred 3
Fredk. 3
Handel 3
Jacob 3
Luke 3
Mark 3
Philip 3
Solomon 3
Tom 3
Benjn. 2
Geo. 2
Peter 2

FAQ

Male surname: questions and answers

How common was the Male surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,769 people were recorded with the Male surname. That placed it at #2,446 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Male surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,262 in 2016. That gives Male a modern rank of #2,871.

What does the Male surname mean?

An English surname likely derived from the Old French "masle" meaning male or masculine.

What does the Male map show?

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