UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the Middle English "mason", referring to a mason or stone worker.
In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Mase surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 29, ranked #36,059, down from #20,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mase is 108 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 67.8%.
1881 census count
90
Ranked #20,965
Modern count
29
2016, ranked #36,059
Peak year
1851
108 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mase surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mase surname density by area, 1861 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 | 108 | #16,308 |
| 1861 | historical | 100 | #21,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 90 | #20,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 82 | #26,494 |
| 1901 | historical | 64 | #27,010 |
| 1911 | historical | 79 | #24,903 |
| 1997 | modern | 25 | #35,261 |
| 1998 | modern | 24 | #35,488 |
| 1999 | modern | 28 | #35,127 |
| 2000 | modern | 26 | #35,295 |
| 2001 | modern | 24 | #35,357 |
| 2002 | modern | 28 | #35,139 |
| 2003 | modern | 28 | #35,200 |
| 2004 | modern | 27 | #35,444 |
| 2005 | modern | 27 | #35,588 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 28 | #35,801 |
| 2008 | modern | 29 | #35,808 |
| 2009 | modern | 30 | #35,871 |
| 2010 | modern | 31 | #35,906 |
| 2011 | modern | 31 | #35,892 |
| 2012 | modern | 36 | #35,595 |
| 2013 | modern | 33 | #35,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 34 | #35,784 |
| 2015 | modern | 32 | #35,876 |
| 2016 | modern | 29 | #36,059 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth, London parishes, St Pancras, Syderstone and Lambeth. 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 | Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth | Huntingdonshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Syderstone | Norfolk |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mase 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 Mase, 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 Mase surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mase 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, Mase 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 Mase is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mase, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MASE is believed to have originated from the Normandy region of France during the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old French word "mase," which means a large hammer or mallet used by stone masons and builders. The name likely referred to an ancestor who worked as a mason or someone involved in construction.
One of the earliest known records of the MASE name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property rights in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry lists a "Roger Mase" as a landowner in the county of Somerset.
As the name spread across Europe, various spellings emerged, including Masse, Masen, and Mazer. Several notable individuals bore the MASE surname throughout history. One example is John Mase (c.1520-1588), an English Protestant reformer and clergyman who served as the chaplain to Queen Elizabeth I.
Another noteworthy figure was Pierre Mase (1594-1657), a French mathematician and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of early calculus and the study of conic sections. His work heavily influenced the renowned philosopher and mathematician René Descartes.
In the 18th century, Johann Mase (1709-1763) was a German composer and organist known for his sacred choral works and organ compositions. He served as the court organist in Hanover and was highly regarded for his skill and innovation in organ performance.
The MASE name also has connections to place names, such as Masefield, a village in Gloucestershire, England, which may have contributed to the surname's development. Additionally, the Italian painter and engraver Agostino Mase (1535-1600) gained renown for his intricate engraved works and collaborations with prominent artists like Raphael and Michelangelo.
Throughout the centuries, the MASE surname has been carried by individuals from various professions and backgrounds, reflecting its diverse origins and the numerous paths it has taken across different regions and cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mase 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. Middlesex leads with 22 Mases recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.53x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 22 | 2.53x |
| Norfolk | 18 | 13.49x |
| Sussex | 15 | 10.25x |
| Kent | 10 | 3.38x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.81x |
| Hampshire | 6 | 3.37x |
| Monmouthshire | 3 | 4.78x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.91x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 2.23x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.87x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.34x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.95x |
| Wigtownshire | 1 | 8.68x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.88x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 13 Mases recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.61x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Pancras London | 13 | 18.61x |
| Brighton | 8 | 27.10x |
| Norwich St Giles | 7 | 1627.91x |
| Westminster St | 7 | 218.75x |
| Fordingbridge | 6 | 618.56x |
| Norwich St Paul | 6 | 750.00x |
| Petworth | 6 | 689.66x |
| Woolwich | 5 | 45.70x |
| Upper Llanvrechva | 3 | 309.28x |
| Bowling | 2 | 23.47x |
| Charlton Next Woolwich | 2 | 64.72x |
| Horton In Bradford | 2 | 14.89x |
| Solihull | 2 | 127.39x |
| Syderstone | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 2.65x |
| Bradford | 1 | 4.80x |
| Culham | 1 | 625.00x |
| Diss | 1 | 87.72x |
| East Grinstead | 1 | 48.31x |
| Great Plumstead | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Greenwich | 1 | 7.24x |
| Kempston | 1 | 98.04x |
| Kidderminster Borough | 1 | 15.08x |
| Lowestoft | 1 | 20.04x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 1 | 20.37x |
| Normanby In | 1 | 43.48x |
| Norwich St Martin At Oak | 1 | 123.46x |
| Pelsall | 1 | 114.94x |
| Plumstead | 1 | 10.13x |
| Sutton | 1 | 102.04x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 7.24x |
| Wigtown | 1 | 151.52x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mase 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 Mase 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 Mase households.
FAQ
In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Mase surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 29 in 2016. That gives Mase a modern rank of #36,059.
An occupational surname derived from the Middle English "mason", referring to a mason or stone worker.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mase 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.