NameCensus.

UK surname

Mash

An English occupational surname for a brewer of malt liquor or beer.

In the 1881 census there were 440 people recorded with the Mash surname, ranking it #7,440 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 559, ranked #9,178, down from #7,440 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Heston, Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Anglesey, Chiltern and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mash is 776 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.0%.

1881 census count

440

Ranked #7,440

Modern count

559

2016, ranked #9,178

Peak year

1891

776 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mash had 440 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,440 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 559 in 2016, ranked #9,178.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 776 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mash surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mash surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mash 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 478 #5,213
1861 historical 733 #3,720
1881 historical 440 #7,440
1891 historical 776 #5,171
1901 historical 589 #7,164
1911 historical 694 #6,121
1997 modern 608 #8,068
1998 modern 589 #8,500
1999 modern 573 #8,702
2000 modern 589 #8,520
2001 modern 567 #8,610
2002 modern 556 #8,909
2003 modern 556 #8,770
2004 modern 572 #8,618
2005 modern 559 #8,693
2006 modern 557 #8,729
2007 modern 550 #8,905
2008 modern 557 #8,876
2009 modern 573 #8,897
2010 modern 584 #8,962
2011 modern 578 #8,929
2012 modern 552 #9,138
2013 modern 561 #9,177
2014 modern 571 #9,113
2015 modern 566 #9,096
2016 modern 559 #9,178

Geography

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Where Mashs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Heston, Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth, London parishes, Lambeth and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Anglesey, Chiltern, North Norfolk, Merton and Three Rivers. 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 Heston Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth Huntingdonshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Anglesey 001 Isle of Anglesey
2 Chiltern 001 Chiltern
3 North Norfolk 012 North Norfolk
4 Merton 021 Merton
5 Three Rivers 003 Three Rivers

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mash

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mash

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Mash is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mash 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

Mash falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mash

The surname Mash has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "masc," which referred to a mesh or net, suggesting that the name may have been initially associated with individuals involved in fishing or related occupations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, the comprehensive survey conducted by order of William the Conqueror. In this historical document, the name appears as "Masc," indicating its presence in England during the Norman period.

During the 13th century, the name Mash began to appear more frequently in various records and documents across different regions of England, particularly in areas with strong fishing communities or settlements located near bodies of water. Variations in spelling, such as "Mashe" and "Massh," were also commonly observed.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Mash include Sir John Mash (1533-1609), a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another noteworthy figure was Richard Mash (1675-1744), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge.

In the 16th century, the surname Mash was also found in connection with various place names, such as Mash Barn in Oxfordshire and Mash Farm in Hertfordshire. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the surname who owned or resided in those locations.

Other historical figures with the surname Mash include Thomas Mash (1592-1647), an English clergyman and author known for his work "A Most Excellent Sermon Upon the Passion of Christ," and William Mash (1684-1758), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

While the surname Mash may not have the same prominence today as it did in earlier centuries, its historical roots and connections to fishing, occupations, and place names in England provide a rich tapestry of meaning and significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mash families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mash 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 123 Mashs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.79x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 123 2.79x
Surrey 91 4.24x
Huntingdonshire 36 41.12x
Suffolk 33 6.14x
Northamptonshire 32 7.72x
Norfolk 16 2.36x
Essex 14 1.61x
Yorkshire 11 0.25x
Bedfordshire 10 4.38x
Channel Islands 10 7.65x
Hampshire 10 1.11x
Worcestershire 8 1.39x
Hertfordshire 7 2.30x
Kent 6 0.40x
Cumberland 5 1.32x
Staffordshire 5 0.34x
Wiltshire 5 1.28x
Lincolnshire 4 0.57x
Cornwall 3 0.60x
Somerset 3 0.42x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.72x
Glamorgan 2 0.26x
Gloucestershire 2 0.23x
Sussex 2 0.27x
Warwickshire 2 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.38x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Devon 1 0.11x
Herefordshire 1 0.55x
Lanarkshire 1 0.07x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Leicestershire 1 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.17x
Renfrewshire 1 0.29x
Royal Navy 1 1.90x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heston in Middlesex leads with 30 Mashs recorded in 1881 and an index of 204.92x.

Place Total Index
Heston 30 204.92x
Lambeth 19 4.94x
Camberwell 17 6.04x
Long Stow 17 7391.30x
Newington 15 9.21x
Shotley 13 1368.42x
Southwark St Saviour 13 57.37x
Bethnal Green London 12 6.27x
Kensington London 11 4.49x
Norwood 10 99.21x
Earls Barton 9 254.24x
Great Staughton 9 529.41x
Haughley 9 671.64x
St Helier 9 21.16x
Steeple Gidding 9 4736.84x
Bermondsey 7 5.33x
Blunham 7 451.61x
Cheshunt 7 65.91x
Claines 7 44.30x
Mitcham 7 51.55x
North Elmham 7 424.24x
Northampton St Giles 7 44.30x
Bow London 6 10.69x
Chelsea London 6 4.52x
Croydon 5 4.19x
Faxton 5 6250.00x
Ipswich St Margaret 5 27.44x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 5 24.63x
Streatham 5 15.29x
Willesden 5 12.03x
Hornsey 4 7.17x
Islington London 4 0.94x
Lutton 4 344.83x
Millbrook 4 17.57x
Rushmere 4 341.88x
Swindon 4 13.22x
Tendring 4 312.50x
Thorpe 4 434.78x
Whitechapel London 4 9.20x
Crosscanonby 3 23.90x
Denford 3 400.00x
Eltham 3 34.01x
Felmingham 3 500.00x
Hammersmith London 3 2.76x
Hampstead London 3 4.37x
Sculcoates 3 4.33x
Sedgley 3 5.43x
Sheviock 3 357.14x
Southwick 3 750.00x
St George Hanover 3 5.21x
St Pancras London 3 0.85x
Tottenham 3 4.27x
Bedford St Paul 2 12.77x
Chiswick 2 8.30x
Colchester Holy Trinity 2 103.63x
Daventry 2 34.07x
Heckmondwike 2 14.23x
Ipswich St Mary At Tower 2 168.07x
Paddington London 2 1.23x
Portsmouth 2 9.61x
Pytchley 2 235.29x
Shoreditch London 2 1.05x
Southwark Christchurch 2 9.68x
St Nicholas At Wade 2 227.27x
St Osyth 2 94.34x
Thorpe Next Norwich 2 27.82x
Burnham 1 18.48x
Burnham 1 29.41x
Chester St John Baptist 1 5.72x
Finchley 1 5.92x
Friern Barnet 1 10.30x
Handsworth 1 2.73x
Irton With Santon 1 106.38x
Newmarket All Sts 1 48.54x
North Bradley 1 35.09x
Prittlewell 1 8.29x
St Clement Danes 1 14.01x
St Peter Port 1 4.14x
Wilton 1 54.05x
Winterbourne 1 20.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 30
James 23
John 20
George 17
Thomas 15
Henry 11
Charles 9
Alfred 7
Arthur 6
Harry 6
Robert 6
Joseph 5
Walter 4
Chas. 3
Edgar 3
Edward 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Benjamin 1
Cloes...er 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Ellison 1
Ernest 1
Fk 1
Frank 1
Fredk 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Chas. 1
Geo.E. 1
H. 1
Han... 1
Harold 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jesse 1
Jonas 1
Leonard 1
Lome 1
Matthew 1
Montague 1
Nathaniel 1
Noah 1
Oliver 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Mash surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mash surname in 1881?

In 1881, 440 people were recorded with the Mash surname. That placed it at #7,440 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mash surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 559 in 2016. That gives Mash a modern rank of #9,178.

What does the Mash surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a brewer of malt liquor or beer.

What does the Mash map show?

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