UK surname
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a field or meadow.
In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Mass surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 78, ranked #33,171, down from #20,709 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 Mass is 760 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.2%.
1881 census count
92
Ranked #20,709
Modern count
78
2016, ranked #33,171
Peak year
1861
760 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mass surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mass surname density by area, 1911 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 | 219 | #9,712 |
| 1861 | historical | 760 | #3,598 |
| 1881 | historical | 92 | #20,709 |
| 1891 | historical | 417 | #8,579 |
| 1901 | historical | 139 | #18,876 |
| 1911 | historical | 233 | #13,560 |
| 1997 | modern | 60 | #31,629 |
| 1998 | modern | 58 | #32,138 |
| 1999 | modern | 52 | #32,848 |
| 2000 | modern | 57 | #32,417 |
| 2001 | modern | 54 | #32,583 |
| 2002 | modern | 42 | #33,951 |
| 2003 | modern | 40 | #34,215 |
| 2004 | modern | 44 | #34,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 43 | #34,328 |
| 2006 | modern | 44 | #34,568 |
| 2007 | modern | 41 | #34,974 |
| 2008 | modern | 44 | #34,865 |
| 2009 | modern | 43 | #35,088 |
| 2010 | modern | 49 | #34,886 |
| 2011 | modern | 39 | #35,444 |
| 2012 | modern | 53 | #34,657 |
| 2013 | modern | 53 | #34,715 |
| 2014 | modern | 64 | #34,141 |
| 2015 | modern | 69 | #33,788 |
| 2016 | modern | 78 | #33,171 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Wigan, Manchester and St Marylebone. 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 3 |
| 3 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mass 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 Mass, 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 Mass surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mass 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, Mass 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 Mass is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mass, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MASS is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "maesse," which means "mass" or "celebration of the Eucharist." The name likely originated in the 11th or 12th century and was used to denote someone who lived near a church or was closely associated with the church or religious services.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname MASS can be found in various medieval records, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Masse." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property ownership in England.
In the 13th century, the surname MASS appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a census-like record of landowners and their holdings. The name was also found in the Feet of Fines, a collection of legal documents from the same period, indicating that individuals bearing this surname were involved in land transactions.
One of the earliest known bearers of the surname MASS was John Masse, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. Another notable figure was William Masse, a prominent landowner in Gloucestershire, whose name appears in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1380.
The surname MASS has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. Sir John Masse (c. 1460-1528) was an English diplomat and Lord Mayor of London in 1527. Edward Masse (c. 1577-1656) was an English clergyman and philosopher who served as the Rector of Woodhill in Buckinghamshire.
In the 17th century, Isaac Masse (1587-1643) was a French Jesuit missionary and explorer who accompanied Samuel de Champlain on his expeditions to Canada. He is credited with being one of the first Europeans to explore the Great Lakes region.
Another prominent figure with the surname MASS was Johann Gottfried Masse (1691-1755), a German architect and urban planner who designed many notable buildings in St. Petersburg, Russia, during the reign of Empress Elizabeth.
The name MASS has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Massingham in Norfolk and Masseys Wood in Gloucestershire, which may have contributed to the development of the surname in those regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mass 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 18 Mass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 18 | 2.01x |
| Yorkshire | 17 | 1.91x |
| Lancashire | 12 | 1.13x |
| Gloucestershire | 11 | 6.25x |
| Staffordshire | 7 | 2.31x |
| Kent | 6 | 1.96x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.37x |
| Suffolk | 4 | 3.66x |
| Essex | 2 | 1.13x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 1.71x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.37x |
| Fife | 1 | 1.88x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.64x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.54x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.72x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 9.35x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.66x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St James St Paul in Gloucestershire leads with 9 Mass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 153.32x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol St James St Paul | 9 | 153.32x |
| Shadwell London | 7 | 278.88x |
| Richmond | 6 | 431.65x |
| Sedgley | 6 | 53.33x |
| Dalton In Wigan | 5 | 3333.33x |
| Gravesend | 5 | 193.05x |
| Southwark St Olave | 5 | 724.64x |
| Laxton | 4 | 5714.29x |
| Mirfield | 4 | 81.97x |
| Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe | 3 | 72.64x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 2 | 23.64x |
| Cirencester | 2 | 84.03x |
| Gorleston | 2 | 71.94x |
| Hadleigh | 2 | 188.68x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.30x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 2.77x |
| Bilston | 1 | 17.04x |
| Bishop Auckland | 1 | 27.93x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 4.72x |
| Cotheridge | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Eltham | 1 | 55.87x |
| Everton | 1 | 2.95x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 4.52x |
| Hastings St Mary In The | 1 | 30.96x |
| Hulme | 1 | 4.50x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.00x |
| Kings Lynn St Margaret | 1 | 24.15x |
| Kirkcaldy | 1 | 38.02x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 5.58x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.28x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.55x |
| Manchester | 1 | 2.09x |
| Old Artillery Ground | 1 | 129.87x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 10.94x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 2.57x |
| Spitalfields London | 1 | 14.81x |
| Springfield | 1 | 128.21x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.09x |
| St Woollos | 1 | 13.81x |
| Swansea Town | 1 | 7.81x |
| West Ham | 1 | 2.56x |
| Worcester St Martin | 1 | 63.29x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mass 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 Mass 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 Mass households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 13 |
| Assistant | 3 |
| Laundress | 3 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Errand Boy | 2 |
| Horse Breaker | 2 |
| School Governess | 2 |
| Tailor | 2 |
| Agricultural Laborer | 1 |
| Bakers Man | 1 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Blacksmiths Wife | 1 |
| Brick Maker | 1 |
| Brokers Clerk | 1 |
| Butler Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Clogs Pattern Maker | 1 |
| Coachman (Dom) | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cooper | 1 |
| Domestic Servant Cook | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Engine Cleaner | 1 |
| Feight Clerk | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Housewife (Patient) | 1 |
| II Engineer | 1 |
| Labour | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
| Musician | 1 |
| Nailmaker | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Nurse Dom | 1 |
| Office Keeper | 1 |
| Oilman | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Potato Salesman (Green Grocer) | 1 |
| Seedie Cook | 1 |
| Serv Dom | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Tavern Keeper (Inn) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Mass surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 78 in 2016. That gives Mass a modern rank of #33,171.
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a field or meadow.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mass 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.