NameCensus.

UK surname

Massingham

A locational surname derived from the village of Massingham in Norfolk, England.

In the 1881 census there were 502 people recorded with the Massingham surname, ranking it #6,759 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 871, ranked #6,451, up from #6,759 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Aylmerton, Field Dalling and King's Lynn St Margaret. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk and Oxford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Massingham is 931 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.5%.

1881 census count

502

Ranked #6,759

Modern count

871

2016, ranked #6,451

Peak year

2002

931 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Massingham had 502 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,759 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 871 in 2016, ranked #6,451.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 800 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Massingham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Massingham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Massingham 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 294 #7,758
1861 historical 335 #7,610
1881 historical 502 #6,759
1891 historical 594 #6,436
1901 historical 749 #5,949
1911 historical 800 #5,472
1997 modern 862 #6,169
1998 modern 910 #6,106
1999 modern 903 #6,189
2000 modern 895 #6,200
2001 modern 902 #6,078
2002 modern 931 #6,029
2003 modern 904 #6,065
2004 modern 899 #6,094
2005 modern 873 #6,169
2006 modern 859 #6,266
2007 modern 870 #6,259
2008 modern 859 #6,365
2009 modern 888 #6,333
2010 modern 921 #6,275
2011 modern 874 #6,472
2012 modern 856 #6,497
2013 modern 912 #6,289
2014 modern 902 #6,364
2015 modern 884 #6,400
2016 modern 871 #6,451

Geography

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Where Massinghams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Aylmerton, Field Dalling, King's Lynn St Margaret, Gateshead and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk and Oxford. 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 Aylmerton Norfolk
2 Field Dalling Norfolk
3 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
4 Gateshead Durham
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 004 North Norfolk
2 North Norfolk 002 North Norfolk
3 Oxford 016 Oxford
4 North Norfolk 008 North Norfolk
5 North Norfolk 003 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Massingham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Massingham

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Massingham is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Massingham 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

Massingham falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Massingham

The surname Massingham originated in England during the Middle Ages. It derived from the Old English words "massa" meaning "mass" and "inga" denoting a group or tribe, thus collectively referring to a people or family associated with the Christian mass or church service. The name likely emerged in the region of Norfolk, where the village of Massingham is located.

Massingham is first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, a crucial record of landowners and properties across England following the Norman Conquest. The entry refers to "Massingeham" as a settlement held by William de Warenne, a Norman nobleman. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over centuries.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was William de Massingham, born around 1220 in Norfolk. He served as a cleric and held ecclesiastical positions in the region. Another early bearer was John Massingham, born circa 1280, a landowner and farmer in the village bearing the family name.

During the 14th century, a prominent figure emerged – Sir Thomas Massingham (1340-1420), a knight and military commander who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. He gained renown for his valor and leadership in battles such as Agincourt.

In the 16th century, the name Massingham appeared in literary works, including the writings of the English poet and playwright Thomas Sackville (1536-1608), who referenced a "Master Massingham" in one of his works.

A notable bearer of the name in more recent history was Edward Massingham (1714-1779), an English clergyman and author who published several theological works and sermons during his lifetime.

Throughout its history, the surname Massingham has maintained strong ties to its origins in Norfolk, England, with many bearers hailing from or residing in that region. The name's evolution from the Old English words "massa" and "inga" reflects its connection to the Christian faith and the people associated with religious services in its early days.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Massingham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Massingham 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. Norfolk leads with 263 Massinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.93x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 263 34.93x
Middlesex 60 1.23x
Yorkshire 39 0.80x
Warwickshire 22 1.78x
Lincolnshire 18 2.30x
Durham 15 1.03x
Essex 14 1.45x
Suffolk 11 1.84x
Surrey 11 0.46x
Lancashire 9 0.15x
Kent 8 0.48x
Oxfordshire 7 2.31x
Somerset 7 0.89x
Staffordshire 6 0.36x
Northumberland 5 0.69x
Bedfordshire 2 0.79x
Derbyshire 1 0.13x
Devon 1 0.10x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.03x
Leicestershire 1 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Field Dalling in Norfolk leads with 39 Massinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 7090.91x.

Place Total Index
Field Dalling 39 7090.91x
Langham 38 7037.04x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 35 154.87x
Aylmerton 25 4901.96x
Birmingham 18 4.37x
Marske In Guisbrough 13 150.81x
Bodham 12 2352.94x
Downham Market 10 193.42x
Foulsham 10 628.93x
Hackney London 9 3.28x
Shoreditch London 9 4.24x
Walthamstow 8 23.00x
Felbrigg 7 2916.67x
Fulmodestone Cum Croxton 7 1147.54x
Guestwick 7 2258.06x
Lowestoft 7 24.84x
South Lynn 7 82.35x
St Pancras London 7 1.78x
Dawdon 6 33.48x
Garston 6 34.99x
Oxford St Clement 6 78.64x
Saxlingham 6 2608.70x
Skelton In Guisbrough 6 45.70x
Southwick 6 43.48x
Wolstanton 6 11.95x
Chester St Nicholas 5 724.64x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 5.07x
Grimston 5 263.16x
Headingley Cum Burley 5 16.01x
Helpringham 5 316.46x
Limehouse London 5 9.30x
Litcham 5 370.37x
Nailsea 5 160.77x
Navenby 5 310.56x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 5 132.28x
Westminster St James 5 9.93x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.88x
Edmonton 4 10.14x
Greenwich 4 5.13x
Ipswich St Margaret 4 19.76x
Lakenham 4 37.38x
Lambeth 4 0.94x
Lewisham 4 4.49x
Mile End Old Town 4 5.17x
Rugby 4 23.94x
Ruskington 4 200.00x
East Dereham 3 31.55x
Gunthorpe 3 810.81x
Heigham 3 7.42x
Kirkdale 3 3.07x
Penge 3 9.59x
Skircoat 3 15.67x
St Clement Danes 3 37.83x
St Mary Somerset 3 7500.00x
Wallsend 3 12.98x
Watton 3 126.58x
Bath St Peter St Paul 2 57.47x
Camberwell 2 0.64x
Cromer 2 74.63x
Elswick 2 3.44x
Holt 2 77.82x
Hornsey 2 3.23x
Kingston On Thames 2 3.49x
Luton 2 4.56x
Norwich St Swithin 2 153.85x
Stockton On Tees 2 2.85x
Wells Next Sea 2 45.56x
Cawston 1 54.35x
Great Ryburgh 1 86.21x
Great Snoring 1 128.21x
Hellington 1 588.24x
Kelling 1 277.78x
Leicester St Mary 1 2.28x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.27x
Sculcoates 1 1.30x
St Edmond King London 1 555.56x
Stranton 1 2.04x
Thetford St Cuthbert 1 36.76x
Thornage 1 181.82x
Warham All Sts 1 243.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 17
Ellen 14
Ann 9
Eliza 7
Emma 7
Anna 6
Edith 6
Hannah 6
Martha 6
Annie 5
Emily 5
Florence 5
Rebecca 5
Alice 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Blanche 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Rachel 3
Susan 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Beatrice 2
Clara 2
Hanah 2
Jane 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Maryann 2
Rosa 2
Sophia 2
Susanna 2
Alic 1
Clare 1
Clementia 1
Clementine 1
Connie 1
E.M. 1
E.S. 1
Edna 1
James 1
Winefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 34
John 24
James 23
George 22
Robert 15
Charles 8
Henry 8
Thomas 8
Arthur 7
Walter 7
Frederick 6
Richard 6
Herbert 5
Alfred 4
Benjamin 4
Frank 4
Edward 3
Isaac 3
Albert 2
Christopher 2
Earl 2
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Samuel 2
Willie 2
Bales 1
E. 1
E.R. 1
Earle 1
Ebenezer 1
Francis 1
G. 1
Geo.Saml. 1
H.E. 1
Head 1
Herbt. 1
Jacob 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Kerin 1
Lawrence 1
Leeder 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Norman 1
P.W. 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Massingham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Massingham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 502 people were recorded with the Massingham surname. That placed it at #6,759 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Massingham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 871 in 2016. That gives Massingham a modern rank of #6,451.

What does the Massingham surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the village of Massingham in Norfolk, England.

What does the Massingham map show?

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