UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name in France.
In the 1881 census there were 174 people recorded with the Massy surname, ranking it #14,042 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 46, ranked #35,126, down from #14,042 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ruabon, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Massy is 235 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.6%.
1881 census count
174
Ranked #14,042
Modern count
46
2016, ranked #35,126
Peak year
1891
235 bearers
Map years
5
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Massy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Massy surname density by area, 1881 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 | 95 | #17,707 |
| 1861 | historical | 175 | #13,409 |
| 1881 | historical | 174 | #14,042 |
| 1891 | historical | 235 | #13,316 |
| 1901 | historical | 162 | #17,271 |
| 1911 | historical | 166 | #16,756 |
| 1997 | modern | 44 | #33,275 |
| 1998 | modern | 44 | #33,462 |
| 1999 | modern | 42 | #33,778 |
| 2000 | modern | 46 | #33,458 |
| 2001 | modern | 36 | #34,171 |
| 2002 | modern | 38 | #34,307 |
| 2003 | modern | 38 | #34,361 |
| 2004 | modern | 37 | #34,640 |
| 2005 | modern | 37 | #34,815 |
| 2006 | modern | 37 | #35,074 |
| 2007 | modern | 37 | #35,215 |
| 2008 | modern | 35 | #35,441 |
| 2009 | modern | 37 | #35,434 |
| 2010 | modern | 42 | #35,294 |
| 2011 | modern | 39 | #35,444 |
| 2012 | modern | 39 | #35,415 |
| 2013 | modern | 43 | #35,271 |
| 2014 | modern | 44 | #35,241 |
| 2015 | modern | 46 | #35,109 |
| 2016 | modern | 46 | #35,126 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ruabon, London parishes, Toxteth Park and Manchester. 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 | Ruabon | Denbighshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Massy 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 Massy, 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 Massy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Massy 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, Massy 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 Massy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Massy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Massy originates from the Old French language and is derived from the word "massis," meaning massive or bulky. It is believed to have originated as a nickname for a large or strong person in the early medieval period. The name first appeared in records from Normandy, France, in the 11th century.
The earliest known bearer of the name was William Massy, who was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding lands in Essex, England. This suggests that the name had already been established in Normandy and was brought to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
During the Middle Ages, the name was also associated with various places in France, such as Massy in Île-de-France and Massiac in Auvergne. These place names likely contributed to the spread and variations of the surname.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including Massi, Mascy, and Massie, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time.
One notable bearer of the name was Sir Hugh Massy (c. 1300-1368), an English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. He was renowned for his bravery and leadership during the Battle of Crécy in 1346.
Another prominent figure was Sir Rowland Massy (c. 1520-1584), an Irish landowner and member of the Privy Council of Ireland during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In the 17th century, George Massy (1628-1687) was a prominent English politician and served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire.
During the 18th century, Eyre Massy (1718-1804) was an Irish politician and landowner who served as the High Sheriff of County Limerick.
In the 19th century, Henry Massy (1807-1892) was a British soldier and colonial administrator who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia from 1867 to 1871.
The name Massy has been found in various parts of Europe, including England, Ireland, France, and Germany, reflecting its widespread distribution and adaptation over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Massy 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. Lancashire leads with 34 Massys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.65x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 34 | 1.65x |
| Cheshire | 23 | 6.00x |
| Staffordshire | 16 | 2.73x |
| Middlesex | 14 | 0.81x |
| Devon | 10 | 2.77x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 0.58x |
| Hampshire | 9 | 2.53x |
| Lincolnshire | 7 | 2.52x |
| Somerset | 7 | 2.50x |
| Cornwall | 6 | 3.05x |
| Pembrokeshire | 5 | 9.06x |
| Surrey | 5 | 0.59x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 1.14x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 1.47x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 1.76x |
| Durham | 3 | 0.58x |
| Kent | 3 | 0.51x |
| Channel Islands | 2 | 3.89x |
| Flintshire | 2 | 4.29x |
| Royal Navy | 2 | 9.67x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 0.77x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 0.95x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.29x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 1.40x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.18x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.52x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 0.61x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Old Withington in Cheshire leads with 9 Massys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2571.43x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Massy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 15 |
| Elizabeth | 12 |
| Sarah | 5 |
| Hannah | 4 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Agnes | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Helen | 2 |
| Jeanie | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Adelade | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Beatrice | 1 |
| Biga | 1 |
| Bridget | 1 |
| Cath. | 1 |
| Catharine | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Constance | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Elise | 1 |
| Elisebeth | 1 |
| Elle | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Eva | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Gladyce | 1 |
| Ida | 1 |
| Jesse | 1 |
| Lawn | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Matila | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Norah | 1 |
| Olivia | 1 |
| Phoebe | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Massy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| James | 9 |
| John | 7 |
| George | 6 |
| William | 5 |
| Hugh | 4 |
| Samuel | 4 |
| Thomas | 4 |
| Henry | 3 |
| Joseph | 3 |
| Arthur | 2 |
| Edward | 2 |
| Edwin | 2 |
| Godfrey | 2 |
| (Lord) | 1 |
| Antony | 1 |
| Benjamin | 1 |
| Charles | 1 |
| Daniel | 1 |
| David | 1 |
| Dawson | 1 |
| Fred | 1 |
| Holland | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Malcome | 1 |
| Mary | 1 |
| Pat | 1 |
| Richard | 1 |
| Robert | 1 |
| Rolla | 1 |
| Stephen | 1 |
| Walter | 1 |
| Will. | 1 |
| Wm. | 1 |
| Xavier | 1 |
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 Massy households.
FAQ
In 1881, 174 people were recorded with the Massy surname. That placed it at #14,042 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 46 in 2016. That gives Massy a modern rank of #35,126.
A locational surname derived from a place name in France.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Massy 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.