NameCensus.

UK surname

Masterson

An English occupational surname denoting the son of a master craftsman or one who had achieved master status.

In the 1881 census there were 626 people recorded with the Masterson surname, ranking it #5,649 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,104, ranked #3,069, up from #5,649 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, Coventry and Central Easterhouse.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Masterson is 2,175 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 236.1%.

1881 census count

626

Ranked #5,649

Modern count

2,104

2016, ranked #3,069

Peak year

2010

2,175 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Masterson had 626 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,649 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,104 in 2016, ranked #3,069.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 751 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Masterson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Masterson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Masterson 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 319 #7,273
1861 historical 331 #7,706
1881 historical 626 #5,649
1891 historical 614 #6,271
1901 historical 751 #5,937
1911 historical 689 #6,159
1997 modern 1,926 #3,139
1998 modern 2,042 #3,103
1999 modern 2,056 #3,113
2000 modern 2,058 #3,098
2001 modern 2,014 #3,098
2002 modern 2,075 #3,079
2003 modern 2,028 #3,080
2004 modern 2,020 #3,090
2005 modern 2,000 #3,090
2006 modern 2,021 #3,059
2007 modern 2,040 #3,068
2008 modern 2,056 #3,069
2009 modern 2,111 #3,060
2010 modern 2,175 #3,054
2011 modern 2,140 #3,055
2012 modern 2,063 #3,107
2013 modern 2,101 #3,106
2014 modern 2,142 #3,066
2015 modern 2,132 #3,043
2016 modern 2,104 #3,069

Geography

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Where Mastersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Glasgow and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, Coventry, Central Easterhouse, Bannockburn and Summerston Central and West. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 013 Waveney
2 Coventry 007 Coventry
3 Central Easterhouse Glasgow City
4 Bannockburn Stirling
5 Summerston Central and West Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Masterson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Masterson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Masterson, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Masterson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Masterson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Masterson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Masterson is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Masterson falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Masterson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Masterson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Masterson

The surname Masterson originated in Ireland, with its earliest known use dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old Irish personal name "Muireadhach," meaning "lord" or "master." The name was anglicized to "Masterson" and other variations such as "Masson" and "Masson."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Masterson can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by Franciscan scholars in the 17th century. The annals mention a notable figure named Gillamhuire Masterson, who was the chief of Fermanagh in the late 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Masterson family held lands in County Fermanagh, and their name is associated with several place names in the area, such as Masterson's Bawn and Masterson's Island. The Mastersons were also prominent in County Monaghan, where they were influential landowners and members of the local gentry.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Masterson surname is found in the Register of the Priory of St. Thomas the Martyr, Dublin, which dates back to the 13th century. The register mentions a "William Masterson" who was a tenant of the priory in the year 1278.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Masterson. One such figure was Sir Richard Masterson (c. 1590-1665), an Irish soldier and landowner who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. Another prominent Masterson was Walter Masterson (1804-1901), an Irish-American politician who served as the Mayor of Brooklyn, New York, in the mid-19th century.

Other notable Mastersons include:

1. Bartholomew Masterson (c. 1515-1585), an Irish judge and landowner in County Fermanagh. 2. William Masterson (1809-1885), an Irish-American businessman and politician in Philadelphia. 3. Mary Stuart Masterson (born 1966), an American actress known for her roles in films like "Benny & Joon" and "Fried Green Tomatoes." 4. Michael Masterson (1888-1957), an Irish politician and member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament. 5. Peter Masterson (1934-2018), an American actor, writer, and director best known for the film "The Trip to Bountiful."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Masterson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Masterson 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. Lancashire leads with 166 Mastersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.28x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 166 2.28x
Suffolk 87 11.66x
Lanarkshire 54 2.73x
Middlesex 45 0.73x
Yorkshire 42 0.69x
Norfolk 31 3.29x
Surrey 22 0.74x
Northumberland 21 2.30x
Cheshire 18 1.33x
Midlothian 18 2.19x
Staffordshire 18 0.87x
Gloucestershire 14 1.17x
Durham 11 0.60x
Fife 11 3.03x
Huntingdonshire 11 9.04x
Cambridgeshire 9 2.32x
Essex 8 0.66x
Kent 8 0.38x
Wiltshire 6 1.11x
Hampshire 5 0.40x
Warwickshire 4 0.26x
Angus 3 0.53x
Buteshire 3 8.08x
Sussex 3 0.29x
Ayrshire 2 0.44x
Renfrewshire 2 0.42x
Royal Navy 2 2.74x
Hertfordshire 1 0.24x
Leicestershire 1 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x
Worcestershire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 34 Mastersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.70x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 34 7.70x
Glasgow 28 7.96x
Great Yarmouth 27 34.61x
Blackburn 21 10.86x
Pendleton In Salford 20 23.09x
Govan 19 3.88x
Kirkley 14 224.36x
Toxteth Park 12 4.88x
Birkenhead 11 10.20x
Kensington London 11 3.23x
St Ives 11 174.33x
Collierley 9 110.84x
Elswick 9 12.37x
Hulme 9 5.93x
Kingswinford 9 11.99x
St Edward Cambridge 9 731.71x
Bootle Cum Linacre 8 13.86x
Clifford Cum Boston 8 146.52x
East Ardsley 8 152.09x
Everton 8 3.45x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 3.65x
Edinburgh St Andrews 7 103.24x
Ipswich St Clement 7 36.90x
Lowestoft 7 19.86x
Melton 7 238.10x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 12.86x
Pakefield 7 378.38x
Poplar London 7 6.05x
Stockport 7 10.06x
Beccles 6 49.96x
Caterham 6 45.49x
Finchley 6 25.54x
Halifax 6 6.73x
Heston 6 29.50x
Ipswich St Margaret 6 23.70x
Preston 6 3.09x
West Derby 6 2.82x
Westbury On Trym 6 14.74x
Woolwich 6 7.77x
Abbotshall 5 36.90x
Barony 5 1.00x
Bermondsey 5 2.74x
Camberwell 5 1.28x
Collingbourne Ducis 5 555.56x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.51x
Gorleston 5 26.37x
St George Hanover 5 6.25x
West Ham 5 1.87x
Wingfield 5 515.46x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 7.07x
Cransford 4 1025.64x
Cupar 4 25.36x
Great Bolton 4 4.15x
Ilketshall St Margaret 4 666.67x
Lasswade 4 21.32x
Manchester 4 1.22x
Mile End Old Town 4 4.14x
Newcastle On Tyne St 4 8.47x
Salford 4 1.87x
Sutton 4 336.13x
Wigan 4 3.94x
Ardwick 3 4.58x
Boxted 3 173.41x
Cheltenham 3 3.24x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 2.60x
Dundee 3 1.42x
Hastings St Mary 3 11.67x
Kirkham 3 31.22x
Newington 3 1.33x
Rothesay 3 16.69x
Willersey 3 361.45x
Dunfermline 2 3.59x
Eccleston In Prescot 2 5.48x
Holy Trinity 2 1.37x
Kilbirnie 2 18.17x
Leeds 2 0.58x
Leiston 2 39.06x
Oldham 2 0.85x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 2 7.09x
Wakefield 2 4.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 50
Elizabeth 18
Catherine 14
Sarah 14
Eliza 13
Jane 12
Ellen 10
Margaret 9
Ann 8
Annie 6
Florence 6
Anna 5
Bridget 5
Harriet 5
Emma 4
Louisa 4
Maria 4
Rose 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Anne 3
Charlotte 3
Julia 3
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Margt. 2
Martha 2
Rachel 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Augusta 1
Elizh. 1
Emiley 1
Esther 1
F.B. 1
Janett 1
Johanna 1
Judith 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Letitia 1
Lily 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 41
James 27
William 24
Thomas 16
Patrick 14
George 12
Charles 11
Henry 9
Edward 8
Michael 8
Frederick 7
Robert 6
Albert 5
Herbert 4
Alfred 3
Andrew 3
Arthur 3
Joseph 3
Lawrence 3
Phillip 3
Samuel 3
Wm. 3
Bernard 2
Brian 2
Christopher 2
Earnest 2
Ed. 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Hugh 2
Luke 2
Philip 2
Walter 2
Francess 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
J. 1
Jerrence 1
Jos.A.M. 1
Martin 1
Mickail 1
Morton 1
Nix 1
Oliver 1
Patk. 1
Peter 1
Robt.C. 1
Sidney 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Masterson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Masterson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 626 people were recorded with the Masterson surname. That placed it at #5,649 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Masterson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,104 in 2016. That gives Masterson a modern rank of #3,069.

What does the Masterson surname mean?

An English occupational surname denoting the son of a master craftsman or one who had achieved master status.

What does the Masterson map show?

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