NameCensus.

UK surname

Matthams

In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Matthams surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 268, ranked #16,003, up from #23,062 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Southminster, Mayland, Steeple, Watham, Little and Waltham, Great. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maldon, Chelmsford and Braintree.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Matthams is 282 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 262.2%.

1881 census count

74

Ranked #23,062

Modern count

268

2016, ranked #16,003

Peak year

2000

282 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Matthams had 74 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,062 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016, ranked #16,003.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 194 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Matthams surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Matthams surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Matthams 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 51 #24,096
1861 historical 93 #22,009
1881 historical 74 #23,062
1891 historical 95 #24,694
1901 historical 165 #17,085
1911 historical 194 #15,250
1997 modern 267 #14,623
1998 modern 274 #14,759
1999 modern 273 #14,875
2000 modern 282 #14,532
2001 modern 270 #14,734
2002 modern 258 #15,485
2003 modern 263 #15,109
2004 modern 265 #15,110
2005 modern 256 #15,407
2006 modern 252 #15,642
2007 modern 263 #15,366
2008 modern 263 #15,505
2009 modern 267 #15,661
2010 modern 265 #16,115
2011 modern 258 #16,284
2012 modern 264 #15,904
2013 modern 260 #16,350
2014 modern 269 #16,059
2015 modern 270 #15,911
2016 modern 268 #16,003

Geography

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Where Matthams' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Southminster, Mayland, Steeple, Watham, Little, Waltham, Great, Roothing, White and Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Maldon, Chelmsford, Braintree and Charnwood. 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 Southminster, Mayland, Steeple Essex
2 Watham, Little Essex
3 Waltham, Great Essex
4 Roothing, White Essex
5 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maldon 002 Maldon
2 Chelmsford 005 Chelmsford
3 Braintree 015 Braintree
4 Maldon 005 Maldon
5 Charnwood 002 Charnwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Matthams

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Matthams

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Matthams is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Matthams 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

Matthams falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Matthams is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Matthams families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Matthams 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. Essex leads with 64 Matthams' recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.93x.

County Total Index
Essex 64 44.93x
Middlesex 4 0.55x
Suffolk 3 3.41x
Cambridgeshire 1 2.19x
Hampshire 1 0.68x
Wiltshire 1 1.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Maldon St Marys in Essex leads with 15 Matthams' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4411.76x.

Place Total Index
Maldon St Marys 15 4411.76x
Althorne 7 8750.00x
Aythorpe Roothing 7 11666.67x
Great Dunmow 7 945.95x
White Roothing 6 6000.00x
Creeksea 5 12500.00x
Great Baddow 5 980.39x
Lowestoft 3 72.29x
Romford 3 133.33x
Bethnal Green London 2 6.38x
Foulness 2 1111.11x
Great Waltham 2 344.83x
Roxwell 2 1000.00x
Acton 1 23.64x
Chelmsford 1 40.98x
East Hanningfield 1 1000.00x
Haddenham 1 232.56x
St Marylebone London 1 2.60x
St Maurice Winchester 1 163.93x
Swindon 1 20.20x
Writtle 1 172.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Mary 5
Jane 3
Alice 2
Eliza 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Hephzibah 1
Lilie 1
Luisa 1
Maria 1
Mirander 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Matthams surname: questions and answers

How common was the Matthams surname in 1881?

In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Matthams surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Matthams surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016. That gives Matthams a modern rank of #16,003.

What does the Matthams map show?

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