NameCensus.

UK surname

Mavin

A surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a nickname or pet name.

In the 1881 census there were 226 people recorded with the Mavin surname, ranking it #11,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 487, ranked #10,172, up from #11,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Widdrington, Woodhorn (Ellington), Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Bradford and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mavin is 514 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 115.5%.

1881 census count

226

Ranked #11,889

Modern count

487

2016, ranked #10,172

Peak year

1998

514 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mavin had 226 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 487 in 2016, ranked #10,172.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 405 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Mavin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mavin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mavin 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 100 #17,164
1861 historical 110 #19,562
1881 historical 226 #11,889
1891 historical 247 #12,880
1901 historical 318 #11,187
1911 historical 405 #9,212
1997 modern 460 #9,907
1998 modern 514 #9,383
1999 modern 498 #9,687
2000 modern 489 #9,788
2001 modern 475 #9,827
2002 modern 469 #10,105
2003 modern 448 #10,325
2004 modern 452 #10,270
2005 modern 440 #10,382
2006 modern 447 #10,289
2007 modern 459 #10,177
2008 modern 464 #10,190
2009 modern 486 #10,069
2010 modern 501 #10,047
2011 modern 469 #10,444
2012 modern 471 #10,313
2013 modern 482 #10,298
2014 modern 498 #10,102
2015 modern 484 #10,249
2016 modern 487 #10,172

Geography

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Where Mavins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Widdrington, Woodhorn (Ellington), Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Gateshead, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Rothbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Bradford and County Durham. 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 Widdrington, Woodhorn (Ellington) Northumberland
2 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Rothbury Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
3 Northumberland 016 Northumberland
4 Bradford 052 Bradford
5 County Durham 006 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mavin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mavin

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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, Mavin 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

Mavin is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mavin 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 Mavin 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 Mavin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mavin

The surname MAVIN originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English word "mæfan," which means "maiden" or "virgin." This name was initially bestowed upon individuals who were dedicated to religious life, specifically nuns or women who had taken vows of chastity.

In the early 13th century, the name was recorded in various forms, such as Maivin, Mavyn, and Mavine, in various regions of England, particularly in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Sister Margaret Mavin, a nun who lived in the Benedictine convent of St. Mary's in York in the late 1200s.

The MAVIN surname gained prominence during the Middle Ages, and it can be found in several historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a John Mavyn. Additionally, the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1301 references a Robert Mavyn, indicating the spread of the name across different counties.

During the Renaissance period, the name continued to evolve, with variations such as Mavynn and Maveyn appearing in parish records and legal documents. One notable bearer of the MAVIN surname was Sir William Mavin, a wealthy merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire, who lived from 1525 to 1598.

In the 17th century, the MAVIN surname was further solidified, and several individuals with this name made significant contributions. For instance, Thomas Mavin (1590-1653) was a renowned Puritan minister and author who published several religious works, while John Mavin (1615-1678) was a respected scholar and linguist who served as a professor at Cambridge University.

As the centuries passed, the MAVIN surname continued to be represented in various fields. One notable figure was Elizabeth Mavin (1735-1812), a pioneering educator who established one of the first schools for girls in London. Another prominent bearer of the name was Sir Robert Mavin (1820-1901), a successful industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the city of Manchester.

Throughout its history, the MAVIN surname has been associated with numerous individuals across various professions, from clergy and scholars to merchants and industrialists. While the name has maintained its roots in England, it has also spread to other parts of the world, reflecting the diverse journeys and accomplishments of those who bear this moniker.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mavin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mavin 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. Northumberland leads with 162 Mavins recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.18x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 162 49.18x
Durham 44 6.68x
Devon 9 1.95x
Middlesex 5 0.23x
Yorkshire 2 0.09x
Cornwall 1 0.40x
Cumberland 1 0.52x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Midlothian 1 0.34x
Royal Navy 1 3.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rothbury in Northumberland leads with 30 Mavins recorded in 1881 and an index of 3157.89x.

Place Total Index
Rothbury 30 3157.89x
Tynemouth 19 107.71x
Bedlington 11 100.00x
North Shields 11 167.43x
Morpeth 10 258.40x
Elswick 9 34.23x
Newbiggin In Morpeth 8 761.90x
Westgate 8 39.22x
Darlington 7 27.53x
Dawdon 7 86.42x
Merrington 7 551.18x
East Chevington 6 545.45x
Haswell 6 127.12x
Low Angerton 6 15000.00x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 16.90x
Stranton 6 27.05x
Togstone 6 3333.33x
Branxton 5 2941.18x
Paddington London 5 6.14x
Seghill 5 308.64x
Ulgham 5 909.09x
Gateshead 4 8.11x
Hauxley 4 540.54x
Widdrington 4 506.33x
Framwellgate 3 76.92x
Wallsend 3 28.71x
Alnwick 2 35.34x
Bothal Demesne 2 126.58x
Chirton 2 26.81x
Embleton 2 285.71x
Alwinton 1 1428.57x
Bishop Auckland 1 11.31x
Bradford 1 1.88x
Chester Le Street 1 19.76x
Doxford 1 1250.00x
Elvet 1 21.01x
Falmouth 1 11.27x
Great Tosson Ryehill 1 1111.11x
Hutton Lowcross 1 555.56x
Inveresk 1 12.45x
Plymouth Charles The 1 4.93x
Preston Quarter 1 18.73x
Royal Navy 1 4.43x
Ryhope 1 21.88x
Salford 1 1.29x
Stoke 1 53.48x
Stoke Damerel 1 3.10x
Warkworth 1 188.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 15
Isabella 12
Jane 10
Annie 8
Ann 5
Barbara 3
Eliza 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Margaret 2
Susannah 2
Anne 1
Bridget 1
Cath. 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Henrietta 1
Jesse 1
Kate 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Susan 1
Sussannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 29
William 14
Robert 11
Thomas 10
George 8
James 7
Henry 5
Walter 5
Joseph 4
Anthony 2
Charles 2
Tom 2
Alfred 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Geo.T. 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Jno.W. 1
Lancelot 1
Matthew 1
Robt. 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Thos.H. 1
W.H. 1

FAQ

Mavin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mavin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 226 people were recorded with the Mavin surname. That placed it at #11,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mavin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 487 in 2016. That gives Mavin a modern rank of #10,172.

What does the Mavin surname mean?

A surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a nickname or pet name.

What does the Mavin map show?

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