NameCensus.

UK surname

Mavor

A Scottish occupational surname referring to a mayor or civic leader.

In the 1881 census there were 218 people recorded with the Mavor surname, ranking it #12,158 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 184, ranked #20,731, down from #12,158 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Glass, New Deer and Keith. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cromar and Kildrummy, Westhill North and South and Hambleton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mavor is 321 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.6%.

1881 census count

218

Ranked #12,158

Modern count

184

2016, ranked #20,731

Peak year

1901

321 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mavor had 218 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,158 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 184 in 2016, ranked #20,731.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 321 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mavor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mavor surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mavor 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 135 #13,964
1861 historical 156 #14,813
1881 historical 218 #12,158
1891 historical 264 #12,235
1901 historical 321 #11,118
1911 historical 44 #28,454
1997 modern 172 #19,371
1998 modern 176 #19,584
1999 modern 176 #19,722
2000 modern 181 #19,360
2001 modern 168 #19,986
2002 modern 162 #20,839
2003 modern 164 #20,483
2004 modern 163 #20,685
2005 modern 158 #21,052
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 152 #22,022
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 160 #21,978
2010 modern 163 #22,205
2011 modern 158 #22,473
2012 modern 161 #22,157
2013 modern 175 #21,320
2014 modern 181 #21,033
2015 modern 181 #20,934
2016 modern 184 #20,731

Geography

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Where Mavors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Glass, New Deer, Keith, Edinburgh 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 Cromar and Kildrummy, Westhill North and South, Hambleton, Currie East and New Town 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 Glass Aberdeen
2 New Deer Aberdeen
3 Keith Banff
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cromar and Kildrummy Aberdeenshire
2 Westhill North and South Aberdeenshire
3 Hambleton 011 Hambleton
4 Currie East City of Edinburgh
5 New Town West City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mavor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mavor

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Mavor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mavor household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Mavor is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mavor 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

Mavor falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mavor

The surname Mavor originated in Scotland and has its roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "maor," which means an officer or a messenger. The name was commonly used to refer to individuals who held administrative or legal positions within Scottish clans or communities.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Mavor can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296. This historical document contains the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. Among the names listed is "Gillecrist Mavore," indicating the presence of this surname in Scotland during that time period.

In the 16th century, the surname Mavor appeared in various records related to the Scottish Highlands. The name was particularly prominent in the areas around Inverness and the Hebrides Islands. One notable individual from this era was John Mavor, a Scottish scholar and writer who lived from 1719 to 1770. He authored several works on Scottish history and culture.

The 17th century saw the emergence of various spellings of the surname, including Mavour, Mavoure, and Mavore. During this period, the Mavor family had established themselves as landowners and played a role in local government affairs in various parts of Scotland.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure bearing the Mavor surname was William Fowler Mavor (1758-1837). He was a Scottish clergyman, author, and educator who founded the Woodstock Academy in Connecticut, United States. His contributions to education and literature were significant during his lifetime.

Another notable individual was William Mavor (1758-1837), a Scottish author and poet who wrote extensively on agricultural topics. His works, such as "The Farmer's Calendar" and "The British Tourists," were widely read and influential in their time.

In the 19th century, the Mavor surname continued to be present in various parts of Scotland, with some individuals emigrating to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia. One such individual was James Mavor (1854-1925), a Scottish-born economist and academic who taught at the University of Toronto in Canada.

Throughout history, the surname Mavor has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including education, literature, and public service. While the name may have evolved in spelling over time, its Scottish origins and association with administrative roles remain a part of its rich heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mavor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mavor 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 72 Mavors recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.73x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 72 36.73x
Fife 36 28.73x
Banffshire 21 47.84x
Middlesex 15 0.71x
Angus 13 6.63x
Renfrewshire 11 6.71x
Midlothian 10 3.53x
Lanarkshire 9 1.31x
Morayshire 9 27.36x
Kincardineshire 8 31.04x
Cumberland 3 1.65x
Northumberland 3 0.95x
Durham 1 0.16x
Essex 1 0.24x
Hertfordshire 1 0.69x
Inverness-shire 1 1.58x
Peeblesshire 1 10.04x
Surrey 1 0.10x
Warwickshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dysart in Fife leads with 34 Mavors recorded in 1881 and an index of 402.84x.

Place Total Index
Dysart 34 402.84x
Aberdeen Old Machar 29 70.85x
Keith 12 256.41x
Forfar 9 84.75x
Govan 9 5.32x
New Deer 9 253.52x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 8 21.82x
Banchory Devenick 8 331.95x
Banff 8 209.97x
Cathcart 7 78.92x
Birnie 6 2222.22x
Glass 6 800.00x
Clerkenwell London 5 10.01x
Dundee 4 5.46x
Edinburgh Canongate 4 55.40x
Ellon 4 148.15x
Huntly 4 125.39x
Kensington London 4 3.40x
Peterhead 4 38.57x
Brigham 3 348.84x
Chirton 3 42.08x
Rafford 3 389.61x
Renfrew 3 55.35x
Aberdour 2 129.87x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.75x
Peterculter 2 144.93x
St Giles In Fields 2 27.40x
Westminster St James 2 9.19x
Alford 1 93.46x
Auchindoir Kearn 1 90.91x
Auchtermuchty 1 59.52x
Cheshunt 1 19.61x
Darlington 1 4.11x
Dunfermline 1 5.19x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 14.90x
Edinburgh Old Church 1 43.86x
Grange 1 77.52x
Hillingdon 1 14.81x
Inverness 1 6.29x
Liberton 1 22.83x
Mearns 1 34.84x
Newhills 1 24.94x
Old Deer 1 26.95x
Peebles 1 34.01x
Reigate Foreign 1 8.95x
South Leith 1 3.13x
St Marylebone London 1 0.89x
Warwick St Mary 1 21.60x
West Ham 1 1.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Mary 2
Agness 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Annabella 1
Bertha 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Katherine 1
Marg. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 1
Henry 1
James 1
John 1
Joseph 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Thomas 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Mavor households.

FAQ

Mavor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mavor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 218 people were recorded with the Mavor surname. That placed it at #12,158 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mavor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 184 in 2016. That gives Mavor a modern rank of #20,731.

What does the Mavor surname mean?

A Scottish occupational surname referring to a mayor or civic leader.

What does the Mavor map show?

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