NameCensus.

UK surname

Maw

A variant of the English surname "Mawe", derived from a pet form of the given name Matthew.

In the 1881 census there were 1,099 people recorded with the Maw surname, ranking it #3,615 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,549, ranked #3,995, down from #3,615 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wroot, Crowle and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, Sunderland and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maw is 1,647 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.9%.

1881 census count

1,099

Ranked #3,615

Modern count

1,549

2016, ranked #3,995

Peak year

2010

1,647 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maw had 1,099 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,615 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,549 in 2016, ranked #3,995.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,426 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Maw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maw 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 855 #3,181
1881 historical 1,099 #3,615
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 1,426 #3,562
1997 modern 1,618 #3,661
1998 modern 1,631 #3,767
1999 modern 1,635 #3,793
2000 modern 1,639 #3,766
2001 modern 1,590 #3,802
2002 modern 1,633 #3,771
2003 modern 1,562 #3,855
2004 modern 1,608 #3,765
2005 modern 1,564 #3,813
2006 modern 1,538 #3,865
2007 modern 1,561 #3,841
2008 modern 1,569 #3,859
2009 modern 1,604 #3,870
2010 modern 1,647 #3,861
2011 modern 1,642 #3,834
2012 modern 1,622 #3,798
2013 modern 1,611 #3,890
2014 modern 1,604 #3,931
2015 modern 1,568 #3,968
2016 modern 1,549 #3,995

Geography

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Where Maws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wroot, Crowle, Sheffield, Scarborough and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sheffield, Sunderland, North Lincolnshire and Hartlepool. 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 Wroot Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Crowle Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 004 Sheffield
2 Sunderland 005 Sunderland
3 North Lincolnshire 020 North Lincolnshire
4 North Lincolnshire 023 North Lincolnshire
5 Hartlepool 008 Hartlepool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maw

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Maw 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

Maw is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Maw

The surname "Maw" is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "maw," which means "maw" or "stomach." It was likely originally a nickname given to someone with a large appetite or a protuberant belly.

The name can be traced back to the 13th century in various historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mention a William Maw in Oxfordshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 also mention a John Maw in Gloucestershire.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the form "Mawe" in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where it recorded a Robert Mawe. This spelling variation suggests the name's pronunciation at the time.

The surname is also found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524, which list a Thomas Maw in Wiltshire. This record provides evidence of the name's continued use and distribution across different regions of England.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Sir William Maw, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London in the 16th century. He was born around 1540 and served as Lord Mayor of London in 1592.

Another notable figure was Nathaniel Maw, an English clergyman and author who lived from 1609 to 1689. He was a renowned preacher and published several works, including "The Perspective Glass for Magistrates" in 1667.

In the 18th century, Joseph Maw (1711-1786) was a renowned English botanist and horticulturist. He was known for his extensive collection of plants and his contributions to the study of botany.

One of the most famous bearers of the name was Leonard Maw (1828-1909), a British traveler and naturalist. He extensively explored and documented the flora and fauna of various regions, including the Middle East and North Africa.

Another notable figure was George Pardoe Maw (1832-1912), a British businessman and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Maw and Company, a successful pharmaceutical company, and was known for his charitable works in the field of education.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maw 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. Yorkshire leads with 483 Maws recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.57x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 483 4.57x
Lincolnshire 225 13.20x
Middlesex 60 0.56x
Durham 45 1.42x
Leicestershire 36 3.05x
Derbyshire 33 1.98x
Lancashire 32 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 28 1.95x
Cheshire 21 0.89x
Essex 21 1.00x
Surrey 15 0.29x
Shropshire 13 1.41x
Northumberland 12 0.76x
Kent 11 0.30x
Suffolk 11 0.85x
Glamorgan 8 0.43x
Gloucestershire 8 0.38x
Hampshire 7 0.32x
Northamptonshire 6 0.60x
Sussex 5 0.28x
Berkshire 4 0.50x
Cornwall 2 0.17x
Staffordshire 2 0.06x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.16x
Devon 1 0.05x
Norfolk 1 0.06x
Warwickshire 1 0.04x
Worcestershire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Epworth in Lincolnshire leads with 44 Maws recorded in 1881 and an index of 553.46x.

Place Total Index
Epworth 44 553.46x
Belton 33 476.88x
Brightside Bierlow 32 15.44x
Crowle 32 308.29x
Norton In Malton 23 179.55x
Scarborough 22 22.91x
Messingham 21 508.47x
Wroot 21 1615.38x
West Ham 20 4.30x
Thornton Dale 17 607.14x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 12 12.19x
Holy Trinity 12 4.72x
Leicester St Margaret 12 4.16x
Paddington London 12 3.06x
Rawcliffe In Goole 12 199.67x
Tynemouth 12 14.12x
West Stockwith 12 495.87x
Hinckley 11 39.23x
Leeds 11 1.84x
Monkwearmouth 11 36.23x
Benthall 10 609.76x
Cloughton 10 502.51x
Kirton In Lindsey 10 147.93x
St Pancras London 10 1.17x
Burniston 9 697.67x
Cottingham 9 39.53x
Howden 9 125.35x
Ruswarp 9 76.60x
Barnsley 8 7.34x
Cleatham 8 1904.76x
Darlington 8 6.53x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 3.72x
Ecclesfield 8 10.33x
Eldon 8 159.05x
Hessle In Sculcoates 8 85.74x
Long Marston 8 601.50x
Nether Hallam 8 5.60x
Nettleham 8 228.57x
Northorpe 8 1212.12x
Ordsall 8 72.73x
Sculcoates 8 4.78x
Adwick Le Street 7 744.68x
Bosden 7 96.95x
Bromley London 7 2.98x
Burnage 7 225.81x
Chapel Allerton 7 44.28x
Deptford St Paul 7 2.49x
Frodingham 7 115.32x
Leicester All Sts 7 30.15x
Manningham 7 5.38x
Morton In Gainsborough 7 208.96x
Owston 7 144.63x
Oystermouth 7 48.71x
Seaton Wassand 7 454.55x
Sheffield 7 2.08x
Watton 7 603.45x
Clapham 6 4.50x
Derby All Sts 6 43.04x
Derby St Werburgh 6 6.23x
Dewsbury 6 5.54x
Doncaster 6 7.77x
Falsgrave 6 38.54x
Hatfield In Thorne 6 91.05x
Islington London 6 0.58x
Little Meolse 6 178.57x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 9.69x
Rosedale East Side 6 419.58x
Stroud 6 14.75x
Sudbury St Gregory 6 57.64x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 1.81x
Baslow With Bubnell 5 162.34x
Bowdon 5 53.53x
Brandsby Cum Stearsby 5 458.72x
Cleckheaton 5 12.85x
Flaxton 5 373.13x
Legbourne 5 287.36x
Northampton Priory St 5 8.31x
St George Hanover 5 3.59x
Stretford 5 7.18x
York St Cuthbert 5 51.71x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 75
William 68
George 57
Thomas 44
James 24
Henry 22
Robert 20
Arthur 17
Joseph 14
Charles 12
Richard 9
Alfred 8
Edward 8
Walter 8
Frank 7
Herbert 7
Edwin 6
Albert 5
Edmund 5
Francis 5
Harry 5
Mark 5
Robt. 5
Samuel 4
Solomon 4
Wm. 4
Ernest 3
Fred 3
Frederick 3
Fredrick 3
Jno. 3
Peter 3
Thos. 3
Tom 3
Christopher 2
Cornelius 2
David 2
Fredk. 2
Gervase 2
Lewis 2
Marmaduke 2
Matthew 2
Simon 2
Willie 2
Andrew 1
Bielby 1
Elijah 1
Elisha 1
Emanuel 1
Ephraim 1

FAQ

Maw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,099 people were recorded with the Maw surname. That placed it at #3,615 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,549 in 2016. That gives Maw a modern rank of #3,995.

What does the Maw surname mean?

A variant of the English surname "Mawe", derived from a pet form of the given name Matthew.

What does the Maw map show?

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