NameCensus.

UK surname

Mawer

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English mawere, meaning a mower or harvester of crops.

In the 1881 census there were 893 people recorded with the Mawer surname, ranking it #4,264 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,364, ranked #4,417, down from #4,264 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkby Malzeard, Lincoln St Botolph and Louth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrogate, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mawer is 1,439 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.7%.

1881 census count

893

Ranked #4,264

Modern count

1,364

2016, ranked #4,417

Peak year

2011

1,439 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mawer had 893 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,264 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,364 in 2016, ranked #4,417.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,249 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mawer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mawer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mawer 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 517 #4,841
1861 historical 558 #4,724
1881 historical 893 #4,264
1891 historical 1,047 #3,995
1901 historical 1,132 #4,287
1911 historical 1,249 #3,802
1997 modern 1,345 #4,277
1998 modern 1,395 #4,294
1999 modern 1,411 #4,273
2000 modern 1,382 #4,338
2001 modern 1,359 #4,304
2002 modern 1,389 #4,321
2003 modern 1,383 #4,264
2004 modern 1,375 #4,288
2005 modern 1,337 #4,338
2006 modern 1,339 #4,345
2007 modern 1,347 #4,360
2008 modern 1,359 #4,352
2009 modern 1,409 #4,310
2010 modern 1,433 #4,332
2011 modern 1,439 #4,279
2012 modern 1,419 #4,261
2013 modern 1,420 #4,322
2014 modern 1,408 #4,373
2015 modern 1,385 #4,388
2016 modern 1,364 #4,417

Geography

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Where Mawers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkby Malzeard, Lincoln St Botolph, Louth, Hull Holy Trinity 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 Harrogate, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and East Lindsey. 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 Kirkby Malzeard Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
3 Louth Lincolnshire
4 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrogate 006 Harrogate
2 North Lincolnshire 004 North Lincolnshire
3 North East Lincolnshire 001 North East Lincolnshire
4 East Lindsey 008 East Lindsey
5 North East Lincolnshire 007 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mawer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mawer

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Mawer is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mawer is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mawer falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mawer

The surname Mawer originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "mawan," which means "to mow" or "to cut grass." The name likely referred to someone who worked as a mower or a reaper, cutting hay or crops for a living.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mawer can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Mauuere." This suggests that the name was already in use during the 11th century in various parts of England.

The Mawer surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire, where many families bearing this name lived and worked as agricultural laborers or tenant farmers.

In the 13th century, a notable figure with the surname Mawer was John Mawer, a landowner and freeman recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273. Another early mention of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, which listed a Robert le Mawer.

During the 16th century, the Mawer surname appeared in various parish records and tax rolls across England. One example is William Mawer, who was listed in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1592.

In the 17th century, a prominent individual with the surname Mawer was Robert Mawer, a Puritan minister and author who was born in Nottinghamshire in 1619. He wrote several religious works, including "The Righteous Man's Recompence" and "The Olive Plant."

Another notable figure from this time period was Joseph Mawer, a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who was born in 1645. He was involved in the wool trade and owned several properties in the region.

In the 18th century, the Mawer surname continued to be present in various records, such as the parish registers of Lincolnshire, where families with this name resided in villages like Mawer and Mawers Barn.

One significant individual from this era was John Mawer, a renowned clockmaker born in Cheshire in 1720. He was known for his intricate and sophisticated timepieces, which were highly sought after by wealthy patrons.

As the centuries progressed, the Mawer surname spread across various regions of England, and its spelling variations included Mauer, Maur, and Mower, among others. The name's strong connection to agricultural work and its Old English roots remain an integral part of its historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mawer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mawer 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. Lincolnshire leads with 444 Mawers recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.84x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 444 31.84x
Yorkshire 257 2.97x
Middlesex 48 0.55x
Surrey 20 0.47x
Angus 16 1.98x
Durham 16 0.62x
Cambridgeshire 12 2.17x
Nottinghamshire 12 1.02x
Midlothian 11 0.94x
Lanarkshire 7 0.25x
Dorset 6 1.05x
Warwickshire 6 0.27x
Cheshire 5 0.26x
Essex 5 0.29x
Oxfordshire 5 0.93x
Northumberland 4 0.31x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.57x
Kent 3 0.10x
Gloucestershire 2 0.12x
Lancashire 2 0.02x
Staffordshire 2 0.07x
Ayrshire 1 0.15x
Bedfordshire 1 0.22x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Kincardineshire 1 0.94x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Northamptonshire 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 0.96x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Louth in Lincolnshire leads with 45 Mawers recorded in 1881 and an index of 140.80x.

Place Total Index
Louth 45 140.80x
Boston 32 75.63x
Holy Trinity 31 14.91x
Upper Stonebeck 29 3452.38x
Great Grimsby 24 27.12x
Sculcoates 23 16.79x
Little Carlton 18 3600.00x
Willoughby 17 923.91x
Islington London 16 1.89x
Carlton Highdale 15 2027.03x
Gosberton 14 226.17x
Keighley 12 13.03x
Nottingham St Mary 12 3.95x
Sibsey 12 382.17x
Bradford 11 5.26x
Fountains Earth 11 1145.83x
North Thoresby 11 491.07x
Bramham Cum Oglethorpe 10 289.86x
Butterwick 10 628.93x
Edinburgh St Stephens 10 43.48x
New Sleaford 10 111.98x
St Swithin Lincoln 10 45.62x
Stonebeck Down 10 1010.10x
Greetham 9 2045.45x
St Nicholas Lincoln 9 67.52x
Cockerton 8 96.15x
Leverton 8 451.98x
Liff Benvie 8 6.52x
St Marylebone London 8 1.72x
Barlings 7 500.00x
Carperby Cum Thoresby 7 777.78x
Frithville Boston Sibsey 7 769.23x
Mablethorpe 7 366.49x
Nether Hallam 7 5.99x
St Michael Lincoln 7 185.19x
Westerton 7 507.25x
Aby 6 571.43x
Anwick 6 576.92x
Baumber 6 582.52x
Burghwallis 6 895.52x
Canwick 6 821.92x
Carshalton 6 36.90x
East Cowton 6 517.24x
Leamington Priors 6 11.09x
Partney 6 454.55x
St George Hanover 6 5.27x
St Maryle Wigford 6 55.40x
Tottenham 6 4.32x
Well 6 1621.62x
Whittlesey St Mary St 6 31.10x
Wyke Regis 6 73.08x
York St Maurice 6 36.88x
Addlethorpe 5 684.93x
Battersea 5 1.56x
Bracebridge 5 78.74x
Clee With Weelsby 5 16.38x
Croydon 5 2.12x
Guisbrough 5 26.48x
Halstead 5 24.90x
Leake 5 78.25x
Leeds 5 1.02x
Maryton 5 431.03x
Oxford St Giles 5 19.46x
Quarrington 5 458.72x
Revesby 5 295.86x
Siddington 5 413.22x
South Somercoates 5 393.70x
Spilsby 5 112.87x
Stainton 5 1315.79x
Sutton St Edmunds 5 253.81x
Wragby 5 326.80x
Beddington 4 24.35x
Brightside Bierlow 4 2.36x
Hammersmith London 4 1.86x
New Sealford 4 139.37x
Southcoates 4 8.34x
Strubby 4 465.12x
Surfleet 4 137.93x
Thorpe St Peter 4 235.29x
Welton 4 196.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Elizabeth 35
Sarah 24
Jane 22
Alice 18
Ann 17
Eliza 14
Annie 11
Harriet 11
Martha 11
Ellen 10
Emma 8
Hannah 8
Maria 8
Charlotte 7
Kate 7
Caroline 6
Louisa 6
Margaret 6
Ada 5
Anne 5
Emily 5
Lucy 5
Agnes 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Sophia 4
Anna 3
Frances 3
Helen 3
Lizzie 3
Mildred 3
Rose 3
Amy 2
Betsey 2
Dorothy 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Hilda 2
Infant 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Lavinia 2
Lydia 2
Maud 2
Rachel 2
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 56
William 51
George 35
Thomas 27
Charles 23
Joseph 20
James 17
Henry 16
Alfred 11
Matthew 10
Richard 10
Harry 8
Albert 7
Walter 7
Edward 6
Francis 6
Frank 6
Robert 6
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Arthur 4
Barton 3
Frederick 3
Samuel 3
Thos. 3
Tom 3
Chas. 2
David 2
Elias 2
Forman 2
Fred. 2
Frederic 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Martin 2
Matthias 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Solomon 2
Turner 2
West 2
Anthony 1
Charley 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Emmd. 1
Ezekial 1
Jabez 1
Jasper 1
Wood 1

FAQ

Mawer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mawer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 893 people were recorded with the Mawer surname. That placed it at #4,264 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mawer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,364 in 2016. That gives Mawer a modern rank of #4,417.

What does the Mawer surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English mawere, meaning a mower or harvester of crops.

What does the Mawer map show?

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