NameCensus.

UK surname

Maxim

A surname derived from the Greek word "maximos" meaning "greatest" or "supreme".

In the 1881 census there were 213 people recorded with the Maxim surname, ranking it #12,328 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 361, ranked #12,841, down from #12,328 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Cavendish and Foxearth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Babergh, Shropshire and Corby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maxim is 361 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.5%.

1881 census count

213

Ranked #12,328

Modern count

361

2016, ranked #12,841

Peak year

2016

361 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maxim had 213 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,328 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 361 in 2016, ranked #12,841.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 340 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Maxim surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maxim surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maxim 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 133 #14,106
1861 historical 87 #22,681
1881 historical 213 #12,328
1891 historical 192 #15,383
1901 historical 337 #10,735
1911 historical 340 #10,490
1997 modern 267 #14,623
1998 modern 280 #14,550
1999 modern 291 #14,234
2000 modern 279 #14,636
2001 modern 269 #14,776
2002 modern 280 #14,660
2003 modern 263 #15,109
2004 modern 257 #15,419
2005 modern 250 #15,639
2006 modern 251 #15,696
2007 modern 255 #15,687
2008 modern 258 #15,732
2009 modern 284 #14,986
2010 modern 293 #14,974
2011 modern 283 #15,193
2012 modern 301 #14,476
2013 modern 309 #14,451
2014 modern 324 #14,058
2015 modern 336 #13,593
2016 modern 361 #12,841

Geography

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Where Maxims are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Cavendish, Foxearth, Hartest 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 Babergh, Shropshire, Corby and Blaby. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Cavendish Suffolk
3 Foxearth Suffolk
4 Hartest Suffolk
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Babergh 002 Babergh
2 Babergh 003 Babergh
3 Shropshire 019 Shropshire
4 Corby 001 Corby
5 Blaby 007 Blaby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maxim

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maxim

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Maxim surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Maxim household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Maxim 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

Maxim is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Maxim

The surname Maxim has its origins in ancient Rome, where it was derived from the Latin name Maximus, meaning "greatest" or "largest." This name was often bestowed upon individuals who displayed exceptional qualities or achievements.

The earliest known record of the name Maxim dates back to the 4th century AD, when it was mentioned in the writings of Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus. He referred to a military commander named Maximus who led Roman troops against the Alemanni tribe in present-day Germany.

During the Middle Ages, the name Maxim was particularly prevalent in Eastern Europe, particularly in regions that had been part of the Byzantine Empire, such as Greece and Bulgaria. In these areas, the name was often spelled as "Maximos" or "Makszim."

One notable bearer of the name was Maxim the Greek (ca. 1470-1556), a scholar and translator who played a significant role in the spread of Renaissance humanism in Russia. He was instrumental in translating important works of classical literature into Church Slavonic.

In the 16th century, the name Maxim began to appear in various parts of Western Europe, including France and England. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in England can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, where a certain Maxim Woodward was mentioned in 1587.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Maxim gained popularity in Russia, where it was often associated with the aristocracy and the military. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Maxim Petrovich Bezobrazov (1638-1701), a Russian statesman and diplomat who served as the Governor of Siberia.

In the 19th century, the surname Maxim became closely linked with the inventor Hiram Stevens Maxim (1840-1916), an American-born British inventor best known for his development of the first portable, fully automatic machine gun. His invention, the Maxim gun, was widely adopted by militaries around the world and had a significant impact on modern warfare.

Other notable individuals with the surname Maxim include the Russian playwright and short story writer Maxim Gorky (1868-1936), whose real name was Alexei Maximovich Peshkov, and the American author Hudson Maxim (1853-1927), who was the older brother of Hiram Stevens Maxim and a pioneer in the field of explosives technology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maxim families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maxim 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. Suffolk leads with 73 Maxims recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.71x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 73 28.71x
Essex 55 13.35x
Lancashire 34 1.37x
Middlesex 19 0.91x
Staffordshire 12 1.70x
Kent 5 0.70x
Buckinghamshire 4 3.17x
Surrey 4 0.39x
Warwickshire 2 0.38x
Bedfordshire 1 0.93x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.76x
Lincolnshire 1 0.30x
Oxfordshire 1 0.78x
Royal Navy 1 4.02x
Yorkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spotland in Lancashire leads with 24 Maxims recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.15x.

Place Total Index
Spotland 24 87.15x
Cavendish 22 2682.93x
Boxted 21 16153.85x
Pentlow 13 6190.48x
Burton Upon Trent 11 66.75x
Foxearth 11 3793.10x
Hartest 11 2500.00x
Stansfield 9 3000.00x
Belchamp Otten 8 3333.33x
Belchamp St Paul 7 1372.55x
Wardleworth 6 42.40x
West Ham 6 6.60x
Castle Hedingham 5 675.68x
Deptford St Paul 4 7.28x
Egham 4 64.10x
Great Marlow 4 117.30x
Hackney London 4 3.42x
Hornchurch 4 198.02x
Lancaster 4 27.14x
St Antholin London 4 20000.00x
St Mildred Poultry 4 40000.00x
Glemsford 3 167.60x
Stanstead 3 1111.11x
Tottenham 3 9.03x
Birmingham 2 1.14x
Bromley London 2 4.36x
Ipswich St Peter 2 58.48x
St Edmond King London 2 2500.00x
Altofts 1 43.86x
Deeping St James 1 84.75x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 1 17.33x
Great Chesterford 1 153.85x
Haverhill 1 44.25x
Oxford St Giles 1 16.26x
Plumstead 1 4.21x
Royal Navy 1 4.70x
Sharnbrook 1 166.67x
Sudbury St Peter 1 71.94x
Tatenhill 1 208.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Emma 6
Elizabeth 5
Kate 5
Susan 5
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Ellen 4
Alice 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Sarah 3
Carry 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Rose 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alethea 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Dora 1
Eleanor 1
Elfreda 1
Flora 1
Grace 1
Jessie 1
Lucy 1
Luesa 1
Makelah 1
Margretta 1
Maria 1
Maude 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Pricilla 1
Rhoda 1
Rosa 1
Sophia 1
Ursula 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 10
William 9
James 8
John 8
Walter 8
Alfred 6
Harry 6
Thomas 6
Edward 4
Henry 4
Albert 3
David 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Abraham 2
Ambrose 2
Charles 2
Ernest 2
Felix 2
Joseph 2
Willie 2
Absalom 1
Arthur 1
Berty 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Eligah 1
Emanuel 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Henery 1
Jacop 1
Joanna 1
Jonathan 1
Laurance 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Maxim surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maxim surname in 1881?

In 1881, 213 people were recorded with the Maxim surname. That placed it at #12,328 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maxim surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 361 in 2016. That gives Maxim a modern rank of #12,841.

What does the Maxim surname mean?

A surname derived from the Greek word "maximos" meaning "greatest" or "supreme".

What does the Maxim map show?

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