UK surname
A surname of English origin, derived from either a shortened form of the name Maximus or a place name.
In the 1881 census there were 33 people recorded with the Maxon surname, ranking it #28,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 21, ranked #36,596, down from #28,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ecclesfield, Mexborough and Silkstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maxon is 153 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.4%.
1881 census count
33
Ranked #28,965
Modern count
21
2016, ranked #36,596
Peak year
1861
153 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Maxon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Maxon surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 80 | #19,558 |
| 1861 | historical | 153 | #15,032 |
| 1881 | historical | 33 | #28,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 130 | #20,173 |
| 1901 | historical | 76 | #25,734 |
| 1911 | historical | 123 | #20,128 |
| 1997 | modern | 29 | #34,795 |
| 1998 | modern | 28 | #35,053 |
| 1999 | modern | 27 | #35,224 |
| 2000 | modern | 28 | #35,080 |
| 2001 | modern | 30 | #34,753 |
| 2002 | modern | 27 | #35,243 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 21 | #35,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 20 | #36,165 |
| 2006 | modern | 20 | #36,254 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 17 | #36,753 |
| 2010 | modern | 16 | #36,937 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 14 | #37,078 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 20 | #36,653 |
| 2016 | modern | 21 | #36,596 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ecclesfield, Mexborough, Silkstone, Bourn and Darley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesfield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Mexborough | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Silkstone | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Bourn | Lincolnshire |
| 5 | Darley | Derbyshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Maxon surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Maxon, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Maxon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Maxon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Maxon is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Maxon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Maxon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Maxon originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "mæcca," which means "son" or "offspring." This name would have been given to the son of someone named Max, which was a common diminutive form of the name Maxwell.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Maxon can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in several different spellings, including Makson and Maxsone.
During the 13th century, the name Maxon was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Several historical records from this time period mention individuals with this surname, including a William Maxon who was recorded as a landowner in the village of Fishlake, Yorkshire, in 1275.
In the 14th century, the name Maxon began to appear in other parts of England as well. One notable example is John Maxon, a merchant from Bristol who was granted a license to trade with the Hanseatic League in 1379.
By the 15th century, the Maxon family had established itself as a prominent landowning family in the county of Hertfordshire. Sir William Maxon (1420-1498) was a member of the gentry and served as a justice of the peace during the reign of Henry VII.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, several Maxons achieved notable positions in English society. Thomas Maxon (1550-1616) was a successful lawyer and served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Thetford. His nephew, Edward Maxon (1585-1654), was a renowned scholar and author who wrote several works on theology and philosophy.
As the British Empire expanded in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Maxon name spread to other parts of the world. One prominent figure was Captain James Maxon (1775-1847), a naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a colonial administrator in Australia.
Throughout its history, the surname Maxon has been associated with various place names and older spellings, including Maxon's Green in Hertfordshire, Maxon's Hill in Yorkshire, and the variants Makson, Maxsone, and Maxsoun.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maxon surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 9 Maxons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.74x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 9 | 5.74x |
| Warwickshire | 6 | 7.40x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 1.31x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 1.57x |
| Essex | 2 | 3.15x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 1.84x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.31x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 2.09x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 2.31x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 3.60x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 7 Maxons recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.06x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Camberwell | 7 | 34.06x |
| Edgbaston | 4 | 158.73x |
| Oldham | 4 | 32.47x |
| Headingley Cum Burley | 3 | 146.34x |
| Aston | 2 | 8.95x |
| Chadwell St Mary | 2 | 3333.33x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 7.13x |
| Leek Lowe | 2 | 138.89x |
| Ecclesfield | 1 | 42.74x |
| Goole | 1 | 188.68x |
| Meole Brace | 1 | 714.29x |
| Newminster Abbey | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 8.92x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 5.82x |
| Wavertree | 1 | 81.97x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Maxon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Maxon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Maxon households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Bankers Clerk | 2 |
| Book Folder | 1 |
| Clerk To Canal Navigation Coy | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Corpl Royal Artillery | 1 |
| Cotton Carder | 1 |
| Cotton Tenter | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Fruiterer Assistant | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| Housekeeper Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Jeweller | 1 |
| Master (Barge) | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Retired Farmer | 1 |
| Stone Mason Unemployed | 1 |
| Under Nurse Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 33 people were recorded with the Maxon surname. That placed it at #28,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 21 in 2016. That gives Maxon a modern rank of #36,596.
A surname of English origin, derived from either a shortened form of the name Maximus or a place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Maxon bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.