NameCensus.

UK surname

Mayer

A German occupational surname referring to a steward, bailiff, or administrator of a landowner's property.

In the 1881 census there were 1,715 people recorded with the Mayer surname, ranking it #2,511 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,560, ranked #2,583, down from #2,511 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Norton-in-the-Moors, Wolstanton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Moorlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mayer is 2,595 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.3%.

1881 census count

1,715

Ranked #2,511

Modern count

2,560

2016, ranked #2,583

Peak year

2014

2,595 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mayer had 1,715 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,511 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,560 in 2016, ranked #2,583.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,502 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Mayer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mayer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mayer 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 1,128 #2,498
1861 historical 1,551 #1,833
1881 historical 1,715 #2,511
1891 historical 2,014 #2,289
1901 historical 2,197 #2,457
1911 historical 2,502 #2,055
1997 modern 1,939 #3,123
1998 modern 2,514 #2,601
1999 modern 2,556 #2,572
2000 modern 2,525 #2,593
2001 modern 2,462 #2,598
2002 modern 2,493 #2,624
2003 modern 2,457 #2,604
2004 modern 2,402 #2,654
2005 modern 2,353 #2,669
2006 modern 2,344 #2,686
2007 modern 2,365 #2,686
2008 modern 2,395 #2,677
2009 modern 2,448 #2,687
2010 modern 2,534 #2,668
2011 modern 2,531 #2,642
2012 modern 2,465 #2,658
2013 modern 2,555 #2,618
2014 modern 2,595 #2,590
2015 modern 2,574 #2,585
2016 modern 2,560 #2,583

Geography

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Where Mayers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Norton-in-the-Moors, Wolstanton, London parishes, Burslem and Newcastle-under Lyne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Moorlands and Cannock Chase. 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 Norton-in-the-Moors Staffordshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Burslem Staffordshire
5 Newcastle-under Lyne Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle-under-Lyme 005 Newcastle-under-Lyme
2 Stoke-on-Trent 009 Stoke-on-Trent
3 Stoke-on-Trent 017 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 009 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 Cannock Chase 011 Cannock Chase

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mayer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mayer

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Mayer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mayer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mayer is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mayer 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

Mayer falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mayer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mayer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mayer

The surname Mayer originated in Germany, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It derives from the German word "meier," which initially referred to a steward or bailiff responsible for managing a manor or estate. The name's earliest recorded spelling is "Meier," later evolving into variations like "Mayer" and "Meyer."

During the medieval period, the name Mayer was prevalent among the landowning class, as well as those employed in managing agricultural estates. Some of the earliest known bearers of this surname can be traced back to the 13th century in regions like Bavaria and Saxony, where records mention individuals with the name Mayer.

The Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, includes references to individuals with the surname Mayer as early as the 14th century. One notable mention is Johannes Mayer, a landowner and merchant from Leipzig, who was recorded in 1382.

As the name spread across German-speaking regions, it acquired various spellings based on local dialects and scribal variations. For instance, in some areas, the name was written as "Mayr" or "Maier," reflecting regional linguistic influences.

Throughout history, several prominent figures have borne the surname Mayer. One such individual was Johann Tobias Mayer (1723-1762), a renowned German astronomer and mathematician known for his influential work on lunar theory and the calculation of eclipses.

Another notable bearer of the name was Julius Robert Mayer (1814-1878), a German physicist and physician who formulated one of the earliest statements of the law of conservation of energy, a fundamental principle in physics.

In the artistic realm, Hans Mayer (1907-2001), a German literary scholar and critic, made significant contributions to the study of German literature, particularly in the field of drama and theater.

The name Mayer also gained prominence in the United States, where it was brought by German immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries. One prominent American with this surname was Louis B. Mayer (1884-1957), a influential film producer and co-founder of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), one of the major Hollywood studios.

Additionally, John Mayer (born 1977), an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, has achieved widespread recognition and success in the music industry, further adding to the prominence of the Mayer surname in modern times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mayer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mayer 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. Staffordshire leads with 675 Mayers recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.91x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 675 11.91x
Middlesex 285 1.70x
Lancashire 154 0.77x
Cheshire 108 2.91x
Surrey 82 1.00x
Derbyshire 59 2.24x
Yorkshire 43 0.26x
Essex 33 1.00x
Gloucestershire 33 1.00x
Kent 26 0.45x
Suffolk 19 0.93x
Lanarkshire 17 0.31x
Norfolk 16 0.62x
Shropshire 15 1.03x
Hampshire 12 0.35x
Worcestershire 12 0.55x
Dorset 11 1.00x
Lincolnshire 11 0.41x
Sussex 11 0.39x
Durham 10 0.20x
Midlothian 10 0.44x
Devon 9 0.26x
Channel Islands 8 1.61x
Warwickshire 8 0.19x
Northumberland 7 0.28x
Somerset 7 0.26x
Northamptonshire 6 0.38x
Hertfordshire 5 0.43x
Leicestershire 5 0.27x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.39x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.18x
Oxfordshire 4 0.39x
Bedfordshire 2 0.23x
Glamorgan 2 0.07x
Berkshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.50x
Rutland 1 0.81x
Wiltshire 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. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 187 Mayers recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.12x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 187 31.12x
Burslem 69 42.51x
Norton In Moors 57 190.00x
Wolstanton 57 33.12x
Audley 53 94.52x
Newcastle Under Lyme 53 52.86x
Kensington London 26 2.79x
Bethnal Green London 25 3.43x
St Pancras London 24 1.78x
Biddulph 22 68.81x
Madeley 22 155.70x
Smallthorne 21 99.86x
Islington London 20 1.23x
Wolverhampton 20 4.59x
Sutton In Macclesfield 18 46.80x
Cheadle 17 24.02x
Odd Rode 17 92.64x
Alsager 15 162.69x
Preston 15 2.81x
Derby All Sts 14 63.78x
Litchurch 14 13.24x
Manchester 14 1.56x
Salford 14 2.39x
Bromley London 13 3.52x
Clerkenwell London 13 3.28x
Hackney London 13 1.38x
Hemblington 13 955.88x
Hilderstone 13 572.69x
Lambeth 13 0.89x
Mile End Old Town 13 4.91x
St George In East 13 11.38x
Stone 13 17.94x
Battersea 12 1.94x
Denton 12 27.18x
Camberwell 11 1.03x
Govan 11 0.82x
Heaton Norris 11 9.70x
Paddington London 11 1.78x
St Marylebone London 11 1.23x
Walsall Foreign 11 3.76x
Chaddesden 10 284.90x
Duddingston 10 22.15x
Edmondsham 10 757.58x
Hammersmith London 10 2.42x
Knottingley 10 34.20x
St Luke London 10 3.71x
Audley Talk O Th Hill 9 88.15x
Congleton 9 14.06x
Holbeck 9 8.17x
Hove 9 7.25x
Keele 9 149.50x
Richmond 9 7.85x
Wednesbury 9 6.36x
Deptford St Paul 8 1.81x
Dudley 8 3.00x
Leek Lowe 8 10.61x
Westminster St James 8 4.64x
Caverswall 7 23.76x
Croydon 7 1.54x
Derby St Werburgh 7 4.61x
Great Warford 7 346.53x
Heanor 7 17.81x
Lyncombe Widcombe 7 9.89x
Moss Side 7 6.68x
Pendleton In Salford 7 2.95x
Shoreditch London 7 0.96x
St Andrew Holborn 7 12.30x
St Anne Soho London 7 7.30x
St Giles In Fields 7 12.09x
Titteworth 7 80.55x
Elland Cum Greetland 6 8.01x
Gateshead 6 1.60x
Glasgow 6 0.62x
Hendon 6 9.93x
Leyland 6 17.31x
Liverpool 6 0.50x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 1.78x
St George Hanover 6 2.74x
St Peter Port 6 6.52x
Tranmere 6 4.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 115
Sarah 69
Elizabeth 59
Ann 37
Emma 35
Jane 34
Hannah 29
Eliza 27
Annie 22
Maria 21
Martha 20
Alice 19
Emily 19
Ellen 18
Florence 16
Louisa 13
Margaret 12
Edith 11
Frances 11
Charlotte 10
Ada 9
Fanny 9
Gertrude 9
Clara 8
Caroline 7
Harriet 7
Harriett 7
Beatrice 6
Elizth. 6
Julia 6
Lucy 6
Jessie 5
Lizzie 5
Minnie 5
Rachel 5
Adelaide 4
Agnes 4
Anne 4
Eleanor 4
Rose 4
Selina 4
Amelia 3
Catherine 3
Esther 3
Georgina 3
Hanh. 3
Helen 3
Josephine 3
Matilda 3
Rosa 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 93
William 78
George 49
James 40
Thomas 37
Joseph 34
Henry 28
Samuel 23
Alfred 18
Charles 18
Elijah 18
Arthur 12
Albert 11
Frederick 11
Thos. 10
Walter 10
Frank 9
Harry 9
Herbert 9
Edward 8
Ernest 8
Ralph 8
Richard 8
Robert 8
Francis 7
Isaac 7
Fred 6
Peter 5
Abel 4
Benjamin 4
Edwin 4
Harold 4
Jacob 4
Joshua 4
Louis 4
Matthew 4
Wm. 4
Abraham 3
Adolph 3
Anthony 3
Cain 3
Caleb 3
Daniel 3
Enock 3
Fredrick 3
Hugh 3
Josiah 3
Julius 3
Martin 3
Stephen 3

FAQ

Mayer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mayer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,715 people were recorded with the Mayer surname. That placed it at #2,511 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mayer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,560 in 2016. That gives Mayer a modern rank of #2,583.

What does the Mayer surname mean?

A German occupational surname referring to a steward, bailiff, or administrator of a landowner's property.

What does the Mayer map show?

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