NameCensus.

UK surname

Mayers

Derived from the Old French "maire" or "maire," an occupational surname denoting a mayor or an officer of a court.

In the 1881 census there were 896 people recorded with the Mayers surname, ranking it #4,250 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,268, ranked #2,860, up from #4,250 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Godalming, Prestbury and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torfaen, Halton and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mayers is 2,326 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 153.1%.

1881 census count

896

Ranked #4,250

Modern count

2,268

2016, ranked #2,860

Peak year

2010

2,326 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mayers had 896 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,250 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,268 in 2016, ranked #2,860.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,487 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mayers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mayers surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mayers 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 463 #5,359
1861 historical 636 #4,214
1881 historical 896 #4,250
1891 historical 1,113 #3,813
1901 historical 1,236 #4,008
1911 historical 1,487 #3,243
1997 modern 2,247 #2,760
1998 modern 2,299 #2,813
1999 modern 2,291 #2,839
2000 modern 2,262 #2,853
2001 modern 2,190 #2,880
2002 modern 2,231 #2,890
2003 modern 2,162 #2,910
2004 modern 2,156 #2,916
2005 modern 2,112 #2,935
2006 modern 2,143 #2,895
2007 modern 2,174 #2,883
2008 modern 2,171 #2,914
2009 modern 2,245 #2,898
2010 modern 2,326 #2,866
2011 modern 2,265 #2,902
2012 modern 2,171 #2,948
2013 modern 2,243 #2,916
2014 modern 2,273 #2,898
2015 modern 2,262 #2,883
2016 modern 2,268 #2,860

Geography

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Where Mayers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Godalming, Prestbury, London parishes, Christleton and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torfaen, Halton and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Godalming Surrey
2 Prestbury Cheshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Christleton Cheshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torfaen 003 Torfaen
2 Halton 013 Halton
3 Torfaen 004 Torfaen
4 Cheshire West and Chester 031 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Halton 011 Halton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mayers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mayers

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Mayers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mayers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Mayers is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mayers 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

Mayers falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mayers

The surname Mayers has its origins in the German language. It is believed to have originated as an occupational name, derived from the Middle High German word "meier," which referred to a steward or a farm manager. This name likely originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in areas that are now part of modern-day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mayers can be traced back to the 13th century in the Codex Diplomaticus Austriaco-Frisingensis, a collection of historical documents from the region of present-day Austria. This suggests that the name was already in use during the medieval period.

The name Mayers has also been associated with various place names throughout history. For example, there is a village called Meyers in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany, which may have contributed to the development of the surname.

One notable figure with the surname Mayers was Johann Mayers (1572-1654), a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics. He is best known for his work on the calculation of planetary orbits and his involvement in the development of the Rudolphine Tables, which were used for astronomical calculations.

Another individual of historical significance bearing the name Mayers was John Mayers (1597-1662), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He was known for his work on ancient Greek texts and his involvement in the translation of the King James Bible.

In the 18th century, Johann Mayers (1719-1789) was a renowned German painter and engraver who specialized in portraiture and religious subjects. His works can be found in various museums and collections throughout Europe.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Henry Mayers Hyndman (1842-1921), a British writer, philosopher, and political activist. He was a prominent figure in the early socialist movement and a co-founder of the Social Democratic Federation, one of the earliest socialist organizations in Britain.

Finally, it is worth mentioning Edward Mayers (1858-1922), an American sinologist and educator who made significant contributions to the study of Chinese language and culture. He served as a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and played a crucial role in establishing Chinese studies as an academic discipline in the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mayers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mayers 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. Cheshire leads with 174 Mayers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.00x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 174 9.00x
Lancashire 167 1.61x
Middlesex 137 1.56x
Surrey 98 2.30x
Berkshire 61 9.28x
Yorkshire 24 0.28x
Hampshire 22 1.23x
Durham 20 0.77x
Kent 18 0.60x
Norfolk 18 1.34x
Worcestershire 18 1.57x
Sussex 16 1.08x
Lincolnshire 15 1.07x
Gloucestershire 13 0.76x
Monmouthshire 13 2.05x
Devon 12 0.66x
Dorset 9 1.57x
Glamorgan 8 0.52x
Derbyshire 7 0.51x
Essex 6 0.35x
Flintshire 6 2.55x
Northumberland 4 0.31x
Shropshire 4 0.53x
Suffolk 4 0.37x
Renfrewshire 3 0.44x
Staffordshire 3 0.10x
Hertfordshire 2 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.17x
Royal Navy 2 1.92x
Somerset 2 0.14x
Wiltshire 2 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.19x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.28x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.18x
Cardiganshire 1 0.47x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.50x
Oxfordshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Godalming in Surrey leads with 49 Mayers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 182.36x.

Place Total Index
Godalming 49 182.36x
Bollington In 34 197.56x
Christleton Littleton 29 1039.43x
Hulme 28 12.90x
Tarvin Pryors Hayes 28 1093.75x
Hackney London 25 5.09x
Kensington London 17 3.49x
Islington London 14 1.65x
Stockport 14 14.07x
Hindley 13 29.33x
Trevethin 13 21.74x
Reading St Giles 12 18.60x
Shoreditch London 12 3.16x
Woking 12 46.66x
Brighton 11 3.69x
Dukinfield 11 12.31x
Nether Hallam 11 9.37x
Gorton 10 10.23x
Liverpool 10 1.58x
Birthorpe 9 5294.12x
Bollin Fee 9 104.90x
Bradfield 9 258.62x
Bray 9 46.58x
Denton 9 39.08x
Haydock 9 50.25x
Marple 9 67.82x
Tormoham 9 11.67x
Deptford St Paul 8 3.47x
Keighley 8 8.65x
Lambeth 8 1.05x
Pinvin 8 919.54x
St George In East 8 13.43x
Camberwell 7 1.25x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 4.24x
Hammersmith London 7 3.24x
Paddington London 7 2.17x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 7 56.45x
Bow London 6 5.38x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 10.47x
Cheadle 6 16.25x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.90x
Derby St Werburgh 6 7.58x
Everton 6 1.81x
Great Grimsby 6 6.75x
Hurst 6 69.69x
Kidderminster Foreign 6 37.11x
Oldham 6 1.79x
St George Martyr 6 40.65x
St Pancras London 6 0.85x
Thatcham 6 59.23x
Alverstoke 5 7.69x
Ardwick 5 5.33x
Beech Hill 5 595.24x
Darlington 5 4.97x
Hindringham 5 282.49x
Kelsall 5 260.42x
Moss Side 5 9.14x
Newington 5 1.55x
Openshaw 5 10.27x
Reading St Mary 5 9.49x
Rowton 5 980.39x
West Dereham 5 295.86x
Westoe 5 3.38x
Widnes 5 6.67x
Wincham 5 140.06x
Woodford St Mary 5 256.41x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 1.76x
Bishop Auckland 4 11.44x
Bramley 4 296.30x
Croydon 4 1.69x
Droylsden 4 11.80x
Eastbourne 4 5.89x
Ewell 4 44.40x
Heap 4 7.26x
Mold 4 18.73x
Preston 4 1.44x
Salford 4 1.31x
Tilehurst 4 30.12x
Tonge With Haulgh 4 19.77x
Wigan 4 2.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 67
Elizabeth 34
Sarah 25
Alice 20
Jane 20
Ann 16
Emily 14
Hannah 14
Emma 13
Ellen 12
Annie 11
Margaret 11
Eliza 9
Martha 9
Caroline 8
Elizth. 7
Lucy 7
Maria 7
Charlotte 6
Harriet 6
Edith 5
Julia 5
Louisa 5
Ada 4
Anne 4
Beatrice 4
Catherine 4
Ethel 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Frances 4
Anna 3
Harriett 3
Laura 3
Lizzie 3
Agnes 2
Clara 2
Dinah 2
Esther 2
Francis 2
Gertrude 2
Infant 2
Kate 2
Letitia 2
Lilian 2
M.A. 2
Marian 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Rosina 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 55
John 51
Thomas 38
George 32
James 32
Henry 18
Joseph 16
Charles 11
Walter 11
Albert 10
Alfred 8
Frederick 7
Arthur 6
Richard 6
Samuel 6
Edward 5
Harry 5
Robert 5
Peter 4
Wm. 4
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Ralph 3
Willm. 3
Abel 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Ellis 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Horace 2
Thos. 2
Abraham 1
Allen 1
Benjamin 1
Caroline 1
Clarence 1
Claud 1
Elias 1
Emily 1
Enoch 1
Enock 1
Evan 1
Eyer 1
H. 1
Hugh 1
Hyman 1
Iddo 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Mayers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mayers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 896 people were recorded with the Mayers surname. That placed it at #4,250 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mayers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,268 in 2016. That gives Mayers a modern rank of #2,860.

What does the Mayers surname mean?

Derived from the Old French "maire" or "maire," an occupational surname denoting a mayor or an officer of a court.

What does the Mayers map show?

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