NameCensus.

UK surname

Mayfield

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near an open field that was harvested in May.

In the 1881 census there were 767 people recorded with the Mayfield surname, ranking it #4,821 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,076, ranked #5,428, down from #4,821 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton and Burrough, Somerby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, Kirklees and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mayfield is 1,154 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.3%.

1881 census count

767

Ranked #4,821

Modern count

1,076

2016, ranked #5,428

Peak year

2000

1,154 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mayfield had 767 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,821 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,076 in 2016, ranked #5,428.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,016 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mayfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mayfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mayfield 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 508 #4,924
1861 historical 638 #4,199
1881 historical 767 #4,821
1891 historical 821 #4,937
1901 historical 931 #5,008
1911 historical 1,016 #4,485
1997 modern 1,113 #5,016
1998 modern 1,121 #5,173
1999 modern 1,147 #5,122
2000 modern 1,154 #5,066
2001 modern 1,113 #5,118
2002 modern 1,134 #5,150
2003 modern 1,105 #5,164
2004 modern 1,119 #5,110
2005 modern 1,094 #5,152
2006 modern 1,080 #5,214
2007 modern 1,084 #5,240
2008 modern 1,079 #5,298
2009 modern 1,127 #5,213
2010 modern 1,124 #5,336
2011 modern 1,120 #5,297
2012 modern 1,098 #5,297
2013 modern 1,095 #5,393
2014 modern 1,110 #5,355
2015 modern 1,088 #5,391
2016 modern 1,076 #5,428

Geography

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Where Mayfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton, Burrough, Somerby, Nottingham St Mary and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newark and Sherwood, Kirklees and Cornwall. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton Nottinghamshire
3 Burrough, Somerby Leicestershire
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 009 Newark and Sherwood
2 Newark and Sherwood 011 Newark and Sherwood
3 Newark and Sherwood 007 Newark and Sherwood
4 Kirklees 028 Kirklees
5 Cornwall 069 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mayfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mayfield

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mayfield is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Mayfield 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mayfield

The surname Mayfield has its origins in England, deriving from a locational name referring to a meadow or open field. It likely emerged sometime during the Anglo-Saxon period, which lasted from around the 5th to the 11th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Maifeld" in the county of Essex. This entry suggests that the name was already well-established by the late 11th century in this region.

By the 13th century, the name had evolved into various spellings such as "Meyfeld" and "Meyfelde," reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. These early forms highlight the connection to the Old English words "mæd" (meadow) and "feld" (field).

In the 14th century, records show individuals bearing the name Mayfield residing in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Warwickshire, and Somerset. Notable examples from this period include John de Mayfeld, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1317, and William Mayfeld, a landowner in Somerset recorded in the Assize Rolls of 1346.

As the name spread across England, it also took on localized variations, such as "Mayfeild" and "Mayfelde," reflecting the influence of local dialects and pronunciation patterns.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname was Sir Thomas Mayfield (c. 1390-1455), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of Henry VI.

Another notable figure in history was Sir William Mayfield (c. 1500-1558), a Member of Parliament and landowner in Staffordshire during the Tudor period.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various records, including the marriage of Richard Mayfield to Elizabeth Smyth in St. Giles Cripplegate, London, in 1623.

During the English Civil War, Captain William Mayfield (c. 1620-1680) fought on the Parliamentarian side and later served as a magistrate in Warwickshire.

As the centuries progressed, the Mayfield surname continued to be found throughout England, with some individuals gaining notable positions and achievements in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mayfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mayfield 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 245 Mayfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.29x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 245 24.29x
Lincolnshire 75 6.27x
Yorkshire 73 0.98x
Middlesex 56 0.75x
Derbyshire 55 4.70x
Leicestershire 48 5.79x
Warwickshire 46 2.44x
Staffordshire 42 1.66x
Worcestershire 24 2.46x
Surrey 20 0.55x
Durham 17 0.76x
Lancashire 15 0.17x
Hertfordshire 9 1.75x
Kent 7 0.27x
Glamorgan 5 0.38x
Sussex 5 0.40x
Berkshire 4 0.71x
Norfolk 4 0.35x
Huntingdonshire 3 2.02x
Wiltshire 3 0.45x
Essex 2 0.14x
Northamptonshire 2 0.28x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.21x
Cheshire 1 0.06x
Devon 1 0.06x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Monmouthshire 1 0.18x
Shropshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 47 Mayfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.02x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 47 18.02x
Arnold 44 298.91x
Birmingham 28 4.45x
Newark Upon Trent 22 60.69x
Farndon 20 1117.32x
Heanor 14 79.91x
Tottenham 12 10.07x
Aston 11 2.12x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 11 15.93x
Hackney London 11 2.62x
Mansfield 11 31.52x
Wolverhampton 11 5.66x
Barnes 10 64.85x
Snenton 10 25.24x
Wolstanton 10 13.04x
Cottingham 9 56.32x
Hemel Hempstead 9 38.73x
Hucknall Torkard 9 35.20x
Long Bennington 9 386.27x
Long Eaton 9 58.21x
Walsall Foreign 9 6.90x
Whitby 9 36.01x
Billesdon 8 372.09x
Bothamsall 8 1176.47x
Burrough 8 2105.26x
Carlton 8 69.50x
Hanley Castle 8 136.75x
Lowesby 8 2222.22x
Martin In Sleaford 8 382.78x
Barsby 7 1076.92x
Alfreton 6 16.86x
Benfieldside 6 40.98x
Blankney 6 355.03x
Brimington 6 67.49x
Bucknall 6 697.67x
Bushbury 6 132.16x
Coddington 6 451.13x
Leatherhead 6 65.72x
Linby 6 731.71x
New Malton 6 67.72x
Nocton 6 372.67x
Radford 6 11.71x
Rowley Regis 6 8.53x
Skipton 6 25.72x
Staveley 6 28.86x
York St Cuthbert 6 88.37x
Basford 5 10.76x
Bradford 5 12.03x
Dogdyke 5 925.93x
Ilkeston 5 15.23x
Neath 5 18.86x
Pelhams Lands 5 1219.51x
Stone 5 312.50x
Beeston 4 34.51x
Chelsea London 4 1.77x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.03x
Ferryhill 4 51.41x
Gateshead 4 2.40x
Gedling 4 240.96x
Heigham 4 6.48x
Holy Trinity 4 2.24x
Hornsey 4 4.23x
Lye 4 24.60x
Orston 4 322.58x
Pontefract Park 4 2352.94x
Reading St Giles 4 7.26x
St Marylebone London 4 1.00x
Stanford On Soar 4 1481.48x
Turton 4 27.51x
Coningsby 3 87.46x
Curdworth 3 173.41x
Edgbaston 3 5.13x
Lancing 3 86.46x
Manchester 3 0.75x
Morton 3 1071.43x
Nettleham 3 122.45x
Norton 3 31.09x
St Olave Hart Street 3 461.54x
Swindon 3 5.85x
Worcester St Martin 3 22.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 60
Elizabeth 35
Sarah 30
Eliza 22
Alice 15
Ann 15
Annie 15
Jane 15
Ellen 13
Emma 11
Maria 11
Hannah 10
Lucy 8
Florence 6
Margaret 6
Rose 6
Catherine 4
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Harriett 4
Isabella 4
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Amy 3
Anna 3
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Martha 3
Susannah 3
Betsey 2
Ethel 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Elizth.Kate 1
Evelyn 1
Letty 1
Lilean 1
Tottie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 47
William 43
Thomas 36
James 25
George 21
Joseph 21
Henry 19
Samuel 17
Charles 14
Alfred 9
Arthur 9
Robert 8
Albert 7
Edwin 6
Frederick 6
Frank 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Thos. 5
Walter 5
Edward 3
Francis 3
Tom 3
Benjamin 2
Benjm. 2
Christopher 2
Elijah 2
Fred 2
Mathew 2
Matthew 2
Myers 2
Willm. 2
Archibald 1
Douglas 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Foster 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Maurice 1
Michael 1
Nicholas 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Ranson 1
Reuben 1
Robt. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Mayfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mayfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 767 people were recorded with the Mayfield surname. That placed it at #4,821 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mayfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,076 in 2016. That gives Mayfield a modern rank of #5,428.

What does the Mayfield surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near an open field that was harvested in May.

What does the Mayfield map show?

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