NameCensus.

UK surname

Mayles

A variant spelling of the English surname Miles, derived from the Latin personal name Milius.

In the 1881 census there were 101 people recorded with the Mayles surname, ranking it #19,636 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 104, ranked #30,317, down from #19,636 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Measham and Stevenage. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Conwy, St Albans and Luton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mayles is 137 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.0%.

1881 census count

101

Ranked #19,636

Modern count

104

2016, ranked #30,317

Peak year

1891

137 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mayles had 101 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,636 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016, ranked #30,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 137 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mayles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mayles surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mayles 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 77 #19,998
1861 historical 103 #20,650
1881 historical 101 #19,636
1891 historical 137 #19,501
1901 historical 123 #20,248
1911 historical 136 #18,962
1997 modern 113 #25,106
1998 modern 117 #25,190
1999 modern 123 #24,643
2000 modern 126 #24,220
2001 modern 117 #24,974
2002 modern 119 #25,231
2003 modern 114 #25,664
2004 modern 110 #26,451
2005 modern 112 #26,114
2006 modern 107 #27,179
2007 modern 108 #27,391
2008 modern 113 #26,920
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 121 #27,005
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 95 #31,523
2014 modern 99 #31,186
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 104 #30,317

Geography

Back to top

Where Mayles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Measham, Stevenage, Dunstable and Luton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Conwy, St Albans, Luton and Barnet. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Measham Leicestershire
3 Stevenage Hertfordshire
4 Dunstable Bedfordshire
5 Luton Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Conwy 015 Conwy
2 St Albans 004 St Albans
3 Luton 008 Luton
4 Luton 011 Luton
5 Barnet 007 Barnet

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mayles

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mayles

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Mayles is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mayles is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mayles falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mayles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mayles

The surname Mayles is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old English name "Mahel," which was a personal name derived from the Old English word "mæl," meaning "speech" or "words."

The name may have initially referred to someone who was known for their oratory skills or was a skilled speaker. Alternatively, it could have been a descriptive nickname referring to someone's distinctive speech pattern or manner of speaking.

While the Mayles surname is not among the most common in England, it can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled "Mayles."

During the 14th century, the name appears in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John Mayles is listed as a taxpayer. In the same century, a William Mayles is recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1384.

In the 15th century, the surname is found in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the Paston family, one of the most influential families in 15th-century Norfolk. In a letter dated 1472, a John Mayles is mentioned as a servant in the Paston household.

One notable figure with the Mayles surname was Sir William Mayles, a 16th-century English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Higham Ferrers in 1547. He was born around 1510 and died in 1572.

Another individual of note was Thomas Mayles, a 17th-century English clergyman and writer. He was born in 1633 and served as the vicar of Rendlesham in Suffolk. Mayles authored several religious works, including "A Practical Discourse Concerning the Worship of God" published in 1689.

In the 18th century, John Mayles, born in 1712, was a renowned landscape painter and engraver. His works were highly regarded during his lifetime, and some of his engravings can still be found in collections today.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Charles Mayles, a prominent English architect born in 1818. He was known for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Freemasons' Hall and the Royal College of Surgeons.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mayles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mayles 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. Bedfordshire leads with 43 Mayles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 85.13x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 43 85.13x
Middlesex 11 1.13x
Hertfordshire 9 13.38x
Leicestershire 8 7.40x
Gloucestershire 7 3.66x
Lanarkshire 5 1.58x
Northamptonshire 5 5.45x
Kent 3 0.90x
Lancashire 3 0.26x
Somerset 3 1.91x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.70x
Midlothian 1 0.77x
Yorkshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Luton in Bedfordshire leads with 26 Mayles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 297.48x.

Place Total Index
Luton 26 297.48x
Sundon 11 8461.54x
Chelsea London 9 30.62x
Stevenage 7 673.08x
Preston 6 6666.67x
Govan 5 6.41x
Northampton St Giles 5 143.27x
Ashby De La Zouch 4 159.36x
Normanton Le Heath 4 8000.00x
Blackburn 3 9.74x
Lyncombe Widcombe 3 72.99x
Streatley 3 3000.00x
Bristol St John Baptist 1 555.56x
Bushey 1 62.50x
Caddington 1 135.14x
Dunstable 1 64.52x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.90x
Ellesborough 1 500.00x
Eynsford 1 175.44x
Hertford St John 1 100.00x
Hougham 1 50.51x
Houghton Regis 1 123.46x
Islington London 1 1.06x
Keighley 1 9.71x
Kensington London 1 1.84x
Swanscombe 1 66.67x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
Thomas 8
John 7
James 4
Charles 2
George 2
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Jarael 1
Joseph 1
Pritgler 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1

FAQ

Mayles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mayles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 101 people were recorded with the Mayles surname. That placed it at #19,636 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mayles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016. That gives Mayles a modern rank of #30,317.

What does the Mayles surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname Miles, derived from the Latin personal name Milius.

What does the Mayles map show?

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