NameCensus.

UK surname

Mayson

A surname derived from a medieval given name meaning "son of Matthew".

In the 1881 census there were 279 people recorded with the Mayson surname, ranking it #10,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 227, ranked #17,992, down from #10,230 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rufford, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Lancaster and Waverley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mayson is 380 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.6%.

1881 census count

279

Ranked #10,230

Modern count

227

2016, ranked #17,992

Peak year

1901

380 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mayson had 279 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,230 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016, ranked #17,992.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 380 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mayson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mayson surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mayson 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 273 #8,212
1861 historical 312 #8,127
1881 historical 279 #10,230
1891 historical 312 #10,744
1901 historical 380 #9,823
1911 historical 346 #10,341
1997 modern 236 #15,852
1998 modern 233 #16,459
1999 modern 231 #16,646
2000 modern 236 #16,380
2001 modern 236 #16,094
2002 modern 242 #16,186
2003 modern 232 #16,447
2004 modern 226 #16,829
2005 modern 222 #16,983
2006 modern 225 #16,941
2007 modern 216 #17,575
2008 modern 213 #17,903
2009 modern 214 #18,220
2010 modern 222 #18,148
2011 modern 221 #18,039
2012 modern 212 #18,481
2013 modern 224 #18,080
2014 modern 224 #18,202
2015 modern 221 #18,289
2016 modern 227 #17,992

Geography

Back to top

Where Maysons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rufford, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Manchester, Crosthwaite and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Lancaster, Waverley, Herefordshire and Medway. 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 Rufford Lancashire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Crosthwaite Cumberland
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 006 Copeland
2 Lancaster 019 Lancaster
3 Waverley 018 Waverley
4 Herefordshire 007 Herefordshire, County of
5 Medway 001 Medway

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mayson

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mayson

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

Mayson is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mayson falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mayson

The surname Mayson is of English origin, and it is derived from the Middle English word "mason," which means a worker in stone or a builder of stone structures. This occupational surname dates back to the early 13th century and was first found in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Mayson can be traced back to the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk in 1273, where it was spelled as "Masun." In the Pipe Rolls of Somerset from 1275, the name appears as "le Mazun."

One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was William le Mazun, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. Another early record is that of John Mayson, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1377.

The surname Mayson is also closely linked to several place names in England, such as Maysonbrook in Derbyshire and Maysonforth in Northumberland. These place names likely derived from individuals who bore the surname and lived in or owned these locations.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the surname was John Mayson (c. 1500-1576), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Archdeacon of Richmond from 1559 until his death.

Another prominent figure with this surname was Richard Mayson (1624-1675), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Westbury in the Cavalier Parliament from 1661 to 1675.

In the 18th century, John Mayson (1730-1810) was a noted English violinist and composer who performed in London and wrote several concertos and sonatas for the violin.

Moving into the 19th century, Thomas Mayson (1808-1894) was an English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Lancashire, including the Preston Town Hall and the Harris Museum and Art Gallery.

Lastly, in the early 20th century, William Mayson (1882-1959) was a British trade unionist and politician who served as the General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen from 1925 to 1947.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mayson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mayson 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. Lancashire leads with 117 Maysons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.61x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 117 3.61x
Cumberland 55 23.39x
Middlesex 23 0.84x
Yorkshire 19 0.70x
Surrey 10 0.75x
Nottinghamshire 9 2.44x
Cheshire 8 1.33x
Durham 7 0.86x
Kent 7 0.75x
Northumberland 6 1.48x
Lanarkshire 4 0.45x
Rutland 3 14.96x
Huntingdonshire 2 3.69x
Worcestershire 2 0.56x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.61x
Derbyshire 1 0.23x
Lincolnshire 1 0.23x
Oxfordshire 1 0.59x
Royal Navy 1 3.07x
Staffordshire 1 0.11x
Warwickshire 1 0.15x
Westmorland 1 1.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Keswick in Cumberland leads with 21 Maysons recorded in 1881 and an index of 697.67x.

Place Total Index
Keswick 21 697.67x
Rufford 16 1882.35x
Gorton 15 49.23x
Blackburn 12 13.92x
Whitehaven 12 95.77x
Bromley London 8 13.31x
Bury 8 21.61x
Hackney London 8 5.22x
North Meols 8 25.22x
Bermondsey 6 7.38x
Burscough 6 1224.49x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 11.66x
Deptford St Paul 6 8.35x
Great Crosby 6 67.87x
Nottingham St Mary 6 6.30x
Warley 6 76.73x
Chirton 5 54.35x
Radcliffe 5 32.01x
Royton 5 50.45x
Stayley 5 72.57x
Caldewgate 4 31.06x
Cockermouth 4 80.81x
Denton 4 55.71x
Didsbury 4 93.02x
Govan 4 1.83x
Moss Side 4 23.46x
Much Woolton 4 90.91x
Nunnington 4 1052.63x
Shoreditch London 4 3.38x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 7.28x
Stranton 4 14.63x
Threlkeld 4 1025.64x
York St Mary 4 35.68x
Basford 3 17.68x
Braunston 3 833.33x
Everton 3 2.90x
Hartlepool 3 25.97x
Whicham 3 833.33x
Accrington 2 6.79x
Bassenthwaite 2 416.67x
Bowdon 2 83.68x
Brigham 2 180.18x
Elton 2 17.86x
Hilton 2 606.06x
Preston 2 2.31x
Ambleside 1 53.76x
Aspatria 1 44.25x
Birmingham 1 0.44x
Bradford 1 1.53x
Bridekirk 1 53.19x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.88x
Broughton In Salford 1 3.38x
Dudley 1 2.31x
Fulshaw 1 90.09x
Gate Fulford 1 15.82x
Harrington 1 35.21x
Holy Trinity Less 1 169.49x
Kensington London 1 0.66x
Kings Norton 1 3.13x
Lathom 1 25.58x
Leek Lowe 1 8.15x
Margate St John Baptist 1 5.86x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 4.75x
Newton 1 4.00x
Oxford St Peter Le Bailey 1 119.05x
Royal Navy 1 3.59x
St George Hanover 1 2.81x
Stamford St George 1 51.02x
Staveley 1 13.18x
Stoke Poges 1 49.75x
Walton Le Dale 1 11.48x
Wavertree 1 9.64x
Willerby In Scarborough 1 256.41x
York St Giles In 1 39.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 24
William 19
James 11
Thomas 9
Edward 7
George 6
Robert 6
Joseph 4
Daniel 3
Henry 3
Jonathan 3
Richard 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Christopher 2
Geo. 2
Mark 2
Samuel 2
Wilfrid 2
Albert 1
Beresford 1
Chas. 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hillyer 1
Levi 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Spencer 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Webster 1

FAQ

Mayson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mayson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 279 people were recorded with the Mayson surname. That placed it at #10,230 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mayson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016. That gives Mayson a modern rank of #17,992.

What does the Mayson surname mean?

A surname derived from a medieval given name meaning "son of Matthew".

What does the Mayson map show?

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