NameCensus.

UK surname

Meachem

A surname derived from the Old English "meocian" meaning "to leak or drip".

In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Meachem surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 224, ranked #18,164, up from #19,750 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Charnwood, Stoke-on-Trent and Nuneaton and Bedworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meachem is 270 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 124.0%.

1881 census count

100

Ranked #19,750

Modern count

224

2016, ranked #18,164

Peak year

1911

270 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meachem had 100 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,750 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 224 in 2016, ranked #18,164.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 270 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Meachem surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meachem surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meachem 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 58 #22,928
1861 historical 78 #23,836
1881 historical 100 #19,750
1891 historical 176 #16,404
1901 historical 247 #13,238
1911 historical 270 #12,273
1997 modern 225 #16,352
1998 modern 229 #16,657
1999 modern 229 #16,744
2000 modern 224 #16,934
2001 modern 214 #17,211
2002 modern 217 #17,388
2003 modern 206 #17,799
2004 modern 215 #17,384
2005 modern 212 #17,473
2006 modern 207 #17,892
2007 modern 206 #18,142
2008 modern 207 #18,243
2009 modern 216 #18,120
2010 modern 234 #17,544
2011 modern 238 #17,188
2012 modern 220 #18,034
2013 modern 229 #17,816
2014 modern 226 #18,088
2015 modern 223 #18,165
2016 modern 224 #18,164

Geography

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Where Meachems are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Wolstanton, London parishes and Woolverton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Charnwood, Stoke-on-Trent, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Horsham and Bolton. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 Wolstanton Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Woolverton Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Charnwood 020 Charnwood
2 Stoke-on-Trent 004 Stoke-on-Trent
3 Nuneaton and Bedworth 008 Nuneaton and Bedworth
4 Horsham 008 Horsham
5 Bolton 028 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meachem

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meachem

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Meachem surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Meachem household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Meachem 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

Meachem is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Meachem

The surname Meachem is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "meaca," which means "companion" or "kinsman." The earliest known spelling variations of the name include Meacham, Meachem, Meachin, and Meachen.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Meachin." This suggests that the name was already established in England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show a William Meacham residing in Oxfordshire. Around the same time, a John Meachem is mentioned in documents from Gloucestershire.

During the 16th century, the surname Meachem appeared in various parish records across England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Wiltshire, and Dorset. This suggests that the name may have had its roots in the southwestern regions of the country.

One notable bearer of the surname was Isaac Meachem (1630-1699), an early settler in Rhode Island. He was among the founders of the town of Providence and played a significant role in the establishment of the colony.

Another prominent individual was Jonathan Meachem (1718-1799), a Baptist minister and educator who served as the first president of Brown University in Rhode Island.

In the 18th century, the Meachem surname can be found in records from Virginia, where a Jonathan Meachem (1730-1808) was a successful farmer and landowner.

During the American Revolutionary War, Benjamin Meachem (1750-1835) served as a soldier in the Continental Army and fought in several major battles, including Saratoga and Yorktown.

In the 19th century, Samuel Meachem (1801-1856) was a notable figure in the field of medicine. He was a physician and pioneered the use of anesthesia during childbirth in the United States.

While the surname Meachem is not among the most common surnames in the world, it has a rich history dating back to medieval England and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meachem families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meachem 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 27 Meachems recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.20x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 27 8.20x
Bedfordshire 16 31.68x
Hampshire 13 6.50x
Buckinghamshire 10 16.96x
Suffolk 10 8.42x
Yorkshire 7 0.72x
Gloucestershire 2 1.05x
Middlesex 2 0.21x
Shropshire 2 2.37x
Surrey 2 0.42x
Worcestershire 2 1.57x
Cheshire 1 0.46x
Essex 1 0.52x
Kent 1 0.30x
Lancashire 1 0.09x
Leicestershire 1 0.92x
Somerset 1 0.64x
Sussex 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ampthill in Bedfordshire leads with 8 Meachems recorded in 1881 and an index of 1066.67x.

Place Total Index
Ampthill 8 1066.67x
Preston Candover 8 5714.29x
Kimberworth 7 130.60x
Leighton Buzzard 7 322.58x
Wolverton 7 573.77x
Cannock 6 104.35x
Leiston 6 731.71x
Shenstone 6 714.29x
Rugeley 5 211.86x
Wolverhampton 5 19.75x
Beccles 4 209.42x
Essington 4 930.23x
Holdenhurst 3 57.25x
Chaddesley Corbett 2 416.67x
Clun 2 333.33x
Elmore 2 1666.67x
Fenny Stratford 2 357.14x
Hackney London 2 3.66x
Seale 2 666.67x
Altrincham 1 26.60x
Crondall 1 93.46x
Crumpsall 1 36.63x
Gumley 1 1250.00x
Hougham 1 50.51x
Lawford 1 357.14x
Luton 1 11.44x
Nutley 1 2500.00x
Petworth 1 102.04x
Pitminster 1 217.39x
Stony Stratford West 1 243.90x
Stretton 1 1250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 5
Sarah 4
Alice 2
Emma 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Sophia 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Georgina 1
Harriett 1
Luca 1
Martha 1
Olive 1
Rachel 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Tracia 1
Windfrige 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
James 6
John 6
George 5
Henry 5
Arthur 3
Alfd. 2
Charles 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Fredric 1
Isaiah 1
Job 1
Joe 1
Phillip 1
Richard 1

FAQ

Meachem surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meachem surname in 1881?

In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Meachem surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meachem surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 224 in 2016. That gives Meachem a modern rank of #18,164.

What does the Meachem surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English "meocian" meaning "to leak or drip".

What does the Meachem map show?

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