NameCensus.

UK surname

Meachen

A surname possibly derived from an Old English element meaning "big" or "great".

In the 1881 census there were 156 people recorded with the Meachen surname, ranking it #15,114 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 232, ranked #17,694, down from #15,114 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Petworth, Harwich St Nicholas and East Dereham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tendring, Breckland and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meachen is 278 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.7%.

1881 census count

156

Ranked #15,114

Modern count

232

2016, ranked #17,694

Peak year

1911

278 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meachen had 156 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,114 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 232 in 2016, ranked #17,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 278 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Meachen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meachen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meachen 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 163 #12,156
1861 historical 126 #17,569
1881 historical 156 #15,114
1891 historical 194 #15,277
1901 historical 218 #14,332
1911 historical 278 #12,038
1997 modern 245 #15,483
1998 modern 257 #15,401
1999 modern 249 #15,844
2000 modern 252 #15,659
2001 modern 250 #15,527
2002 modern 248 #15,896
2003 modern 231 #16,504
2004 modern 243 #16,004
2005 modern 224 #16,876
2006 modern 230 #16,690
2007 modern 225 #17,154
2008 modern 231 #16,973
2009 modern 245 #16,646
2010 modern 257 #16,476
2011 modern 242 #17,001
2012 modern 237 #17,132
2013 modern 239 #17,307
2014 modern 249 #16,954
2015 modern 239 #17,322
2016 modern 232 #17,694

Geography

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Where Meachens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Petworth, Harwich St Nicholas, East Dereham, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tendring, Breckland and Kirklees. 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 Petworth Sussex
2 Harwich St Nicholas Essex
3 East Dereham Norfolk
4 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tendring 001 Tendring
2 Breckland 006 Breckland
3 Tendring 004 Tendring
4 Breckland 005 Breckland
5 Kirklees 057 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meachen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meachen

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Meachen 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

Meachen is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Meachen falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Meachen

The surname Meachen is of English origin, with historical roots dating back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English "mæccen," a word that described a maker or craftsman. Some suggest it could also be derived from the Old French "machun," meaning stone mason, reflecting the Norman influence after the Norman Conquest of 1066. This occupational surname would have been indicative of someone’s trade, signifying prominence and respect in medieval communities for their craftsmanship skills.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Meachen can be found in English records from the 13th century. One such early reference is a Thomas le Machun, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. These records were essentially tax lists created by the monarchy to raise funds, which makes them a valuable source of historical information.

Over the centuries, the spelling of the surname has varied, often due to phonetic spelling and clerical errors. Variants such as Machun, Machen, and Machyn appear in old documents and records from different regions of England. Notably, the parish records of St. Margaret's Church in Westminster mention a John Meachen who was married there in 1594. His presence in the parish records attests to the name's enduring presence in London from at least the late 16th century.

The Meachen surname also finds connection in historical manuscripts and civic documents. For instance, Robert Meachen is listed among the Freemen of the City of York in 1453, where he is acknowledged for his service and contributions to the city. Another notable figure is Henry Meachen, who appears in the 1665 Hearth Tax returns for Essex, a reflection of how the name spread throughout various counties over the centuries.

Famous individuals with the Meachen surname also underscore its historical significance. William Meachen, born in 1786, was an influential British architect who contributed significantly to Georgian architecture, including works in London's West End. James Meachen, a Victorian-era inventor, patented early steam engine improvements in 1838, showcasing the innovative spirit associated with bearers of the name.

From its origins in the medieval English context to various historical records, the Meachen surname has a rich and varied history tied to craftsmanship and intellectual innovation. The legacy of the Meachen surname, encapsulated in historical documents and notable figures, paints a vivid picture of its evolution over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meachen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meachen 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. Norfolk leads with 61 Meachens recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.07x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 61 26.07x
Sussex 22 8.57x
Essex 11 3.66x
Surrey 11 1.48x
Lancashire 10 0.55x
Middlesex 8 0.53x
Kent 4 0.77x
Lincolnshire 4 1.64x
Monmouthshire 4 3.64x
Yorkshire 4 0.27x
Leicestershire 3 1.78x
Suffolk 3 1.62x
Cambridgeshire 2 2.07x
Fife 2 2.22x
Gloucestershire 2 0.67x
Hampshire 2 0.64x
Durham 1 0.22x
Staffordshire 1 0.19x
Warwickshire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Yaxham in Norfolk leads with 32 Meachens recorded in 1881 and an index of 12800.00x.

Place Total Index
Yaxham 32 12800.00x
Petworth 20 1307.19x
East Dereham 11 371.62x
Harwich St Nicholas 10 431.03x
Gorton 6 35.36x
Heigham 6 47.77x
East Bradenham 5 2941.18x
Greenwich 4 16.52x
Hindley 4 51.95x
Linthorpe 4 44.44x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 4 263.16x
Stamford St John 4 1212.12x
Kibworth Beauchamp 3 517.24x
Lambeth 3 2.26x
Lowestoft 3 34.25x
St George Bloomsbury 3 34.36x
Stoke 3 85.71x
Trevethin 3 28.87x
Bethnal Green London 2 3.03x
Brighton 2 3.86x
Cupar 2 51.02x
Melbourn 2 212.77x
Norwich St Benedict 2 192.31x
St Luke London 2 8.19x
Aberystruth 1 10.31x
Caterham 1 30.49x
Chawton 1 400.00x
Clifton 1 6.63x
Compton 1 400.00x
Croydon 1 2.43x
Elstead 1 277.78x
Micheldever 1 185.19x
Newington 1 1.78x
Norwich St Stephen 1 46.51x
Olveston 1 119.05x
Rugby 1 19.27x
Ryhope 1 31.85x
Wednesfield 1 13.23x
Westminster St John 1 5.40x
Wivenhoe 1 84.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Eliza 5
Elizabeth 5
Jane 4
Emily 3
Emma 3
Harriet 3
Sarah 3
Sophia 3
Susanna 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Hannah 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
A.S. 1
Abigail 1
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Cassandra 1
Catherine 1
Charlote 1
Cordelia 1
E.M. 1
Eda 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Infant 1
J.R. 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Margarite 1
Margt. 1
Nellie 1
R.A. 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Meachen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meachen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 156 people were recorded with the Meachen surname. That placed it at #15,114 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meachen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 232 in 2016. That gives Meachen a modern rank of #17,694.

What does the Meachen surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from an Old English element meaning "big" or "great".

What does the Meachen map show?

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