NameCensus.

UK surname

Meaden

An English surname derived from a place name referring to a meadow or grassy field.

In the 1881 census there were 480 people recorded with the Meaden surname, ranking it #6,976 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 952, ranked #6,034, up from #6,976 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lytchett Matravers and Wareham Lady St Mary and Out Parish, Wareham St Martin, West Lulworth, East Stoke. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Purbeck, North Dorset and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meaden is 1,019 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 98.3%.

1881 census count

480

Ranked #6,976

Modern count

952

2016, ranked #6,034

Peak year

1999

1,019 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meaden had 480 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,976 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 952 in 2016, ranked #6,034.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 767 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Meaden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meaden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meaden 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 345 #6,823
1861 historical 333 #7,646
1881 historical 480 #6,976
1891 historical 534 #7,037
1901 historical 615 #6,942
1911 historical 767 #5,650
1997 modern 957 #5,682
1998 modern 1,012 #5,625
1999 modern 1,019 #5,625
2000 modern 1,018 #5,599
2001 modern 987 #5,630
2002 modern 994 #5,720
2003 modern 994 #5,616
2004 modern 996 #5,619
2005 modern 960 #5,736
2006 modern 945 #5,817
2007 modern 933 #5,922
2008 modern 936 #5,946
2009 modern 943 #6,032
2010 modern 964 #6,052
2011 modern 935 #6,144
2012 modern 928 #6,106
2013 modern 965 #5,999
2014 modern 959 #6,081
2015 modern 952 #6,063
2016 modern 952 #6,034

Geography

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Where Meadens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lytchett Matravers, Wareham Lady St Mary and Out Parish, Wareham St Martin, West Lulworth, East Stoke and Shillingstone or Shilling Okeford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Purbeck, North Dorset, Wiltshire and Halton. 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 3
2 Lytchett Matravers Dorset
3 Wareham Lady St Mary and Out Parish, Wareham St Martin, West Lulworth, East Stoke Dorset
4 Shillingstone or Shilling Okeford Dorset
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Purbeck 004 Purbeck
2 North Dorset 006 North Dorset
3 Purbeck 001 Purbeck
4 Wiltshire 040 Wiltshire
5 Halton 006 Halton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meaden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meaden

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

Meaden is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Meaden

The surname Meaden is believed to have originated in England and can be traced back to the early medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "mæd," meaning "meadow" or "clearing," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked on a meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Maddene" in the county of Devon. This entry suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, various spellings of the name began to appear in historical records, including "Madene," "Madyn," and "Maden." These variations likely reflect regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling during that time period.

By the 14th century, the spelling "Meaden" had become more prevalent, particularly in the counties of Devon and Somerset in the southwest of England. This region is considered the traditional homeland of the Meaden family.

One notable figure associated with the Meaden name was John Meaden, who was born in the village of Meaden Hill in Somerset around 1520. He was a prominent landowner and served as a magistrate in the county during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another individual of note was Sir William Meaden (1604-1676), a military officer who fought for the Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War. He was knighted for his service and later became a member of the House of Commons, representing the borough of Taunton.

In the 18th century, the Meaden family continued to maintain a presence in the southwest of England. One member, Thomas Meaden (1725-1798), was a successful merchant and shipowner based in the port city of Bristol.

The 19th century saw some members of the Meaden family migrate to other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond. One such individual was James Meaden (1832-1904), who was born in Devon but later settled in Australia, where he became a prominent sheep farmer and landowner.

Another notable figure was Sir Charles Meaden (1857-1931), a British businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the shipping industry in the early 20th century. He was knighted for his services to commerce and industry.

Throughout its history, the Meaden surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried the name over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meaden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meaden 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. Dorset leads with 96 Meadens recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.24x.

County Total Index
Dorset 96 31.24x
Somerset 81 10.75x
Wiltshire 76 18.35x
Lancashire 43 0.77x
Middlesex 27 0.58x
Kent 26 1.63x
Surrey 24 1.05x
Hampshire 19 1.98x
Sussex 16 2.03x
Gloucestershire 13 1.42x
Glamorgan 11 1.35x
Staffordshire 9 0.57x
Essex 8 0.87x
Devon 6 0.62x
Shropshire 5 1.24x
Suffolk 5 0.88x
Yorkshire 4 0.09x
Berkshire 2 0.57x
Durham 2 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.34x
Derbyshire 1 0.14x
Hertfordshire 1 0.31x
Lanarkshire 1 0.07x
Midlothian 1 0.16x
Norfolk 1 0.14x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Imber in Wiltshire leads with 46 Meadens recorded in 1881 and an index of 7301.59x.

Place Total Index
Imber 46 7301.59x
Bruton 33 1114.86x
Lytchett Matravers 18 1621.62x
Wareham Lady St Mary 16 675.11x
Wellow 15 675.68x
Westbury 15 155.28x
Southampton St Mary 12 19.88x
Brighton 10 6.28x
Westbury On Trym 10 32.14x
Deptford St Paul 9 7.30x
East Stoke 9 957.45x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 9.55x
Barnes 8 82.90x
Cheetham 8 19.31x
Hamworthy 8 747.66x
Pitcombe 8 1194.03x
Shilling Okeford 8 879.12x
Colchester St Giles 7 76.67x
Staines 7 94.47x
West Lulworth 7 1296.30x
Chideock 6 555.56x
Evercreech 6 329.67x
Handsworth 6 15.40x
Ottery St Mary 6 93.90x
Roath 6 16.20x
Toxteth Park 6 3.19x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 4.12x
Coyty Lower 5 94.52x
East Coker 5 303.03x
Manchester 5 2.00x
Milborne Port 5 165.56x
Okeford Fitzpaine 5 510.20x
Tilshead 5 649.35x
Bradford On Avon 4 30.17x
Christ Church Newgate 4 183.49x
Clapham 4 6.83x
Dawley 4 27.17x
Greenwich 4 5.37x
Hammersmith London 4 3.47x
Ibberton 4 1333.33x
Ipswich St Helen 4 59.17x
Leeds 4 1.53x
Sturminster 4 134.23x
Woolwich 4 6.78x
Blackrod 3 43.48x
Camberwell 3 1.00x
Chelsea London 3 2.13x
Felpham 3 329.67x
Hindon 3 337.08x
Horwich 3 49.51x
Islington London 3 0.66x
Morden 3 230.77x
Ramsgate 3 11.50x
Walcot 3 7.47x
Wigan 3 3.86x
Bitton Oldland 2 21.30x
Bradford 2 7.69x
Chaldon Herring 2 370.37x
Dartford 2 12.25x
Droylsden 2 11.04x
Elvet 2 19.88x
Gillingham 2 6.07x
Melcombe Regis 2 15.70x
Midsomer Norton 2 28.17x
Newcastle Under Lyme 2 7.15x
Openshaw 2 7.69x
South Stoneham 2 9.61x
Southampton All Sts 2 12.14x
St George Martyr 2 25.35x
Sutton At Hone 2 60.42x
Tangmere 2 666.67x
Weymouth 2 34.36x
Yeovil 2 13.06x
Blandford Forum 1 16.50x
Charlcombe 1 100.00x
Clewer 1 6.94x
Golborne 1 13.81x
Holdenhurst 1 3.97x
Little Bolton 1 1.40x
Uxbridge 1 18.69x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Meaden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meaden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 480 people were recorded with the Meaden surname. That placed it at #6,976 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meaden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 952 in 2016. That gives Meaden a modern rank of #6,034.

What does the Meaden surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to a meadow or grassy field.

What does the Meaden map show?

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