NameCensus.

UK surname

Meadow

An English surname derived from the Old English word for a meadow or grassy field.

In the 1881 census there were 189 people recorded with the Meadow surname, ranking it #13,322 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 103, ranked #30,515, down from #13,322 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Meols, Wigan and Ormskirk. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tameside, Sefton and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meadow is 368 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 45.5%.

1881 census count

189

Ranked #13,322

Modern count

103

2016, ranked #30,515

Peak year

1861

368 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meadow had 189 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,322 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016, ranked #30,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 368 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Meadow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meadow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meadow 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 216 #9,818
1861 historical 368 #6,935
1881 historical 189 #13,322
1891 historical 357 #9,678
1901 historical 168 #16,886
1911 historical 289 #11,738
1997 modern 147 #21,393
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 147 #22,110
2000 modern 123 #24,585
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 117 #25,494
2003 modern 107 #26,617
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 103 #27,531
2006 modern 102 #27,926
2007 modern 106 #27,722
2008 modern 107 #27,844
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 109 #28,831
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 97 #30,798
2013 modern 98 #31,078
2014 modern 101 #30,855
2015 modern 97 #31,499
2016 modern 103 #30,515

Geography

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Where Meadows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Meols, Wigan, Ormskirk, London parishes and Sefton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tameside, Sefton, Wigan and Chorley. 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 North Meols Lancashire
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Ormskirk Lancashire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Sefton Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tameside 027 Tameside
2 Sefton 008 Sefton
3 Wigan 015 Wigan
4 Sefton 005 Sefton
5 Chorley 008 Chorley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meadow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meadow

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Meadow is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Meadow is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Meadow falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Meadow

The surname Meadow is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, derived from the Old English word "maed" or "mæd," meaning "meadow" or "clearing." This name likely referred to someone who lived near a meadow or worked on a meadowland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Meadow dates back to the 13th century, where it appeared in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273 as "John atte Medue." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, reflecting the changes in language and pronunciation.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where it was recorded as "Thomas de la Medewe" in 1327. This version of the name incorporates the French prefix "de la," indicating the influence of Norman French on English surnames during this period.

The Meadow surname can also be traced back to various place names in England, such as Meadowcroft in Staffordshire and Meadowfield in County Durham. These place names likely contributed to the development and spread of the surname throughout different regions.

Notable individuals with the surname Meadow include:

1. John Meadows (c. 1625-1699), an English Puritan minister and author known for his work "The Reverend Divine." 2. Thomas Meadowcourt (1618-1689), an English Puritan clergyman and author of several religious works. 3. Sarah Meadows (1624-1693), an English Quaker writer and preacher who faced persecution for her religious beliefs. 4. Robert Meadows (1763-1854), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. 5. Philip Meadows Taylor (1808-1876), an English novelist and civil servant in colonial India, known for his works depicting Anglo-Indian life.

These examples demonstrate the longevity and historical significance of the Meadow surname, which has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and literary landscapes of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meadow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meadow 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 83 Meadows recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.92x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 83 3.92x
Middlesex 25 1.40x
Warwickshire 15 3.33x
Yorkshire 13 0.73x
Surrey 7 0.80x
Hampshire 6 1.64x
Northamptonshire 4 2.38x
Worcestershire 4 1.72x
Norfolk 3 1.09x
Northumberland 3 1.13x
Staffordshire 3 0.50x
Sussex 3 1.00x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.85x
Denbighshire 2 2.97x
Derbyshire 2 0.72x
Essex 2 0.57x
Kent 2 0.33x
Berkshire 1 0.75x
Leicestershire 1 0.51x
Somerset 1 0.35x
Suffolk 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Crosby in Lancashire leads with 15 Meadows recorded in 1881 and an index of 259.97x.

Place Total Index
Great Crosby 15 259.97x
Wigan 12 40.54x
Birmingham 10 6.67x
St Luke London 10 34.93x
Lathom 9 351.56x
Ormskirk 9 222.22x
Formby 6 250.00x
Pudsey 6 63.49x
Aughton 5 238.10x
Tong 5 146.20x
Bickerstaffe 4 287.77x
Great Little Hampton 4 1025.64x
St Pancras London 4 2.78x
Whitechapel London 4 22.74x
Wolston Marston 4 1176.47x
Wrightington 4 434.78x
Aspull 3 60.24x
Broughton In Salford 3 15.49x
Camberwell 3 2.63x
Islington London 3 1.73x
Paddington London 3 4.57x
Skelmersdale 3 84.99x
Tynemouth 3 21.10x
Dronfield 2 55.87x
Everton 2 2.96x
Heigham 2 13.58x
Hove 2 15.15x
Hulme 2 4.52x
Lambeth 2 1.29x
Livesey 2 53.76x
Llangollen Trevor 2 465.12x
Rushden 2 88.89x
Shalfleet 2 281.69x
Aston 1 0.81x
Bowling 1 5.71x
Bradon 1 5000.00x
Brighton 1 1.65x
Burnley 1 5.61x
Burslem 1 5.79x
Clapham 1 4.48x
Corby 1 217.39x
Downholland 1 344.83x
Eltham 1 28.01x
Gravesend 1 19.38x
Great Yarmouth 1 4.40x
Harborne 1 5.18x
Keighley 1 5.31x
Kensington London 1 1.01x
Little Warley 1 204.08x
Loughton 1 57.47x
Lubenham 1 277.78x
Marlesford 1 454.55x
Millbrook 1 10.86x
Newington 1 1.52x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 11.71x
Oldham 1 1.46x
Portsea 1 1.39x
Rumworth 1 33.00x
Simpson 1 222.22x
Southampton St Mary 1 4.35x
St Thomas Winchester 1 38.76x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 1.57x
Warfield 1 81.97x
Wavendon 1 166.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 12
Mary 11
Ann 9
Sarah 8
Alice 6
Emma 5
Margaret 5
Eliza 4
Jane 4
Martha 4
Annie 3
Hannah 3
Caroline 2
Ellen 2
Amelia 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Ellenor 1
Emily 1
Ethle 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Margt. 1
Matilda 1
Mgt. 1
Minnie 1
Mrs. 1
Ruth 1
Truera 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
John 11
Henry 8
Thomas 7
Arthur 5
James 5
Joseph 5
Richard 5
Charles 3
George 3
Samuel 3
Frederick 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Alex 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
C. 1
D.G.I. 1
Edwin 1
Elias 1
Ernest 1
S. 1
Saml 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Meadow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meadow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 189 people were recorded with the Meadow surname. That placed it at #13,322 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meadow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016. That gives Meadow a modern rank of #30,515.

What does the Meadow surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word for a meadow or grassy field.

What does the Meadow map show?

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