NameCensus.

UK surname

Meale

A surname derived from an occupational term for a miller or grinder of grain.

In the 1881 census there were 183 people recorded with the Meale surname, ranking it #13,596 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 216, ranked #18,613, down from #13,596 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hammersmith and Llandevalley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Blaenau Gwent and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meale is 254 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.0%.

1881 census count

183

Ranked #13,596

Modern count

216

2016, ranked #18,613

Peak year

1911

254 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • • Meale had 183 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,596 surname in that year.
  • • The latest modern count shown here is 216 in 2016, ranked #18,613.
  • • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 254 in 1911.
  • • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Meale surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meale surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meale 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 104 #16,746
1861 historical 122 #18,036
1881 historical 183 #13,596
1891 historical 219 #13,974
1901 historical 231 #13,805
1911 historical 254 #12,748
1997 modern 202 #17,514
1998 modern 201 #18,047
1999 modern 197 #18,400
2000 modern 201 #18,152
2001 modern 201 #17,885
2002 modern 218 #17,338
2003 modern 228 #16,663
2004 modern 208 #17,758
2005 modern 211 #17,520
2006 modern 202 #18,160
2007 modern 200 #18,485
2008 modern 206 #18,300
2009 modern 217 #18,070
2010 modern 209 #18,893
2011 modern 208 #18,783
2012 modern 204 #18,973
2013 modern 212 #18,820
2014 modern 217 #18,645
2015 modern 212 #18,842
2016 modern 216 #18,613

Geography

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Where Meales are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hammersmith, Llandevalley, St Mary Islington and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Blaenau Gwent, Bath and North East Somerset and Taunton Deane. 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 1
2 Hammersmith London (West Districts)
3 Llandevalley Brecon
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 013 North Norfolk
2 Blaenau Gwent 002 Blaenau Gwent
3 Bath and North East Somerset 020 Bath and North East Somerset
4 North Norfolk 014 North Norfolk
5 Taunton Deane 012 Taunton Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meale

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meale

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Meale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Meale household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Meale is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Meale 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

Meale falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Meale

The surname MEALE is of English origin, first appearing in historical records during the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'male', meaning 'speech' or 'discourse'. This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who was particularly talkative or eloquent.

One of the earliest recorded references to the MEALE surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from the year 1327, which mentions a John le Mele. The use of the prefix 'le' in this case indicates that the name was originally a descriptive term rather than a locational surname.

In the 14th century, the MEALE surname appeared in various forms, such as Mele, Meale, and Meill, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in those times. The surname is also found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1384, where a Thomas Meale is listed.

During the 15th century, the MEALE surname spread across various regions of England, with notable instances including John Meale, who was recorded in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1475, and William Meale, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1498.

In the 16th century, notable individuals with the MEALE surname included Henry Meale (c. 1515-1589), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Rochester from 1582 until his death. Another prominent figure was John Meale (c. 1530-1595), a member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers in London.

The 17th century saw the MEALE surname continue to be found across various parts of England, with records such as the marriage of Ambrose Meale and Mary Keyte in Gloucester in 1632, and the birth of William Meale in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in 1689.

In the 18th century, notable individuals with the MEALE surname included Richard Meale (1708-1784), a British Army officer who served as Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey, and John Meale (1745-1820), a successful merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire.

As the centuries progressed, the MEALE surname continued to be found across various regions of England, as well as in other parts of the world due to migration and exploration. Notable individuals in more recent history include William Meale (1803-1887), a British architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in London, and Frederick Meale (1890-1959), an English cricketer who played for Middlesex County Cricket Club in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meale families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meale 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 105 Meales recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.26x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 105 38.26x
Middlesex 29 1.62x
Brecknockshire 9 25.21x
Lancashire 8 0.38x
Surrey 8 0.92x
Shropshire 7 4.54x
Staffordshire 4 0.66x
Sussex 3 1.00x
Durham 2 0.38x
Hampshire 2 0.55x
Berkshire 1 0.75x
Devon 1 0.27x
Glamorgan 1 0.32x
Northumberland 1 0.38x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.76x
Yorkshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Billingford In Mitford in Norfolk leads with 17 Meales recorded in 1881 and an index of 8947.37x.

Place Total Index
Billingford In Mitford 17 8947.37x
Foxley 15 11538.46x
Hardingham 10 3125.00x
Islington London 10 5.78x
Stalham 10 1923.08x
Bawdeswell 9 3333.33x
Hammersmith London 8 18.19x
Heigham 8 54.31x
Llandefalley 8 2222.22x
Reedham 8 1538.46x
Kensington London 7 7.05x
Mattishall 7 1272.73x
Long Ditton 6 422.54x
Ludlow St Lawrence 6 195.44x
Acle 5 892.86x
Hulme 5 11.31x
Stibbard 4 1379.31x
Wolverhampton 4 8.63x
Freethorpe 3 1250.00x
South Lynn 3 96.77x
Brighton 2 3.29x
Ferryhill 2 107.53x
Portsea 2 2.79x
St Marylebone London 2 2.10x
Sutton 2 869.57x
Bray 1 25.38x
Brightside Bierlow 1 2.88x
East Bilney 1 833.33x
East Dereham 1 28.82x
Eglwysilan 1 18.55x
Garthbrengy 1 1111.11x
Great Yarmouth 1 4.40x
Hackney London 1 1.00x
Horsey 1 833.33x
Lambeth 1 0.64x
Leintwardine 1 133.33x
Limehouse London 1 5.10x
Liverpool 1 0.78x
Newhaven 1 40.98x
North Meols 1 4.82x
Pembroke St Mary 1 13.68x
Plymouth Charles The 1 6.11x
Reigate Borough 1 49.75x
Tynemouth 1 7.03x
Warrington 1 3.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 11
Charles 4
Edward 4
George 4
Henry 4
Robert 4
Arthur 3
Joshua 3
Herbert 2
James 2
Salathel 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Able 1
Agustus 1
Charlie 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Harvey 1
Heber 1
Jeremiah 1
Jessie 1
Joseph 1
Josiah 1
Lewis 1
Luther 1
Marchel 1
Peet 1
Richard 1
Scott 1
Terah 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Meale surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meale surname in 1881?

In 1881, 183 people were recorded with the Meale surname. That placed it at #13,596 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 216 in 2016. That gives Meale a modern rank of #18,613.

What does the Meale surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupational term for a miller or grinder of grain.

What does the Meale map show?

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