NameCensus.

UK surname

Mealey

An English surname derived from a place name referring to mealy soil or land prone to mealy insects.

In the 1881 census there were 203 people recorded with the Mealey surname, ranking it #12,717 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 221, ranked #18,321, down from #12,717 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig, St Albans and East Hampshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mealey is 269 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.9%.

1881 census count

203

Ranked #12,717

Modern count

221

2016, ranked #18,321

Peak year

1861

269 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mealey had 203 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,717 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016, ranked #18,321.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 269 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mealey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mealey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mealey 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 269 #9,244
1881 historical 203 #12,717
1891 historical 161 #17,473
1901 historical 175 #16,469
1911 historical 183 #15,811
1997 modern 218 #16,704
1998 modern 233 #16,459
1999 modern 227 #16,834
2000 modern 233 #16,524
2001 modern 224 #16,716
2002 modern 229 #16,771
2003 modern 233 #16,394
2004 modern 233 #16,471
2005 modern 237 #16,244
2006 modern 231 #16,636
2007 modern 243 #16,243
2008 modern 242 #16,432
2009 modern 265 #15,756
2010 modern 257 #16,476
2011 modern 253 #16,493
2012 modern 237 #17,132
2013 modern 229 #17,816
2014 modern 226 #18,088
2015 modern 222 #18,225
2016 modern 221 #18,321

Geography

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Where Mealeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Manchester, Ashton-under-Lyne, Liverpool and Lichfield St Michael. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig, St Albans, East Hampshire, Haringey and Greenwich. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Lichfield St Michael Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig Inverclyde
2 St Albans 003 St Albans
3 East Hampshire 006 East Hampshire
4 Haringey 014 Haringey
5 Greenwich 022 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mealey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mealey

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Mealey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mealey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mealey 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

Mealey is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mealey falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mealey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mealey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mealey

The surname Mealey has its origins in England, dating back to the early 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "mele," which means "meal" or "flour." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked with flour or meal, such as a miller or baker.

During the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from occupations, and this was a common practice in England. The earliest recorded instance of the Mealey surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, where it appears as "Milli."

As time passed, the surname evolved through various spellings, including Mealy, Melly, and Mealey. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the way the name was pronounced in different parts of the country.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was John Mealey, a merchant and trader who lived in the 16th century. Born in Bristol, England, around 1520, Mealey was involved in the lucrative wool trade and played a significant role in the city's economic development during that era.

Another individual of note was William Mealey, born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1678. He was a renowned clockmaker and is credited with creating some of the finest timepieces of his time. His clocks are still highly sought after by collectors and can be found in museums around the world.

In the 18th century, the Mealey surname emerged in literary circles with the poet and playwright Thomas Mealey (1741-1818). Born in London, his works were popular in his day and often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

The 19th century saw the rise of Elizabeth Mealey (1823-1897), a prominent advocate for women's rights and education. Originally from Yorkshire, she played a pivotal role in the establishment of several schools and institutions dedicated to providing educational opportunities for women.

Finally, one cannot overlook the contributions of Sir Robert Mealey (1865-1943), a renowned British architect who left an indelible mark on the architectural landscape of London and other parts of England. His most famous works include the Old Bailey courthouse and several notable public buildings.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mealey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mealey 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 85 Mealeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.62x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 85 3.62x
Middlesex 25 1.26x
Durham 19 3.23x
Yorkshire 15 0.76x
Warwickshire 14 2.80x
Renfrewshire 10 6.52x
Shropshire 8 4.68x
Staffordshire 6 0.90x
Essex 4 1.02x
Surrey 4 0.41x
Cheshire 3 0.69x
Derbyshire 2 0.65x
Glamorgan 2 0.58x
Kent 2 0.30x
Lanarkshire 2 0.31x
Devon 1 0.24x
West Lothian 1 3.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 25 Mealeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.52x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 25 17.52x
Blackburn 9 14.40x
Iveston 9 332.10x
Aston 8 5.82x
Everton 8 10.68x
Shrewsbury St Mary 8 118.52x
Abbey 7 29.90x
St Pancras London 7 4.39x
Witton Le Wear 7 419.16x
Barrow In Furness 6 18.77x
Normanby In 6 114.29x
Willesden 6 32.14x
Chelsea London 5 8.38x
Great Bolton 5 16.07x
Higher Booths 5 117.92x
Toxteth Park 5 6.28x
Walton On Hill 5 39.28x
Batley 4 21.45x
Darlaston 4 43.29x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 10.04x
St Marylebone London 4 3.78x
Coventry Holy Trinity 3 20.12x
Edgbaston 3 19.38x
Kirkdale 3 7.59x
Manchester 3 2.84x
Paisley High Church 3 24.55x
Barony 2 1.23x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 10.72x
Butterworth 2 34.97x
Hammerwich 2 210.53x
Harwich St Nicholas 2 66.23x
Islington London 2 1.04x
Linthwaite 2 48.54x
Oystermouth 2 74.91x
Stockport 2 8.89x
Thornaby 2 27.29x
West Derby 2 2.91x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.95x
Birkenhead 1 2.87x
Boness 1 24.33x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.14x
Croston 1 82.64x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.92x
Escomb 1 36.90x
Gateshead 1 2.27x
Glossop Dale 1 6.89x
Great Crosby 1 15.60x
Harwick St Nicholas 1 161.29x
Hayfield 1 52.63x
Leven 1 172.41x
Orell Ford 1 232.56x
Prittlewell 1 18.45x
Salford 1 1.45x
Stockton On Tees 1 3.52x
Stoke Damerel 1 3.47x
Woolwich 1 4.01x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Mealey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mealey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 203 people were recorded with the Mealey surname. That placed it at #12,717 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mealey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016. That gives Mealey a modern rank of #18,321.

What does the Mealey surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to mealy soil or land prone to mealy insects.

What does the Mealey map show?

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