NameCensus.

UK surname

Mealor

An occupational surname referring to a miller or someone who operated a mill.

In the 1881 census there were 170 people recorded with the Mealor surname, ranking it #14,265 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 321, ranked #14,065, up from #14,265 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bebbington, Neston and Bidstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester, Flintshire and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mealor is 341 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.8%.

1881 census count

170

Ranked #14,265

Modern count

321

2016, ranked #14,065

Peak year

2010

341 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mealor had 170 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,265 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016, ranked #14,065.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 285 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Mealor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mealor surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mealor 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 73 #20,581
1861 historical 81 #23,431
1881 historical 170 #14,265
1891 historical 194 #15,277
1901 historical 234 #13,705
1911 historical 285 #11,837
1997 modern 312 #13,182
1998 modern 319 #13,330
1999 modern 334 #13,022
2000 modern 323 #13,268
2001 modern 312 #13,392
2002 modern 317 #13,506
2003 modern 325 #13,104
2004 modern 309 #13,618
2005 modern 291 #14,105
2006 modern 309 #13,633
2007 modern 307 #13,822
2008 modern 318 #13,604
2009 modern 330 #13,513
2010 modern 341 #13,477
2011 modern 332 #13,608
2012 modern 315 #14,031
2013 modern 317 #14,186
2014 modern 320 #14,181
2015 modern 317 #14,183
2016 modern 321 #14,065

Geography

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Where Mealors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bebbington, Neston, Bidstone and Toxteth Park. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester, Flintshire and Wirral. 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 Bebbington Cheshire
2 Neston Cheshire
3 Bidstone Cheshire
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 001 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Flintshire 003 Flintshire
3 Wirral 029 Wirral
4 Cheshire West and Chester 006 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Cheshire West and Chester 010 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mealor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mealor

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Mealor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mealor household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mealor is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mealor is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mealor 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 Mealor 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.

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Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mealor

The surname Mealor is believed to have originated in England, likely in the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place name, possibly related to the Old English word "mæl," meaning "mark" or "cross," and "ofer," meaning "bank" or "ridge." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a marked or crossed ridge or bank.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it appears as "Malor." This variation in spelling was common in the Middle Ages, as names were often written down phonetically by scribes.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various records with different spellings, such as "Mealor" and "Meelor." This includes the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1543, where the name is recorded as "Mealor."

Notable individuals with the surname Mealor throughout history include:

1. John Mealor (c. 1520 - 1585), an English landowner and member of the gentry from Staffordshire. 2. William Mealor (1628 - 1702), a farmer and landowner from Shropshire, known for his involvement in local affairs. 3. Elizabeth Mealor (1762 - 1842), a prominent figure in the Quaker community in Yorkshire, known for her philanthropic work. 4. Thomas Mealor (1810 - 1888), a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including St. Saviour's Church in Southwark. 5. Sir Joseph Mealor (1876 - 1954), a British businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party from 1924 to 1945.

While the surname Mealor is not among the most common surnames in England, it has a long and traceable history, with records dating back to the 14th century. The name's origin and variations provide insights into the linguistic and cultural influences that shaped English surnames over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mealor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mealor 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. Cheshire leads with 121 Mealors recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.06x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 121 33.06x
Lancashire 43 2.19x
Flintshire 6 13.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Neston in Cheshire leads with 21 Mealors recorded in 1881 and an index of 1735.54x.

Place Total Index
Great Neston 21 1735.54x
Tranmere 20 148.70x
Birkenhead 14 47.98x
Leighton In Neston 13 8666.67x
Little Neston 13 2203.39x
Ness 12 5714.29x
Warrington 10 42.86x
Liscard 9 136.57x
Worsley 9 74.20x
Toxteth Park 7 10.51x
Wallasey 7 560.00x
Hope 6 270.27x
Liverpool 5 4.18x
Moreton 5 1428.57x
Raby 4 2857.14x
Spotland 4 18.28x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 19.19x
Pendlebury 3 72.29x
Prenton 3 5000.00x
Manchester 1 1.13x
North Meols 1 5.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 10
Mary 10
Elizabeth 9
Ellen 5
Martha 5
Sarah 5
Hannah 4
Jane 4
Margaret 4
Annie 3
Anne 2
Edith 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Helena 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Barbara 1
Betsy 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Gertrude 1
Hanah 1
Hephzbah 1
Hilda 1
John 1
Kate 1
Katie 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
M. 1
Margrett 1
Maria 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Mealor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mealor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 170 people were recorded with the Mealor surname. That placed it at #14,265 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mealor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016. That gives Mealor a modern rank of #14,065.

What does the Mealor surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a miller or someone who operated a mill.

What does the Mealor map show?

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