UK surname
A surname derived from the Middle English word "mele," meaning meal or flour, possibly referring to a miller's occupation.
In the 1881 census there were 99 people recorded with the Mealy surname, ranking it #19,877 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 61, ranked #34,287, down from #19,877 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, St Pancras and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mealy is 150 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 38.4%.
1881 census count
99
Ranked #19,877
Modern count
61
2016, ranked #34,287
Peak year
1861
150 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mealy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mealy surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 143 | #13,343 |
| 1861 | historical | 150 | #15,296 |
| 1881 | historical | 99 | #19,877 |
| 1891 | historical | 68 | #28,300 |
| 1901 | historical | 37 | #30,009 |
| 1911 | historical | 26 | #30,547 |
| 1997 | modern | 52 | #32,444 |
| 1998 | modern | 50 | #32,899 |
| 1999 | modern | 56 | #32,461 |
| 2000 | modern | 62 | #31,939 |
| 2001 | modern | 62 | #31,798 |
| 2002 | modern | 53 | #33,021 |
| 2003 | modern | 53 | #33,076 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 52 | #33,619 |
| 2006 | modern | 56 | #33,587 |
| 2007 | modern | 58 | #33,731 |
| 2008 | modern | 57 | #34,015 |
| 2009 | modern | 57 | #34,225 |
| 2010 | modern | 58 | #34,346 |
| 2011 | modern | 57 | #34,393 |
| 2012 | modern | 58 | #34,404 |
| 2013 | modern | 58 | #34,488 |
| 2014 | modern | 60 | #34,400 |
| 2015 | modern | 59 | #34,407 |
| 2016 | modern | 61 | #34,287 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, St Pancras, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon), Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) | Northumberland |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Ashton-under-Lyne | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mealy surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mealy, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mealy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mealy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mealy is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mealy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mealy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MEALY originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "mele," which means "meal" or "flour." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked with flour or meal, such as a miller or a baker.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the MEALY surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195, where a person named Richard Mele is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273, where it is spelled "Mely."
In the 13th century, the MEALY surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Bedfordshire. The name may have originated from the village of Mealy in Gloucestershire, which was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Mela."
Notable individuals with the MEALY surname include John Mealy (c. 1490-1550), a prominent English merchant and alderman who served as the Sheriff of London in 1545. Another notable bearer of this name was Sir Thomas Mealy (1585-1659), an English soldier and politician who fought in the English Civil War and later served as a member of Parliament.
In the 17th century, the MEALY surname spread to Ireland, where it was often anglicized as "Melia" or "Melley." One of the earliest recorded Irish bearers of this name was Richard Melia (c. 1630-1690), a landowner and member of the Irish Parliament.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, several individuals with the MEALY surname gained recognition. For example, William Mealy (1766-1832) was an English engraver and publisher known for his topographical views of London and other cities. Additionally, John Mealy (1789-1856) was an American politician who served as the 15th Governor of Virginia from 1826 to 1830.
As the MEALY surname spread across the English-speaking world, it underwent various spelling variations, including Meley, Meelee, and Mealey. However, the original spelling of "MEALY" remained prevalent, particularly in England and the United States.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mealy surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 31 Mealys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.55x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 31 | 2.55x |
| Yorkshire | 13 | 1.28x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 1.17x |
| Cornwall | 8 | 6.90x |
| Northumberland | 7 | 4.59x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.20x |
| Isle of Man | 5 | 26.29x |
| Lanarkshire | 5 | 1.51x |
| Stirlingshire | 4 | 10.59x |
| Dorset | 3 | 4.46x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.87x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.66x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.56x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.50x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.35x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 8.19x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.80x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkdale in Lancashire leads with 13 Mealys recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.57x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkdale | 13 | 63.57x |
| Linthwaite | 7 | 328.64x |
| Maker | 7 | 654.21x |
| St Pancras London | 6 | 7.28x |
| Onchan | 5 | 91.24x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 5 | 24.26x |
| York St George | 5 | 625.00x |
| Glasgow | 4 | 6.80x |
| Hale | 4 | 2000.00x |
| Liverpool | 4 | 5.42x |
| Seaton Delaval | 4 | 298.51x |
| Stirling | 4 | 84.03x |
| Poole St James | 3 | 118.58x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 5.49x |
| Clayton Le Woods | 2 | 1818.18x |
| Elswick | 2 | 16.45x |
| Manchester | 2 | 3.66x |
| Walsall Foreign | 2 | 11.20x |
| Bedwellty | 1 | 7.65x |
| Caterham | 1 | 45.25x |
| Chadderton | 1 | 16.84x |
| Charlton Kings | 1 | 71.94x |
| Everton | 1 | 2.58x |
| Gateshead | 1 | 4.38x |
| Isleworth | 1 | 21.98x |
| Lanark | 1 | 37.45x |
| Leeds | 1 | 1.74x |
| Leiston | 1 | 116.28x |
| Liskeard | 1 | 51.55x |
| Millbrook | 1 | 18.90x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 1 | 12.66x |
| North Meols | 1 | 8.40x |
| Oystermouth | 1 | 72.46x |
| Preston | 1 | 3.08x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 9.59x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 2.25x |
| Speke | 1 | 555.56x |
| St Gilesin Fields | 1 | 166.67x |
| Tottington Lower End | 1 | 17.30x |
| Westoe | 1 | 5.79x |
| Wolverhampton | 1 | 3.76x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mealy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mealy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Mealy households.
FAQ
In 1881, 99 people were recorded with the Mealy surname. That placed it at #19,877 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 61 in 2016. That gives Mealy a modern rank of #34,287.
A surname derived from the Middle English word "mele," meaning meal or flour, possibly referring to a miller's occupation.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mealy bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.