NameCensus.

UK surname

Meara

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O'Meadhra" meaning "descendant of Meadhrach."

In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Meara surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 160, ranked #22,694, down from #20,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Trevethin with Pontypool and Bedwelty. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wandsworth, Manchester and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meara is 180 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.9%.

1881 census count

92

Ranked #20,709

Modern count

160

2016, ranked #22,694

Peak year

2008

180 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meara had 92 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016, ranked #22,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 110 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Meara surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meara surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meara 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 40 #26,118
1861 historical 104 #20,477
1881 historical 92 #20,709
1891 historical 110 #22,557
1901 historical 100 #22,863
1911 historical 95 #23,294
1997 modern 154 #20,780
1998 modern 153 #21,387
1999 modern 170 #20,153
2000 modern 164 #20,584
2001 modern 148 #21,664
2002 modern 170 #20,243
2003 modern 170 #20,023
2004 modern 168 #20,300
2005 modern 160 #20,899
2006 modern 161 #20,972
2007 modern 168 #20,634
2008 modern 180 #19,946
2009 modern 177 #20,560
2010 modern 178 #20,965
2011 modern 177 #20,874
2012 modern 156 #22,645
2013 modern 157 #22,904
2014 modern 155 #23,333
2015 modern 160 #22,701
2016 modern 160 #22,694

Geography

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Where Mearas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Trevethin with Pontypool, Bedwelty, London parishes and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wandsworth, Manchester, Liverpool, Poole and Suffolk Coastal. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Trevethin with Pontypool Monmouthshire
3 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wandsworth 001 Wandsworth
2 Manchester 001 Manchester
3 Liverpool 007 Liverpool
4 Poole 018 Poole
5 Suffolk Coastal 015 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meara

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meara

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Meara surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Meara 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Meara is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

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

Meara is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Meara falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Meara 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Meara

The surname MEARA originated in Ireland. It is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name O'Meadhra, with its root meaning "the descendant of Meadhra". Meadhra is believed to have been the name of an 8th-century Irish chieftain or leader. The name was initially found in County Sligo and surrounding areas of northwestern Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Annals of Ulster. This medieval Irish chronicle mentions a man named Muredach O'Meadhra, who was a prominent leader in the region at the time.

In the 16th century, the name MEARA appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Conquest, which were official records of land grants and appointments made by the English monarchy in Ireland. This suggests that the family held a position of some importance during this period.

The name MEARA has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Patrick O'Meara, a 17th-century Irish physician and academic who served as the President of the College of Physicians in Dublin from 1654 to 1658.

In the 18th century, Edmund Meara (1719-1793) was a prominent Irish-born architect who worked extensively in England, designing several notable buildings in London and Bath.

During the 19th century, Mary Meara (1837-1888) was an Irish-American writer and journalist who published several novels and short stories that provided insights into the lives of Irish immigrants in the United States.

In the 20th century, Anne Meara (1929-2015) was an American actress and comedian, best known for her work in television and on the stage. She often collaborated with her husband, Jerry Stiller, in various comedy projects.

Another notable bearer of the name was Timothy P. Meara (1960-2008), an American lawyer and legal scholar who served as a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law and advocated for the rights of marginalized communities.

The surname MEARA has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, including Meara Townland in County Leitrim and Meara Village in County Sligo, further emphasizing its Irish origins and historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meara families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meara 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 35 Mearas recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.22x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 35 3.22x
Yorkshire 22 2.42x
Middlesex 10 1.09x
Surrey 8 1.79x
Monmouthshire 7 10.56x
Northumberland 5 3.67x
Royal Navy 2 18.32x
Caithness 1 7.97x
Cumberland 1 1.27x
Essex 1 0.55x
Shropshire 1 1.26x
Warwickshire 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 11 Mearas recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.34x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 11 50.34x
Church 8 519.48x
Clayton Le Moors 7 331.75x
Trevethin 7 111.82x
Battersea 6 17.79x
Oswaldtwistle 6 156.25x
Heston 5 164.47x
Sheffield 5 17.29x
Tynemouth 5 68.49x
Accrington 4 40.44x
Sculcoates 4 27.78x
Windle 4 65.36x
Kensington London 3 5.89x
Salford 3 9.38x
Camberwell 2 3.42x
Mile End Old Town 2 13.82x
Preston 2 6.87x
Royal Navy 2 21.41x
Blackburn 1 3.46x
Coughton 1 1428.57x
Gomersal 1 23.58x
Kimberworth 1 19.84x
Maldon All Sts 1 277.78x
Oswestry Town 1 39.37x
Rockcliff 1 400.00x
Wick 1 24.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Agnes 2
Annabell 2
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Margret 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Ida 1
Jane 1
Jennie 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Nellie 1
Nora 1
Rosa 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
Michael 7
William 6
James 5
Patrick 3
Thomas 3
Ernest 2
Robert 2
Charles 1
Dan 1
Daniel 1
Danl. 1
Denis 1
Emma 1
Laurence 1
Philip 1
Wm.Hy. 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Meara surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meara surname in 1881?

In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Meara surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meara surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016. That gives Meara a modern rank of #22,694.

What does the Meara surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O'Meadhra" meaning "descendant of Meadhrach."

What does the Meara map show?

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