NameCensus.

UK surname

Mearns

A locational surname referring to someone from the area of Kincardineshire (Mearns) in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 966 people recorded with the Mearns surname, ranking it #4,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,549, ranked #3,995, up from #4,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Huntly. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Keith and Fife Keith, Kingston upon Hull and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mearns is 1,617 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.4%.

1881 census count

966

Ranked #4,019

Modern count

1,549

2016, ranked #3,995

Peak year

2010

1,617 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mearns had 966 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,549 in 2016, ranked #3,995.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,303 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mearns surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mearns surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mearns 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 563 #4,504
1861 historical 704 #3,847
1881 historical 966 #4,019
1891 historical 1,107 #3,826
1901 historical 1,303 #3,830
1911 historical 350 #10,262
1997 modern 1,444 #4,042
1998 modern 1,500 #4,046
1999 modern 1,523 #4,026
2000 modern 1,499 #4,069
2001 modern 1,471 #4,056
2002 modern 1,519 #4,028
2003 modern 1,492 #4,019
2004 modern 1,487 #4,039
2005 modern 1,486 #3,996
2006 modern 1,497 #3,970
2007 modern 1,505 #3,988
2008 modern 1,549 #3,903
2009 modern 1,580 #3,922
2010 modern 1,617 #3,918
2011 modern 1,593 #3,921
2012 modern 1,546 #3,971
2013 modern 1,545 #4,044
2014 modern 1,553 #4,046
2015 modern 1,563 #3,978
2016 modern 1,549 #3,995

Geography

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Where Mearns' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Huntly, Glasgow and Craig. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Keith and Fife Keith, Kingston upon Hull, Wirral, Montrose South and Greenock Town Centre and East Central. 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 Edinburgh Edinburgh
2 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
3 Huntly Aberdeen
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Craig Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Keith and Fife Keith Moray
2 Kingston upon Hull 008 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 Wirral 010 Wirral
4 Montrose South Angus
5 Greenock Town Centre and East Central Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mearns

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mearns

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mearns, 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 Mearns surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mearns 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, Mearns 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

Mearns 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

Mearns 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 Mearns 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 Mearns, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mearns

The surname Mearns originated in Scotland and is a locational name derived from the district of Mearns in Kincardineshire, Scotland. The name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "maoirne," which means "fertile land."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Mearns can be traced back to the 12th century, when the name appeared in Scottish charters and records. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William de Mernas, who was mentioned in the Chartulary of St. Andrews in 1198.

The name Mearns is also associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most prominent figures was Andrew Mearns (1535-1590), a Scottish reformer and minister who played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation. Another notable bearer of the name was Isaac Mearns (1689-1761), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer who made important contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

In the literary world, Andrew Mearns (1837-1925) was a Scottish poet and writer who gained recognition for his works depicting rural life in Scotland. His poem "The Sower's Seed" is one of his most famous works.

The name Mearns is also associated with several places in Scotland. The town of Laurencekirk, located in the historic district of Mearns, was once known as Mearns-Laurencekirk. Additionally, there is a region in Aberdeenshire called the Mearns, which is believed to have derived its name from the same source as the surname.

Other notable individuals with the surname Mearns include Edgar A. Mearns (1856-1916), an American naturalist and ornithologist who made significant contributions to the study of birds, and William Mearns (1857-1919), a Scottish historian and author who wrote extensively about the history of Renfrewshire.

While the surname Mearns may not be as common as some other Scottish surnames, it has a rich history and is deeply rooted in the landscapes and traditions of Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mearns families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mearns 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 364 Mearns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.71x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 364 41.71x
Angus 150 17.18x
Lanarkshire 102 3.35x
Midlothian 56 4.44x
Lancashire 51 0.46x
Banffshire 46 23.53x
Renfrewshire 38 5.20x
Durham 30 1.07x
Yorkshire 23 0.25x
Ayrshire 15 2.13x
Northumberland 13 0.93x
Essex 10 0.54x
Middlesex 10 0.11x
Kincardineshire 9 7.84x
Cumberland 8 0.99x
Inverness-shire 5 1.78x
Caithness 4 3.10x
Oxfordshire 4 0.69x
West Lothian 4 2.82x
Morayshire 3 2.05x
Perthshire 3 0.71x
Buteshire 2 3.50x
Lincolnshire 2 0.13x
Surrey 2 0.04x
Argyllshire 1 0.38x
Berkshire 1 0.14x
Berwickshire 1 0.88x
Devon 1 0.05x
Fife 1 0.18x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Kent 1 0.03x
Kinross-shire 1 4.20x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.73x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.33x
Selkirkshire 1 1.17x
Somerset 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 91 Mearns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.73x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 91 55.73x
Craig 87 1032.03x
Aberdeen Old Machar 58 31.83x
Barony 42 5.45x
Glasgow 30 5.54x
Huntly 25 176.06x
Govan 24 3.18x
Auchterless 21 303.03x
Dundee 20 6.14x
West Greenock 18 13.73x
Keith 17 81.57x
Tarves 17 206.06x
Montrose 16 30.24x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 15 2.95x
Fintray 15 450.45x
East Greenock 14 20.30x
Banff 13 76.56x
Cluny 13 309.52x
Holy Trinity 11 4.90x
Kirkdale 11 5.85x
South Leith 11 7.74x
Fordyce 10 71.12x
West Derby 10 3.06x
Ardrossan 9 36.87x
Chapel Of Garioch 9 144.93x
Insch 9 181.45x
Lumphanan 9 245.23x
South Weald 9 56.50x
Manchester 8 1.59x
Westoe 8 5.03x
Bervie 7 102.94x
Brechin 7 20.40x
Edinburgh St Andrews 7 67.11x
Elswick 7 6.26x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 5.77x
Liverpool 7 1.03x
Oyne 7 225.81x
Skene 7 120.90x
Stranton 7 7.42x
Bishopwearmouth 6 2.49x
Crathie Braemar 6 114.94x
Liff Benvie 6 4.53x
Turriff 6 42.58x
Windle 6 9.54x
Eassie Nevay 5 276.24x
Edinburgh New North 5 45.50x
Leslie 5 295.86x
Peterhead 5 10.83x
Rathven 5 13.62x
Rayne 5 120.77x
South Uist 5 25.47x
Auchindoir Kearn 4 81.63x
Bathgate 4 12.98x
Chelsea London 4 1.41x
Chirton 4 12.61x
Edinburgh St Johns 4 50.19x
Keithhall 4 140.35x
Kincardine O Neil 4 64.21x
Kinellar 4 213.90x
Leeds 4 0.76x
Maryton 4 320.00x
Middle Greenock 4 20.07x
North Leith 4 6.85x
Preston Quarter 4 17.60x
Stewarton 4 28.67x
Bramley In Bramley 3 8.39x
Chipping Norton 3 22.30x
Culsalmond 3 111.94x
Distington 3 71.94x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 5.34x
Foveran 3 45.39x
Fraserburgh 3 12.21x
Hamilton 3 3.53x
Nether Hallam 3 2.37x
Newhills 3 16.79x
Salford 3 0.91x
St Giles In Fields 3 9.23x
Edinburgh St Georges 2 7.63x
Gateshead 2 0.95x
Sorn 2 14.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Margaret 8
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 5
Jane 4
Helen 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Betsey 1
Cecillia 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Ellinn 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Hester 1
Isabella 1
Janett 1
Jannett 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Leah 1
Lily 1
Marg.J. 1
Margt. 1
Marion 1
Minnie 1
Robina 1
Susan 1
Williamina 1
Winefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 17
William 12
John 10
Thomas 6
Alexander 3
George 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Patrick 2
Wm. 2
Allan 1
Archibald 1
Archie 1
Arthur 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Ed.S. 1
Edw 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Graeme 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Jno.Patrick 1
Joseph 1
Montague 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Mearns surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mearns surname in 1881?

In 1881, 966 people were recorded with the Mearns surname. That placed it at #4,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mearns surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,549 in 2016. That gives Mearns a modern rank of #3,995.

What does the Mearns surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the area of Kincardineshire (Mearns) in Scotland.

What does the Mearns map show?

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