NameCensus.

UK surname

Meats

An occupational surname referring to a butcher or meat seller.

In the 1881 census there were 130 people recorded with the Meats surname, ranking it #16,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 152, ranked #23,516, down from #16,911 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Basford and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include High Peak, Monmouthshire and Rushcliffe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meats is 201 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.9%.

1881 census count

130

Ranked #16,911

Modern count

152

2016, ranked #23,516

Peak year

1891

201 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meats had 130 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,911 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016, ranked #23,516.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 201 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Meats surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meats surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meats 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 74 #20,443
1861 historical 110 #19,562
1881 historical 130 #16,911
1891 historical 201 #14,866
1901 historical 159 #17,442
1911 historical 183 #15,811
1997 modern 151 #21,034
1998 modern 162 #20,673
1999 modern 163 #20,698
2000 modern 162 #20,735
2001 modern 158 #20,788
2002 modern 168 #20,396
2003 modern 159 #20,881
2004 modern 164 #20,609
2005 modern 168 #20,227
2006 modern 162 #20,886
2007 modern 165 #20,893
2008 modern 168 #20,828
2009 modern 177 #20,560
2010 modern 169 #21,652
2011 modern 173 #21,172
2012 modern 167 #21,598
2013 modern 162 #22,433
2014 modern 161 #22,728
2015 modern 156 #23,106
2016 modern 152 #23,516

Geography

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Where Meats' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Basford, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Nicholas and St Peter and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to High Peak, Monmouthshire, Rushcliffe, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Allerdale. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Basford Nottinghamshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Nottingham St Nicholas and St Peter Nottinghamshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 High Peak 004 High Peak
2 Monmouthshire 002 Monmouthshire
3 Rushcliffe 004 Rushcliffe
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 014 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Allerdale 007 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meats

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meats

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Meats surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Meats 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Meats is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Meats is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Meats falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Meats 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 Meats, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Meats

The surname Meats originates from the Middle English word "mete," which means food or nourishment. This name likely arose as an occupational surname for someone who worked as a butcher, meat seller, or purveyor of meat products during the medieval era.

The earliest recorded instances of the Meats surname date back to the 13th century in England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Historical records from this period, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, mention individuals with variations of the name, including Mete, Mette, and Mettes.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, where a Robert Mete is listed as a resident of the village of Aughton. During this time, the name was often spelled with variations like Metes, Meetes, and Meats, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in medieval times.

One notable bearer of the Meats surname was John Meats, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Lincolnshire during the late 15th century. Records from 1487 indicate that he owned substantial properties in the villages of Louth and Saltfleetby.

In the 16th century, the Meats surname gained prominence in the city of London, where several individuals with this name held positions of importance. William Meats (1530-1592) was a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers, while Thomas Meats (1548-1617) served as an alderman and sheriff of London.

The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Meats surname, as it predates the widespread adoption of hereditary surnames in England. However, the book does mention several individuals with the given name "Mete," which may have been an early precursor to the Meats surname.

Other notable bearers of the Meats surname throughout history include:

1. Robert Meats (1608-1680), an English clergyman and author who published several religious works. 2. Elizabeth Meats (1675-1744), a wealthy landowner in Dorset, known for her philanthropic contributions to local churches and schools. 3. James Meats (1789-1856), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became an admiral. 4. Margaret Meats (1825-1901), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's education in Scotland. 5. Samuel Meats (1862-1938), an Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meats families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meats 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 59 Meats' recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.52x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 59 34.52x
Herefordshire 24 46.16x
Gloucestershire 15 6.03x
Leicestershire 7 4.98x
Monmouthshire 7 7.64x
Sussex 6 2.81x
Derbyshire 4 2.02x
Lancashire 3 0.20x
Middlesex 2 0.16x
Worcestershire 2 1.21x
Kent 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 39 Meats' recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.24x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 39 88.24x
Stonehouse 9 638.30x
Madley 8 2162.16x
Aberystruth 7 86.63x
Narborough 7 1842.11x
Basford 6 76.14x
Brighton 6 13.91x
Kingstone 5 2631.58x
Radford 5 57.60x
Carlton 4 205.13x
Hereford St John 4 677.97x
Litchurch 4 50.06x
Blackburn 3 7.49x
Colwall 3 468.75x
Lenton 3 74.44x
Newent 3 238.10x
Claines 2 44.05x
Gloucester Barton St 2 136.99x
Norton Canon 2 1428.57x
Snenton 2 29.81x
St Pancras London 2 1.96x
Gloucester St Owen 1 370.37x
Holmer 1 106.38x
Preston On Wye 1 1000.00x
Tonbridge 1 6.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Sarah 8
Ann 5
Elizabeth 4
Eliza 3
Florence 3
Alice 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Harriett 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Selina 2
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Eva 1
Francis 1
Georgiana 1
Georgina 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Miriam 1
Phoebe 1
Rose 1
Susan 1
Zoe 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 10
John 6
William 6
Henry 4
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Isaac 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Mark 2
Richard 2
Bernard 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Harrold 1
Hugh 1
Jacob 1
James 1
Leonard 1
Mathew 1
Nephine 1
Percival 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Vincent 1

FAQ

Meats surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meats surname in 1881?

In 1881, 130 people were recorded with the Meats surname. That placed it at #16,911 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meats surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016. That gives Meats a modern rank of #23,516.

What does the Meats surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a butcher or meat seller.

What does the Meats map show?

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