UK surname
A surname derived from a place name related to the Mecklenburger region of Germany.
In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Meck surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #30,077 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meck is 514 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 76.0%.
1881 census count
25
Ranked #30,077
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1891
514 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Meck surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Meck surname density by area, 1911 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 | 323 | #7,198 |
| 1861 | historical | 350 | #7,295 |
| 1881 | historical | 25 | #30,077 |
| 1891 | historical | 514 | #7,262 |
| 1901 | historical | 470 | #8,432 |
| 1911 | historical | 401 | #9,262 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Meck 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 Meck, 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 Meck surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Meck 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, Meck 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 Meck is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Meck, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MECK is believed to have originated in Germany, specifically in the region of Bavaria. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "manck," which means "defective" or "flawed." The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing as "Mank" in historical documents.
In the Middle Ages, surnames often originated from descriptive nicknames, and MECK may have initially been used to refer to someone with a physical impairment or disability. This practice was common during that time period when surnames were first adopted.
One of the earliest documented references to the MECK surname can be found in the Stadtbücher (city books) of Munich, which recorded the names of citizens in the 14th century. In these records, the name appears as "Manck" and "Mancke," suggesting variations in spelling.
The name MECK also appears in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the Duchy of Bavaria, dating back to the 15th century. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname were present in the region during that time.
Notable individuals with the surname MECK throughout history include:
1. Johannes Meck (1558-1628), a German Protestant theologian and author of theological works. 2. Wilhelm Meck (1790-1868), a German architect and urban planner known for his contributions to the development of Munich. 3. Anna Maria Meck (1774-1851), a German painter and illustrator renowned for her botanical illustrations. 4. Heinrich Meck (1865-1942), a German industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Meck Machinery Company in Berlin. 5. Karl Meck (1900-1985), a German-American artist and sculptor known for his works depicting rural life in the Midwest.
While the surname MECK is not as common as some other German surnames, it has been documented throughout various regions of Germany for several centuries, with its origins tracing back to the Middle Ages.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meck 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. Durham leads with 8 Mecks recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.04x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 8 | 11.04x |
| Essex | 5 | 10.40x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 7.87x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.82x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.83x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 2.36x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 10.01x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.20x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 2.67x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 2.76x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Washington in Durham leads with 6 Mecks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 6 | 2000.00x |
| West Ham | 5 | 47.08x |
| Bradwell | 3 | 3333.33x |
| Sunderland | 2 | 156.25x |
| Aberdare | 1 | 34.36x |
| Beverley St Mary | 1 | 285.71x |
| Canterbury St Mary | 1 | 178.57x |
| Christ Church Newgate | 1 | 909.09x |
| Heigham | 1 | 49.75x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 1 | 53.19x |
| Preston | 1 | 769.23x |
| Ross | 1 | 250.00x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 5.10x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Meck 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 Meck 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 Meck households.
FAQ
In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Meck surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Meck a modern rank of #38,110.
A surname derived from a place name related to the Mecklenburger region of Germany.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Meck 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.