NameCensus.

UK surname

Medway

A surname derived from a town situated on the River Medway in Kent, England.

In the 1881 census there were 296 people recorded with the Medway surname, ranking it #9,823 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 537, ranked #9,475, up from #9,823 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, Southampton and Torfaen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Medway is 546 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.4%.

1881 census count

296

Ranked #9,823

Modern count

537

2016, ranked #9,475

Peak year

2010

546 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Medway had 296 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,823 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 537 in 2016, ranked #9,475.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 383 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Medway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Medway surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Medway 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 123 #14,886
1861 historical 195 #12,263
1881 historical 296 #9,823
1891 historical 333 #10,223
1901 historical 377 #9,876
1911 historical 383 #9,597
1997 modern 525 #8,977
1998 modern 545 #8,987
1999 modern 543 #9,068
2000 modern 529 #9,233
2001 modern 519 #9,204
2002 modern 535 #9,178
2003 modern 523 #9,192
2004 modern 529 #9,134
2005 modern 522 #9,159
2006 modern 508 #9,369
2007 modern 507 #9,470
2008 modern 508 #9,521
2009 modern 524 #9,516
2010 modern 546 #9,408
2011 modern 541 #9,400
2012 modern 528 #9,482
2013 modern 546 #9,392
2014 modern 545 #9,461
2015 modern 526 #9,654
2016 modern 537 #9,475

Geography

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Where Medways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Freshwater and Southampton St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight, Southampton, Torfaen, Wirral and Eastleigh. 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 Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Freshwater Hampshire
5 Southampton St Mary Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 012 Isle of Wight
2 Southampton 008 Southampton
3 Torfaen 008 Torfaen
4 Wirral 016 Wirral
5 Eastleigh 011 Eastleigh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Medway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Medway

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Medway surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Medway household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Medway 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

Medway is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Medway 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 Medway is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Medway

The surname Medway originates from the county of Kent in England, where it is derived from the River Medway, a significant waterway that stretches across the county. The name likely emerged in the Middle Ages, reflecting the geographical location or proximity of early bearers to the River Medway.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Medwai" or "Medwaye." This historical record suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century, possibly indicating its Anglo-Saxon roots.

During the 13th century, the spelling "Medway" became more prevalent, as evidenced by its appearance in various medieval records and documents. For instance, a certain Robert de Medway was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Kent in 1227, indicating the surname's association with the region.

The surname Medway may also have ties to specific place names along the River Medway, such as Aylesford, Maidstone, or Rochester. These locations were historically significant and could have influenced the development of the surname.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname Medway include:

1. John Medway (c. 1490-1555), an English Protestant reformer and theologian. 2. Sir Ralph Medway (c. 1510-1582), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Kent during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 3. Thomas Medway (c. 1570-1633), an English clergyman and author of religious works. 4. Edward Medway (1615-1677), an English soldier who fought in the English Civil War. 5. Margaret Medway (1695-1768), an English philanthropist and benefactor of several charitable institutions in Kent.

While the surname Medway has its roots in the county of Kent, it has since spread to other parts of England and beyond, carried by individuals who migrated or relocated over the centuries. The name remains a testament to the geographical and historical significance of the River Medway in the region's past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Medway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Medway 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. Devon leads with 92 Medways recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.26x.

County Total Index
Devon 92 15.26x
Hampshire 57 9.60x
Dorset 56 29.45x
Middlesex 22 0.76x
Somerset 21 4.50x
Kent 19 1.92x
Wiltshire 9 3.51x
Gloucestershire 5 0.88x
Sussex 5 1.02x
Surrey 3 0.21x
Essex 2 0.35x
Bedfordshire 1 0.67x
Cornwall 1 0.30x
Hertfordshire 1 0.50x
Leicestershire 1 0.31x
Royal Navy 1 2.90x
Suffolk 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Freshwater in Hampshire leads with 26 Medways recorded in 1881 and an index of 959.41x.

Place Total Index
Freshwater 26 959.41x
Brixham 22 314.74x
Portsea 15 12.89x
Taunton St Mary 12 140.19x
Deptford St Nicholas 10 127.55x
Hamworthy 10 1515.15x
Lynton 10 833.33x
Melcombe Regis 9 114.21x
Poole St James 9 126.05x
Tormoham 9 35.27x
Dartmouth Townstall 8 325.20x
Enfield 7 36.82x
Exeter St Edmund 7 538.46x
Salisbury St Martin 7 262.17x
Deptford St Paul 6 7.87x
Fordington 6 146.34x
Millbrook 6 40.11x
Ashburton 5 173.61x
Bridport 5 127.88x
Dorchester St Peter 5 362.32x
Southampton St Mary 5 13.39x
St Pancras London 5 2.14x
Brighton 4 4.06x
Chard 4 70.80x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 4 259.74x
Kingswear 4 833.33x
Dorchester All Sts 3 329.67x
Kingskerswell 3 300.00x
St Marylebone London 3 1.94x
Stokefleming 3 394.74x
Bridford 2 465.12x
Bristol St George 2 7.61x
Bristol St James In 2 23.92x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.92x
Devonport 2 28.86x
Exeter Allhallows On The 2 202.02x
Exeter St Lawrence 2 444.44x
Halwell 2 303.03x
Holdenhurst 2 12.84x
Isleworth 2 15.53x
North Huish 2 555.56x
Paddington London 2 1.88x
Paignton 2 43.57x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 4.30x
Salisbury St Edmund 2 48.66x
Stoke 2 81.97x
Weston Super Mare 2 16.98x
Bath St Peter St Paul 1 48.54x
Bristol St Peter 1 49.26x
Carisbrooke 1 12.14x
Chale 1 147.06x
Christow 1 172.41x
East Woodhay 1 65.79x
Exeter St Thomas The 1 16.26x
Hadlow 1 40.82x
Humberstone 1 37.88x
Kensington London 1 0.62x
Lambeth 1 0.40x
Lewisham 1 1.90x
Longfleet 1 45.45x
Lowestoft 1 6.00x
Luton 1 3.85x
Lytchett Minster 1 119.05x
Margate St John Baptist 1 5.52x
Menheniot 1 73.53x
Midhurst 1 62.50x
Romford 1 11.06x
Royal Navy 1 3.39x
Royston 1 58.82x
Sampford Peverell 1 156.25x
Shapwick 1 227.27x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.72x
Southwark St Thomas 1 129.87x
Staplegrove 1 175.44x
Wells St Cuthbert 1 31.45x
West Ham 1 0.79x
Weymouth 1 27.78x
Wimborne Minster 1 32.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 13
Emily 9
Alice 7
Sarah 7
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Florence 5
Annie 4
Edith 4
Jane 4
Mabel 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Susan 4
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Agnes 2
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Ethel 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Minnie 2
Miriam 2
Anna 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Diana 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Eva 1
Evangiline 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Francess 1
Georgiana 1
Hilda 1
Isabel 1
Julia 1
Katrine 1
Kezia 1
Maud 1
Naomi 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 16
George 13
James 8
Thomas 7
Henry 6
Albert 5
Charles 5
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Frederick 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Frank 3
Walter 3
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Reginald 2
Samuel 2
Theophilus 2
Aaron 1
Alexander 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Elias 1
Frederic 1
Geo.L. 1
Harold 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Jno.S.W. 1
Joseph 1
Mathew 1
Michael 1
Tom 1
Willie 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Medway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Medway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 296 people were recorded with the Medway surname. That placed it at #9,823 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Medway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 537 in 2016. That gives Medway a modern rank of #9,475.

What does the Medway surname mean?

A surname derived from a town situated on the River Medway in Kent, England.

What does the Medway map show?

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