NameCensus.

UK surname

Mee

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "at the meadow" or "at the boundary."

In the 1881 census there were 2,280 people recorded with the Mee surname, ranking it #1,959 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,742, ranked #1,815, up from #1,959 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Loughborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Amber Valley, Broxtowe and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mee is 3,989 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.1%.

1881 census count

2,280

Ranked #1,959

Modern count

3,742

2016, ranked #1,815

Peak year

1999

3,989 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mee had 2,280 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,959 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,742 in 2016, ranked #1,815.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,910 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mee surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mee surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mee 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 1,384 #2,067
1881 historical 2,280 #1,959
1891 historical 11 #33,268
1901 historical 2,910 #1,926
1997 modern 3,783 #1,718
1998 modern 3,958 #1,709
1999 modern 3,989 #1,711
2000 modern 3,943 #1,720
2001 modern 3,839 #1,726
2002 modern 3,908 #1,734
2003 modern 3,801 #1,749
2004 modern 3,812 #1,744
2005 modern 3,712 #1,761
2006 modern 3,730 #1,759
2007 modern 3,746 #1,762
2008 modern 3,794 #1,747
2009 modern 3,802 #1,787
2010 modern 3,864 #1,800
2011 modern 3,785 #1,815
2012 modern 3,722 #1,804
2013 modern 3,790 #1,809
2014 modern 3,798 #1,815
2015 modern 3,731 #1,827
2016 modern 3,742 #1,815

Geography

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Where Mees are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Loughborough, St Werburgh 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 Amber Valley, Broxtowe, Herefordshire and Doncaster. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Loughborough Leicestershire
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Amber Valley 017 Amber Valley
2 Broxtowe 002 Broxtowe
3 Amber Valley 012 Amber Valley
4 Herefordshire 004 Herefordshire, County of
5 Doncaster 034 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mee

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mee

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mee, 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 Mee surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mee 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mee is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Mee 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mee

The surname "Mee" is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English word "mæg" meaning "kinsman" or "relative". The name is believed to have originated in the counties of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire in England during the 7th to 9th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Mee" and "Mei". It is thought that the name may have initially been a nickname or descriptive term for someone who was considered a close relative or kinsman in their community.

During the medieval period, the surname was also associated with various place names in England, such as Meaux in Yorkshire and Meole Brace in Shropshire. These place names are thought to have influenced the spelling variations of the surname, including "Meaux", "Meux", and "Mew".

Notable historical figures bearing the surname "Mee" include William Mee (1556-1612), an English poet and translator from Westbury, Wiltshire. Another prominent individual was Sir Henry Mee (1665-1722), a British naval officer who served during the War of the Spanish Succession.

In the 18th century, Robert Mee (1742-1811) was a well-known engraver and publisher of maps and prints in London. His son, John Mee (1782-1858), followed in his footsteps and became a respected engraver and cartographer.

During the 19th century, John Mee (1819-1892) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal School of Mines and the Royal College of Science.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Charles Samuel Mee (1892-1972), an English cricketer who played for Worcestershire County Cricket Club and captained the team from 1920 to 1925.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mee families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mee 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. Leicestershire leads with 360 Mees recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.62x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 360 14.62x
Lancashire 353 1.34x
Derbyshire 332 9.55x
Nottinghamshire 324 10.82x
Warwickshire 118 2.11x
Middlesex 113 0.51x
Yorkshire 93 0.42x
Suffolk 86 3.18x
Northamptonshire 67 3.21x
Staffordshire 65 0.87x
Cheshire 44 0.90x
Kent 41 0.54x
Surrey 40 0.37x
Durham 27 0.41x
Lincolnshire 27 0.76x
Rutland 21 12.88x
Gloucestershire 20 0.46x
Essex 19 0.43x
Sussex 14 0.37x
Hampshire 13 0.29x
Bedfordshire 11 0.96x
Cambridgeshire 11 0.78x
Worcestershire 11 0.38x
Hertfordshire 10 0.65x
Norfolk 9 0.26x
Carmarthenshire 8 0.85x
Ayrshire 7 0.42x
Lanarkshire 6 0.08x
Northumberland 6 0.18x
Devon 4 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 4 0.91x
Merionethshire 2 0.49x
Dorset 1 0.07x
East Lothian 1 0.34x
Flintshire 1 0.17x
Glamorgan 1 0.03x
Herefordshire 1 0.11x
Midlothian 1 0.03x
Oxfordshire 1 0.07x
Roxburghshire 1 0.25x
Royal Navy 1 0.38x
Shropshire 1 0.05x
Wiltshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 77 Mees recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.12x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 77 4.12x
Nottingham St Mary 72 9.30x
Leicester St Margaret 65 10.82x
Loughborough 50 44.74x
Derby St Werburgh 43 21.42x
Leicester St Mary 36 18.09x
Bretherton 32 594.80x
Ruddington 30 149.48x
Islington London 23 1.07x
Sheepshed 23 68.15x
Milton In Gravesend 22 19.36x
Snenton 22 18.70x
Stapleford 22 90.46x
Church Gresley 21 37.95x
Derby St Alkmund 21 20.15x
Hucknall Torkard 21 27.66x
Preston 21 2.98x
Warrington 20 6.40x
Brampton 19 39.09x
Smalley 19 306.45x
Belper 18 26.70x
Mansfield 18 17.37x
Quorndon 18 130.25x
Derby St Peter 17 15.35x
Ibstock 17 94.97x
Ipswich St Margaret 17 18.52x
Basford 16 11.60x
Long Eaton 16 34.86x
Apethorpe 15 920.25x
Aston 15 0.97x
Barton Upon Irwell 15 7.56x
Burton Upon Trent 15 8.55x
Heanor 15 28.84x
Bramford 14 137.66x
Chorlton On Medlock 14 3.34x
Kettering 14 16.57x
Breedon On The Hill 13 175.20x
Greasley 13 19.25x
Manchester 13 1.10x
Stanley 13 202.18x
Cheltenham 12 3.57x
Crich 12 52.86x
Salford 12 1.55x
Sproughton 12 253.70x
Bow London 11 3.89x
Denton 11 18.83x
Diseworth 11 348.10x
Harrold 11 141.21x
Lowton 11 61.35x
Thorney 11 70.42x
Ardwick 10 4.21x
Ashby De La Zouch 10 17.52x
Aslockton 10 325.73x
Barrow Upon Soar 10 49.16x
Blackfordby 10 127.23x
Chesterfield 10 7.67x
Ipswich St Helen 10 31.18x
Little Bolton 10 2.95x
Pendleton In Salford 10 3.18x
Ramsden Bell House 10 331.13x
Sutton 10 11.31x
Westleigh 10 16.71x
Alfreton 9 8.52x
Bethnal Green London 9 0.93x
Castle Donnington 9 44.07x
Elton 9 9.88x
Everton 9 1.07x
Ipswich St Peter 9 24.71x
Leek Lowe 9 9.02x
Leyland 9 19.63x
Mile End Old Town 9 2.57x
Moss Side 9 6.49x
Old Withington 9 203.16x
Tupton 9 86.12x
Wednesbury 9 4.80x
Wereham 9 192.31x
Whatton 9 418.60x
Wolstanton 9 3.95x
Denby 8 75.40x
Eccleston In Prescot 8 6.05x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 153
William 142
Thomas 99
James 66
George 63
Henry 58
Joseph 54
Charles 38
Arthur 37
Samuel 33
Edward 24
Alfred 19
Walter 19
Harry 18
Richard 15
Frederick 13
Ernest 12
Robert 12
Albert 11
Herbert 11
Francis 10
Frank 10
Edwin 9
Peter 9
Fred 7
Josiah 7
Wm. 7
Benjamin 6
Abraham 5
Gilbert 5
Patrick 5
Tom 5
Daniel 4
David 4
Isaac 4
Michael 4
Thos. 4
Christopher 3
Frederic 3
Geo. 3
Mark 3
Oliver 3
Reuben 3
Willm. 3
Adam 2
Earnest 2
Percival 2
Percy 2
Saml. 2
Storer 2

FAQ

Mee surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mee surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,280 people were recorded with the Mee surname. That placed it at #1,959 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mee surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,742 in 2016. That gives Mee a modern rank of #1,815.

What does the Mee surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "at the meadow" or "at the boundary."

What does the Mee map show?

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