NameCensus.

UK surname

Meech

A variant English surname derived from the archaic word "meech", meaning a cowardly or mischievous person.

In the 1881 census there were 614 people recorded with the Meech surname, ranking it #5,725 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 633, ranked #8,357, down from #5,725 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newchurch, London parishes and Bothenhampton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Weymouth and Portland, Horsham and Eastleigh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meech is 903 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.1%.

1881 census count

614

Ranked #5,725

Modern count

633

2016, ranked #8,357

Peak year

1911

903 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meech had 614 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,725 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 633 in 2016, ranked #8,357.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 903 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Meech surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meech surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meech 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 381 #6,272
1861 historical 334 #7,631
1881 historical 614 #5,725
1891 historical 581 #6,569
1901 historical 805 #5,605
1911 historical 903 #4,940
1997 modern 693 #7,306
1998 modern 700 #7,476
1999 modern 697 #7,542
2000 modern 672 #7,730
2001 modern 668 #7,638
2002 modern 685 #7,643
2003 modern 649 #7,837
2004 modern 659 #7,755
2005 modern 650 #7,776
2006 modern 631 #7,983
2007 modern 630 #8,056
2008 modern 613 #8,272
2009 modern 626 #8,316
2010 modern 646 #8,285
2011 modern 643 #8,226
2012 modern 630 #8,275
2013 modern 644 #8,275
2014 modern 636 #8,402
2015 modern 632 #8,380
2016 modern 633 #8,357

Geography

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Where Meechs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newchurch, London parishes, Bothenhampton, Portsmouth, Portsea and Corscombe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Weymouth and Portland, Horsham, Eastleigh and North Somerset. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Bothenhampton Dorset
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Corscombe Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Weymouth and Portland 001 Weymouth and Portland
2 Weymouth and Portland 004 Weymouth and Portland
3 Horsham 009 Horsham
4 Eastleigh 008 Eastleigh
5 North Somerset 002 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meech

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meech

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Meech is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Meech is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Meech

The surname Meech is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words 'mæc' and 'mæce', meaning 'kinsman' or 'kinsperson'. It likely originated in medieval times as a nickname for someone who was a relative or close friend.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Meech can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Mece' in the county of Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name may have initially been concentrated in the southern and central regions of England.

In the 13th century, the name was also recorded as 'Meche' and 'Meeche' in various historical documents, indicating variations in spelling over time. Some examples include Robert Meeche, mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1279, and William Meche, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296.

One notable figure bearing the surname Meech was Sir Robert Meech (c. 1500-1585), a wealthy merchant and landowner from London who served as Sheriff of London in 1561. Another was William Meech (1589-1672), an English clergyman and controversialist who wrote several religious works during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name Meech was associated with the village of Meech, located in the county of Cheshire. It is believed that some individuals may have adopted the surname from this place name, contributing to its geographical spread.

Other notable individuals with the surname Meech include John Meech (1724-1802), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War, and Samuel Meech (1782-1858), an English portrait painter and art teacher in London.

During the 19th century, the name Meech gained recognition through the achievements of individuals such as James Meech (1818-1892), a prominent industrialist and politician from Ontario, Canada, who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meech families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meech 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. Dorset leads with 263 Meechs recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.58x.

County Total Index
Dorset 263 66.58x
Hampshire 66 5.35x
Somerset 57 5.88x
Surrey 46 1.57x
Middlesex 43 0.71x
Lancashire 20 0.28x
Cheshire 18 1.35x
Cornwall 16 2.35x
Kent 16 0.78x
Devon 15 1.20x
Norfolk 12 1.30x
Sussex 11 1.08x
Gloucestershire 6 0.51x
Durham 5 0.28x
Wiltshire 5 0.94x
Hertfordshire 4 0.96x
Channel Islands 3 1.68x
Essex 3 0.25x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.55x
Lanarkshire 2 0.10x
Staffordshire 2 0.10x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x
Northamptonshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bothenhampton in Dorset leads with 27 Meechs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2454.55x.

Place Total Index
Bothenhampton 27 2454.55x
Melcombe Regis 24 146.61x
Alverstoke 22 49.27x
Broadwinsor 22 849.42x
Thorncombe 19 837.00x
Beaminster 18 410.02x
Corscombe 16 1185.19x
Carisbrooke 15 87.57x
Lambeth 14 2.67x
Allington 13 369.32x
Northwood 13 73.99x
Crewkerne 12 116.62x
Fordington 12 141.01x
Stoke Abbott 11 964.91x
Charminster 10 318.47x
Macclesfield 9 15.24x
Montacute 9 505.62x
Deptford St Nicholas 8 49.08x
Kinson 8 103.63x
North Perrott 8 1194.03x
Weymouth 8 106.95x
Buckland Newton 7 395.48x
Camberwell 7 1.82x
Kensington London 7 2.09x
St Marylebone London 7 2.18x
Stinsford 7 1000.00x
Yeovil 7 35.55x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 3.84x
Battersea 6 2.71x
Bradpole 6 185.19x
East Looe 6 217.39x
Exeter Heavitree 6 64.24x
Hackney London 6 1.78x
Kingston On Thames 6 8.52x
Maiden Newton 6 363.64x
Portsea 6 2.48x
Rushford 6 1714.29x
Bedminster 5 5.49x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 4.50x
Hove 5 11.23x
Islington London 5 0.86x
Lavington West 5 1315.79x
Merton 5 97.47x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 14.31x
Mosterton 5 746.27x
Reddish 5 50.81x
St Cleer 5 84.60x
Winsham 5 282.49x
Bayford 4 701.75x
Eastbourne 4 8.57x
Hornsey 4 5.26x
Hulme 4 2.68x
Lewisham 4 3.65x
Marshwood 4 579.71x
Southampton St Mary 4 5.16x
Tranmere 4 8.19x
Walcot 4 7.75x
Birkenhead 3 2.83x
Blandford Forum 3 38.51x
Compton Vallence 3 1153.85x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 3 93.75x
Ealing 3 5.58x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 10.46x
Gorton 3 4.47x
Gussage All Sts 3 348.84x
Sheviock 3 260.87x
South Perrott 3 483.87x
Weeting With Broomhill 3 434.78x
Blandford St Mary 2 266.67x
Bradwell 2 39.06x
Colyton 2 41.58x
East Chelborough 2 869.57x
Frampton 2 229.89x
High Leigh 2 114.29x
Hingham 2 62.50x
Lovington 2 476.19x
St Helier 2 3.44x
St Martin In Fields 2 5.55x
Walsall Foreign 2 1.91x
Wimbledon 2 6.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 19
Ann 14
Emily 14
Annie 12
Alice 11
Jane 11
Lucy 10
Ellen 8
Charlotte 7
Louisa 7
Eliza 6
Martha 6
Susan 6
Emma 5
Fanny 5
Florence 5
Jessie 5
Amelia 4
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Ada 3
Bessie 3
Catherine 3
Elizth. 3
Hannah 3
Laura 3
Lilian 3
Rose 3
Clara 2
Edith 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Olive 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Elea.M. 1
Elvina 1
Infant 1
Isabel 1
Thomas 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 30
William 28
George 22
Thomas 14
James 13
Charles 12
Henry 10
Frederick 9
Robert 9
Alfred 8
Joseph 8
Samuel 8
Arthur 7
Francis 7
Albert 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Richard 5
Edwin 4
Walter 4
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Sidney 3
Tom 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Andrew 2
Chas. 2
Gabriel 2
Giles 2
Harold 2
Hugh 2
Josiah 2
Louis 2
Mathew 2
Abram 1
Albion 1
Alfd. 1
Benjamin 1
Charlie 1
Escort 1
F. 1
F.C. 1
Fred 1
Freddy 1
Hy.Davy 1
J. 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Jonathan 1

FAQ

Meech surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meech surname in 1881?

In 1881, 614 people were recorded with the Meech surname. That placed it at #5,725 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meech surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 633 in 2016. That gives Meech a modern rank of #8,357.

What does the Meech surname mean?

A variant English surname derived from the archaic word "meech", meaning a cowardly or mischievous person.

What does the Meech map show?

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