NameCensus.

UK surname

Meeks

Derived from the Middle English "meek," referring to someone who is humble, gentle, or courteous.

In the 1881 census there were 517 people recorded with the Meeks surname, ranking it #6,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 741, ranked #7,368, down from #6,593 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, London parishes and Everton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rossendale, South Cambridgeshire and Guildford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meeks is 860 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.3%.

1881 census count

517

Ranked #6,593

Modern count

741

2016, ranked #7,368

Peak year

1999

860 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meeks had 517 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,593 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 741 in 2016, ranked #7,368.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 793 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Meeks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meeks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meeks 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 352 #6,705
1861 historical 226 #10,797
1881 historical 517 #6,593
1891 historical 554 #6,841
1901 historical 680 #6,417
1911 historical 793 #5,505
1997 modern 805 #6,508
1998 modern 834 #6,533
1999 modern 860 #6,423
2000 modern 839 #6,522
2001 modern 823 #6,505
2002 modern 840 #6,523
2003 modern 807 #6,607
2004 modern 835 #6,431
2005 modern 807 #6,572
2006 modern 789 #6,706
2007 modern 786 #6,789
2008 modern 789 #6,834
2009 modern 794 #6,940
2010 modern 824 #6,851
2011 modern 804 #6,918
2012 modern 770 #7,086
2013 modern 782 #7,100
2014 modern 777 #7,165
2015 modern 755 #7,266
2016 modern 741 #7,368

Geography

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Where Meeks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, London parishes, Everton and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rossendale, South Cambridgeshire, Guildford, Cornwall and Burnley. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Everton Huntingdonshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rossendale 001 Rossendale
2 South Cambridgeshire 016 South Cambridgeshire
3 Guildford 007 Guildford
4 Cornwall 009 Cornwall
5 Burnley 003 Burnley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meeks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meeks

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Meeks 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

Meeks 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

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

Meaning and origin of Meeks

The surname Meeks has its origins in England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "meoc," which means "servant" or "attendant." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to individuals who held positions as servants or attendants in royal or noble households.

The earliest recorded instances of the Meeks surname can be found in various historical records, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Meoc" and "Meocs." This valuable document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings throughout England at the time.

One notable figure associated with the Meeks surname was Richard Meeks (c. 1450-1505), an English churchman who served as the Bishop of Norwich from 1492 until his death. He was known for his involvement in the construction of Norwich Cathedral's cloisters and for his significant contributions to the city's religious and cultural life.

Another prominent individual bearing the Meeks surname was Sir Thomas Meeks (1551-1617), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for various constituencies during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. He was also renowned for his philanthropic efforts, having founded a school in Littleport, Cambridgeshire.

In the literary realm, John Meeks (1782-1856) was an English poet and writer who gained recognition for his works, including "The Beauties of Modern Poetry" and "Miscellaneous Poems." He was born in Nottingham and spent much of his life in the East Midlands region of England.

The Meeks surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Meeks Farm in Suffolk and Meeks Road in Hampshire. These place names may have originated from individuals bearing the Meeks surname who resided or owned land in those areas.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Meeks (1608-1683), an English soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Tregony, Cornwall, during the English Civil War. He was a staunch Royalist and played a significant role in the conflict, commanding a regiment of foot soldiers.

While the Meeks surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, the historical records and notable individuals mentioned above provide valuable insights into the origin and evolution of this surname within the English context.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meeks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meeks 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 115 Meeks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.21x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 115 36.21x
Huntingdonshire 50 50.22x
Lancashire 48 0.81x
Middlesex 43 0.86x
Yorkshire 37 0.74x
Durham 36 2.41x
Northamptonshire 21 4.45x
Oxfordshire 21 6.78x
Bedfordshire 15 5.78x
Surrey 15 0.61x
Essex 14 1.41x
Norfolk 14 1.82x
Buckinghamshire 12 3.96x
Lincolnshire 12 1.50x
Herefordshire 9 4.38x
Warwickshire 9 0.71x
Berkshire 6 1.59x
Kent 6 0.35x
Worcestershire 6 0.92x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.74x
Hampshire 3 0.29x
Hertfordshire 3 0.87x
Cheshire 2 0.18x
Gloucestershire 2 0.20x
Midlothian 2 0.30x
Northumberland 2 0.27x
Sussex 2 0.24x
Angus 1 0.22x
Glamorgan 1 0.11x
Leicestershire 1 0.18x
Somerset 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gamlingay in Cambridgeshire leads with 30 Meeks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 906.34x.

Place Total Index
Gamlingay 30 906.34x
Tetworth 25 7142.86x
Croxton 23 4600.00x
Westoe 21 24.83x
Chatteris 17 209.88x
Sutton 15 570.34x
Wardleworth 15 44.12x
Aston Rowant 14 1261.26x
Holywell Cum Needingworth 10 800.00x
Clifton 9 358.57x
East Ham 9 48.99x
Holbeck 8 24.30x
Kensington London 8 2.87x
Linton 8 264.90x
Toseland 8 2758.62x
Whaplode 8 293.04x
Wycombe 8 35.40x
Haworth 7 59.27x
Nether Hallam 7 10.41x
Yelling 7 1272.73x
Bray 6 54.25x
Cradley 6 199.34x
Doddington 6 257.51x
Ducklington 6 800.00x
Northampton St Giles 6 33.41x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 6 127.93x
Orlingbury 6 1224.49x
Tottington Lower End 6 21.22x
Usworth 6 75.76x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.30x
Bold 5 337.84x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 7.74x
Higher Booths 5 46.60x
Islington London 5 1.03x
Lenton 5 31.41x
Northampton St Sepulchre 5 20.84x
Aston 4 1.15x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 8.64x
Birmingham 4 0.95x
Camberwell 4 1.25x
Lower Booths 4 37.52x
Norton Subcourse 4 645.16x
Rotherhithe 4 6.46x
St Andrewthe Less 4 11.03x
West Ham 4 1.83x
Wuerdle Wardle 4 22.15x
Bermondsey 3 2.01x
Bromley London 3 2.72x
Claines 3 16.69x
Hampstead London 3 3.84x
Hunslet 3 3.87x
Lewisham 3 3.29x
Little Amwell 3 247.93x
Old Artillery Ground 3 69.44x
St Botolph Lincoln 3 52.08x
Westminster St James 3 5.82x
Wetherby 3 92.59x
Worcester St Clement 3 72.12x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 1.54x
Bedford St Mary 2 29.90x
Bedford St Paul 2 11.23x
Bristol St Augustine 2 12.60x
Collierley 2 30.08x
Congleton 2 10.46x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 0.74x
Eltisley 2 250.00x
Great Abington 2 416.67x
Haddenham 2 66.89x
Hammersmith London 2 1.62x
Hayes 2 39.06x
Hendon 2 11.09x
Little Abington 2 444.44x
Liverpool 2 0.55x
Norwich St Michael At 2 44.74x
Petersfield 2 70.67x
Tarrington 2 232.56x
Wandsworth 2 4.14x
Whickham 2 14.57x
Wilburton 2 222.22x
Penwortham 1 35.46x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Meeks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meeks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 517 people were recorded with the Meeks surname. That placed it at #6,593 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meeks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 741 in 2016. That gives Meeks a modern rank of #7,368.

What does the Meeks surname mean?

Derived from the Middle English "meek," referring to someone who is humble, gentle, or courteous.

What does the Meeks map show?

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