NameCensus.

UK surname

Meer

A surname referring to someone living near a lake or mere.

In the 1881 census there were 128 people recorded with the Meer surname, ranking it #17,079 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 431, ranked #11,170, up from #17,079 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kingsbury, Tamworth and Harrow-on-the-Hill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Warwickshire, Bradford and Waltham Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meer is 442 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 236.7%.

1881 census count

128

Ranked #17,079

Modern count

431

2016, ranked #11,170

Peak year

2013

442 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meer had 128 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,079 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 431 in 2016, ranked #11,170.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 188 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Meer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meer 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 91 #18,187
1861 historical 175 #13,409
1881 historical 128 #17,079
1891 historical 188 #15,609
1901 historical 150 #18,075
1911 historical 161 #17,072
1997 modern 331 #12,668
1998 modern 345 #12,649
1999 modern 360 #12,371
2000 modern 366 #12,167
2001 modern 359 #12,153
2002 modern 385 #11,771
2003 modern 400 #11,262
2004 modern 393 #11,433
2005 modern 396 #11,271
2006 modern 401 #11,237
2007 modern 414 #11,072
2008 modern 410 #11,245
2009 modern 418 #11,309
2010 modern 440 #11,101
2011 modern 432 #11,132
2012 modern 406 #11,606
2013 modern 442 #10,997
2014 modern 430 #11,323
2015 modern 429 #11,252
2016 modern 431 #11,170

Geography

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Where Meers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kingsbury, Tamworth, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Ilkeston and Tibshelf. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Warwickshire, Bradford, Waltham Forest and Hounslow. 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 Kingsbury Staffordshire
2 Tamworth Staffordshire
3 Harrow-on-the-Hill Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Ilkeston Nottinghamshire
5 Tibshelf Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Warwickshire 002 North Warwickshire
2 North Warwickshire 003 North Warwickshire
3 Bradford 048 Bradford
4 Waltham Forest 023 Waltham Forest
5 Hounslow 017 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meer

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Meer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Meer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Meer is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Meer is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Meer falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Meer 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Meer

The surname MEER has its origins in Germany, and it can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the German word "meer," which means "lake" or "sea." The name likely originated from people who lived near a body of water, such as a lake or the sea.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname MEER can be found in various medieval documents from the region of present-day northern Germany and the Netherlands. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johannes van der Meer, a merchant from the city of Bremen, who was mentioned in a trade record dating back to 1287.

In the 14th century, the MEER name appeared in the Bremisches Urkundenbuch, a collection of historical documents from the city of Bremen. This suggests that the name was well-established in the region during that time period.

The MEER surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Germany and the Netherlands. For example, the town of Meerbusch in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, derives its name from the Dutch words "meer" and "busch," meaning "lake" and "bush," respectively.

One of the most notable individuals with the surname MEER was Joannes Meursius (1579-1639), a Dutch classical scholar and historian. He was born in Loosduinen, near The Hague, and is renowned for his works on Greek antiquities and the history of the Netherlands.

Another prominent figure was Jan van der Meer (1627-1691), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his genre scenes and landscapes. His works can be found in various museums, including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Louvre in Paris.

In the 19th century, Johann Ludwig Wilhelm Meer (1799-1852) was a German jurist and politician who served as a member of the Prussian House of Representatives and the Frankfurt Parliament.

Karl Meer (1879-1962) was a German chemist and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the synthetic rubber industry during the early 20th century. He worked for the German chemical company IG Farben and was instrumental in the production of Buna rubber, which was crucial during World War II.

Finally, Pieter van der Meer (1899-1982) was a Dutch resistance fighter during World War II and a recipient of the Dutch Resistance Memorial Cross. He was involved in various resistance activities, including the distribution of illegal newspapers and the hiding of Jewish families from Nazi persecution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meer 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. Warwickshire leads with 39 Meers recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.39x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 39 12.39x
Lancashire 22 1.48x
Staffordshire 15 3.56x
Derbyshire 12 6.14x
Surrey 9 1.48x
Yorkshire 8 0.65x
Hampshire 6 2.34x
Middlesex 6 0.48x
Glamorgan 5 2.30x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.19x
Devon 1 0.38x
Flintshire 1 2.98x
Somerset 1 0.50x
Sussex 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingsbury in Warwickshire leads with 26 Meers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3880.60x.

Place Total Index
Kingsbury 26 3880.60x
Ilkeston 8 145.99x
Fazeley 7 909.09x
Tamworth 7 311.11x
Basingstoke 6 204.08x
Manchester 6 9.01x
Tonge 6 192.93x
Wigan 6 28.99x
Curdworth 5 1724.14x
Llantwit Vairdre 5 204.92x
Aston 4 4.61x
Birmingham 4 3.81x
Edmonton 4 39.76x
Sculcoates 4 20.39x
Sutton 4 90.91x
Blackburn 3 7.61x
Chilcote 3 7500.00x
Cuddington 3 1304.35x
Manningham 3 19.69x
Battle 1 70.42x
Burnham 1 65.36x
Burton Upon Trent 1 10.14x
Hopwood 1 51.55x
Kingston On Thames 1 6.84x
Middlesbrough 1 6.21x
Northop 1 84.03x
Nottingham St Mary 1 2.30x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 5.00x
Richmond 1 11.72x
Skegby 1 97.09x
St Marylebone London 1 1.50x
Stoke Newington London 1 10.28x
Swadlincote 1 454.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 12
William 7
Arthur 4
Francis 4
George 4
Thomas 4
Charles 3
Abraham 2
Martin 2
Michael 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Hy.M.T. 1
Isaac 1
Joh. 1
Joseph 1
Levi 1
Lionel 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Meer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 128 people were recorded with the Meer surname. That placed it at #17,079 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 431 in 2016. That gives Meer a modern rank of #11,170.

What does the Meer surname mean?

A surname referring to someone living near a lake or mere.

What does the Meer map show?

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