NameCensus.

UK surname

Mees

A nickname surname derived from the French term for "small person" or "petite".

In the 1881 census there were 393 people recorded with the Mees surname, ranking it #8,068 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 359, ranked #12,898, down from #8,068 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whatley, Elm, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Mells. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, Sedgemoor and Peterborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mees is 502 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.7%.

1881 census count

393

Ranked #8,068

Modern count

359

2016, ranked #12,898

Peak year

1911

502 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mees had 393 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,068 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 359 in 2016, ranked #12,898.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 502 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Mees surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mees surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mees 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 246 #8,891
1861 historical 234 #10,463
1881 historical 393 #8,068
1891 historical 469 #7,813
1901 historical 484 #8,244
1911 historical 502 #7,809
1997 modern 392 #11,178
1998 modern 416 #11,037
1999 modern 419 #11,055
2000 modern 412 #11,165
2001 modern 393 #11,366
2002 modern 399 #11,460
2003 modern 382 #11,642
2004 modern 379 #11,740
2005 modern 363 #12,037
2006 modern 380 #11,666
2007 modern 364 #12,237
2008 modern 369 #12,210
2009 modern 380 #12,198
2010 modern 373 #12,628
2011 modern 384 #12,218
2012 modern 358 #12,724
2013 modern 358 #12,952
2014 modern 362 #12,955
2015 modern 357 #12,979
2016 modern 359 #12,898

Geography

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Where Mees' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Whatley, Elm, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Mells, London parishes and Marston Bigott, Frome Selwood, Rodden, Berkeley, Standerwick, Beckington, Laverton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sheffield, Sedgemoor, Peterborough, Swindon and Welwyn Hatfield. 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 Whatley, Elm Somerset
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Mells Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Marston Bigott, Frome Selwood, Rodden, Berkeley, Standerwick, Beckington, Laverton Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 039 Sheffield
2 Sedgemoor 011 Sedgemoor
3 Peterborough 009 Peterborough
4 Swindon 007 Swindon
5 Welwyn Hatfield 013 Welwyn Hatfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mees

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mees

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mees 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

Mees is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mees

The surname Mees originated in the Netherlands, particularly in the northern provinces of Friesland and Groningen. It is believed to have derived from the Old Frisian word "mês," which means "marsh" or "meadow." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived near or worked on marshy lands or meadows.

The name Mees can be traced back to the 13th century in various historical records and documents from the Netherlands. One of the earliest known references to the name is found in the Oorkondenboek van Groningen en Drente, a collection of charters and documents from the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe, dating back to the year 1227.

In the 15th century, the Mees surname appears in the Stadsarchief van Amsterdam (Amsterdam City Archives), indicating the presence of individuals bearing this name in the city during that time period. The name is also mentioned in the Oud-Archief van de gemeente Assen (Old Archives of the Municipality of Assen) from the 16th century.

One notable individual with the surname Mees was Gerrit Mees (1609-1670), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his genre scenes and portraits. Another prominent figure was Willem Mees (1813-1884), a Dutch politician and statesman who served as the Minister of the Interior and Minister of Finance in the Netherlands.

Other historical figures bearing the Mees surname include:

1. Jasper Mees (1579-1638), a Dutch Golden Age painter and engraver. 2. Adriaen Mees (c. 1600-c. 1675), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his still-life paintings. 3. Gerrit Mees (1776-1836), a Dutch politician and lawyer who served as the Mayor of Rotterdam. 4. Theodorus Mees (1821-1897), a Dutch theologian and rector of the University of Groningen. 5. Willem Mees (1868-1948), a Dutch architect known for his work in the Art Nouveau style.

The surname Mees has also been associated with various place names in the Netherlands, such as Meeswijk (a village in the municipality of Geldermalsen) and Meesbree (a hamlet in the municipality of Venray). These place names may have influenced or derived from the surname itself, or vice versa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mees families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mees 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. Somerset leads with 61 Mees' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.89x.

County Total Index
Somerset 61 9.89x
Staffordshire 48 3.71x
Middlesex 33 0.86x
Warwickshire 26 2.69x
Leicestershire 24 5.65x
Nottinghamshire 23 4.45x
Lancashire 22 0.48x
Yorkshire 19 0.50x
Worcestershire 18 3.60x
Bedfordshire 17 8.56x
Glamorgan 16 2.40x
Gloucestershire 15 2.00x
Wiltshire 14 4.13x
Monmouthshire 9 3.25x
Essex 7 0.93x
Brecknockshire 6 7.83x
Lincolnshire 6 0.98x
Berkshire 5 1.74x
Dorset 4 1.59x
Durham 4 0.35x
Derbyshire 3 0.50x
Kent 3 0.23x
Northamptonshire 2 0.55x
Northumberland 2 0.35x
Devon 1 0.13x
Hampshire 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 2.19x
Shropshire 1 0.30x
Surrey 1 0.05x
Sussex 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mells in Somerset leads with 28 Mees' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2187.50x.

Place Total Index
Mells 28 2187.50x
Aston 25 9.39x
Croxton Keyrial 20 2777.78x
Wales 15 500.00x
Amblecote 13 352.30x
Wolverhampton 13 13.07x
Kingswinford 11 23.41x
Llandaff 11 49.53x
Elm 10 2127.66x
Whatley 10 1754.39x
Windle 10 39.08x
Aberystruth 9 36.84x
Islington London 9 2.42x
Warrington 8 14.84x
Westwood 8 1142.86x
Bingham 7 318.18x
Horfield 7 92.47x
Nottingham St Mary 7 5.24x
West Ham 7 4.19x
Whitechapel London 7 18.52x
Wollaston 7 220.13x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 8.48x
Campton 6 821.92x
Shefford 6 425.53x
West Bromwich 6 769.23x
Cardiff St John 5 22.94x
Dudley 5 8.22x
Hackney London 5 2.33x
Luton 5 14.55x
Speen 5 106.16x
Spittlegate 5 58.96x
Tipton 5 12.62x
Wolstanton 5 12.72x
Frome 4 27.10x
Gateshead 4 4.68x
Melcombe Regis 4 38.35x
Mere 4 103.90x
St Martin Vintry 4 4444.44x
Westminster St James 4 10.15x
Arnold 3 39.79x
Carlton 3 50.85x
Llanelly 3 32.72x
Llangattock 3 48.08x
Shepton Mallet 3 43.35x
Emley 2 117.65x
Heanor 2 22.27x
Leigh On Mendip 2 333.33x
Minster In Sheppey 2 9.23x
North South Gosforth 2 273.97x
Saddleworth 2 6.83x
Toxteth Park 2 1.30x
Wiveliscombe 2 58.14x
Ashleworth 1 151.52x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.01x
Bristol St Augustine 1 8.24x
Cheriton 1 18.76x
Christchurch 1 5.87x
Coulsdon 1 29.41x
Eaton 1 217.39x
Edgbaston 1 3.34x
Farnsfield 1 72.99x
Hammersmith London 1 1.06x
Handsworth 1 3.14x
Henstridge 1 58.82x
Horsted Keynes 1 66.23x
Ilkeston 1 5.94x
Kilmersdon 1 32.79x
Leicester St Margaret 1 0.96x
Manchester 1 0.49x
Manthorpe Cum Little 1 21.32x
Peatling Magna 1 384.62x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.63x
Royal Navy 1 2.56x
St George Hanover 1 2.00x
St George In East 1 3.84x
St Marylebone London 1 0.49x
Steeple Ashton 1 109.89x
Wellingborough 1 5.52x
Wilford 1 68.97x
Worfield 1 43.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 16
George 12
Charles 10
James 10
Samuel 8
Joseph 7
Benjamin 6
Albert 5
Frederick 5
Henry 5
Thomas 5
Edwin 4
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Fredk. 3
Harry 3
Richd. 3
Wm. 3
Edward 2
Francis 2
Richard 2
Sydney 2
Tom 2
Wilfred 2
Allan 1
Benj. 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Enoch 1
Ethelbert 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Fymer 1
Harold 1
J. 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Jno.Geo. 1
Josire 1
Leonard 1
Matthew 1
Moses 1
Oscar 1
Robert 1
S. 1
Saml. 1

FAQ

Mees surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mees surname in 1881?

In 1881, 393 people were recorded with the Mees surname. That placed it at #8,068 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mees surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 359 in 2016. That gives Mees a modern rank of #12,898.

What does the Mees surname mean?

A nickname surname derived from the French term for "small person" or "petite".

What does the Mees map show?

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