NameCensus.

UK surname

Meggison

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name likely meaning "son of Meg".

In the 1881 census there were 133 people recorded with the Meggison surname, ranking it #16,676 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 193, ranked #20,039, down from #16,676 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Sunderland and Jarrow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meggison is 218 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.1%.

1881 census count

133

Ranked #16,676

Modern count

193

2016, ranked #20,039

Peak year

2010

218 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meggison had 133 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,676 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 193 in 2016, ranked #20,039.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 176 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Meggison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meggison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meggison 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 114 #19,011
1881 historical 133 #16,676
1891 historical 176 #16,404
1901 historical 98 #23,119
1911 historical 93 #23,492
1997 modern 176 #19,091
1998 modern 171 #19,956
1999 modern 177 #19,670
2000 modern 183 #19,239
2001 modern 183 #18,980
2002 modern 188 #19,012
2003 modern 190 #18,683
2004 modern 195 #18,500
2005 modern 189 #18,807
2006 modern 198 #18,425
2007 modern 200 #18,485
2008 modern 194 #19,011
2009 modern 207 #18,600
2010 modern 218 #18,375
2011 modern 214 #18,436
2012 modern 195 #19,540
2013 modern 199 #19,584
2014 modern 201 #19,641
2015 modern 201 #19,494
2016 modern 193 #20,039

Geography

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Where Meggisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Sunderland, Jarrow, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Harsley, East. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool, Northumberland, Oldham and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Sunderland Durham
3 Jarrow Durham
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Harsley, East Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 009 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Hartlepool 012 Hartlepool
3 Northumberland 026 Northumberland
4 Oldham 029 Oldham
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 021 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meggison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meggison

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Meggison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Meggison household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Meggison 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

Meggison is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Meggison 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 Meggison is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Meggison

The surname Meggison originated from England and dates back to the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English personal name "Megg" or "Meggie," which was a diminutive of the name Margaret. The suffix "-son" was commonly added to denote "son of," indicating that the name referred to the son of someone named Megg or Meggie.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Meggison can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1297, where it appears as "Meggesone." This suggests that the name was already in use and established in Yorkshire by the late 13th century.

The Meggison surname is closely associated with the village of Meggison, located in the East Riding of Yorkshire. It is believed that the surname may have originated from this place name, which itself was likely derived from the Old English words "megge" (meaning "maiden") and "tun" (meaning "farm" or "village").

In the 16th century, a notable individual bearing the Meggison surname was John Meggison, who was born in Yorkshire in 1532 and served as a royal chaplain to Queen Elizabeth I. He was known for his religious writings and sermons.

Another historical figure with the Meggison name was Robert Meggison, born in 1618 in Yorkshire. He was a prominent merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the economic development of the region during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, Elizabeth Meggison (1712-1786) was a notable philanthropist from Yorkshire. She donated substantial funds to establish schools and hospitals in her local community, leaving a lasting legacy.

During the 19th century, Thomas Meggison (1826-1904) made a name for himself as a respected architect and urban planner. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings and public spaces in Yorkshire and other parts of England.

Finally, in the early 20th century, William Meggison (1901-1982) was a distinguished academic and historian. He authored several acclaimed books on the history of Yorkshire and its people, making significant contributions to the preservation of the region's cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meggison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meggison 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. Yorkshire leads with 81 Meggisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.30x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 81 6.30x
Durham 30 7.77x
Lancashire 7 0.45x
Derbyshire 6 2.95x
Northumberland 5 2.59x
Midlothian 4 2.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Harlsey in Yorkshire leads with 18 Meggisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10588.24x.

Place Total Index
East Harlsey 18 10588.24x
Westoe 9 41.13x
Ainderby Quernhow 8 16000.00x
Gateshead 8 27.68x
Glaisdale 7 1428.57x
Heaton Norris 7 79.91x
Middlesbrough 7 41.82x
Buxton 6 348.84x
Bishopwearmouth 5 15.09x
Bradford 5 16.07x
Gueldable 5 12500.00x
Arden 4 8000.00x
Brompton In 4 701.75x
North Leith 4 49.75x
Pannal 4 325.20x
Scarborough 4 34.25x
Sheffield 4 9.77x
South Otterington 4 2666.67x
Tynemouth 4 38.68x
Evenwood Barony 3 229.01x
Stranton 2 15.40x
Sunderland 2 29.33x
Beeford 1 312.50x
Clifton In York 1 37.17x
Hartlepool 1 18.21x
Linthorpe 1 13.04x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 9.99x
Oswaldkirk 1 1111.11x
Pickhill With Roxby 1 769.23x
Wilton In Guisbrough 1 172.41x
York Holy Trinity 1 90.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 8
Jane 7
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Lucy 3
Anne 2
Dorothy 2
Harriet 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Anna 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Isabel 1
Lizzie 1
Marg 1
Margaret 1
Septima 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
George 8
William 8
Thomas 6
James 4
Richard 3
Charles 2
Harry 2
Robert 2
Boltin 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Martin 1
Oswald 1
Ralph 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Meggison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meggison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 133 people were recorded with the Meggison surname. That placed it at #16,676 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meggison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 193 in 2016. That gives Meggison a modern rank of #20,039.

What does the Meggison surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name likely meaning "son of Meg".

What does the Meggison map show?

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