NameCensus.

UK surname

Mehr

A surname of Persian origin meaning "kind" or "benevolent."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Hertfordshire, Hounslow and Bracknell Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mehr is 103 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

2013

103 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Mehr surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mehr surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mehr 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
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1997 modern 51 #32,545
1998 modern 56 #32,313
1999 modern 58 #32,268
2000 modern 55 #32,609
2001 modern 56 #32,379
2002 modern 58 #32,564
2003 modern 60 #32,446
2004 modern 60 #32,684
2005 modern 72 #31,730
2006 modern 75 #31,733
2007 modern 79 #31,628
2008 modern 82 #31,597
2009 modern 97 #30,076
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 95 #30,877
2012 modern 97 #30,798
2013 modern 103 #30,235
2014 modern 97 #31,518
2015 modern 98 #31,342
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Mehrs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Hertfordshire, Hounslow, Bracknell Forest and Oadby and Wigston. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Hertfordshire 001 North Hertfordshire
2 Hounslow 011 Hounslow
3 Bracknell Forest 007 Bracknell Forest
4 North Hertfordshire 002 North Hertfordshire
5 Oadby and Wigston 009 Oadby and Wigston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mehr

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mehr

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Mehr surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mehr 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Mehr is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

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

Mehr 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

Mehr falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mehr 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 Mehr, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mehr

The surname MEHR is believed to have originated in Germany, with its roots dating back to the 15th century. The name is derived from the German word "mehr," which means "more" or "greater." It is thought to have been initially used as a descriptive surname, referring to someone who was taller, larger, or more prosperous than others.

The earliest recorded instances of the name MEHR can be found in historical documents from the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Hans Mehr, a merchant from the town of Augsburg, whose name appeared in records from the year 1487.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name MEHR was also found in various Germanic regions, including parts of modern-day Switzerland and Austria. In Swiss records from the 1600s, there are mentions of families with the surname Mehr residing in the cantons of Bern and Lucerne.

One notable individual with the surname MEHR was Johann Baptist Mehr, a German composer and organist who lived from 1638 to 1701. He served as the court organist for the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg and was renowned for his sacred compositions and organ works.

In the 18th century, the name MEHR appeared in various regions of Germany, including the states of Saxony and Brandenburg. A prominent figure from this period was Johann Matthias Mehr, a German theologian and author who was born in 1718 and died in 1783. He wrote several influential works on religious topics and served as a professor at the University of Halle.

Another individual of note with the surname MEHR was Johann Michael Mehr, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1766 to 1843. He was known for his landscape paintings and engravings, and some of his works can be found in art galleries across Germany and Europe.

As the centuries progressed, the name MEHR continued to be present in various German-speaking regions, with families bearing this surname settling in different parts of Europe and eventually immigrating to other parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mehr surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mehr surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Mehr a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Mehr surname mean?

A surname of Persian origin meaning "kind" or "benevolent."

What does the Mehr map show?

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