NameCensus.

UK surname

Meikle

A Scottish surname derived from the Scots word "mekill" meaning "large", likely originally referring to someone of large stature.

In the 1881 census there were 2,162 people recorded with the Meikle surname, ranking it #2,056 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,950, ranked #2,286, down from #2,056 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Borrowstounness and Carriden, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blackness, Bo'ness - Carriden and Grahamsdyke, Lesmahagow and Chapelton, Glengavel and Sandford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meikle is 2,950 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.4%.

1881 census count

2,162

Ranked #2,056

Modern count

2,950

2016, ranked #2,286

Peak year

2016

2,950 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meikle had 2,162 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,056 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,950 in 2016, ranked #2,286.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,483 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Meikle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meikle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meikle 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 1,232 #2,317
1861 historical 1,453 #1,951
1881 historical 2,162 #2,056
1891 historical 2,215 #2,108
1901 historical 2,483 #2,200
1911 historical 409 #9,140
1997 modern 2,663 #2,396
1998 modern 2,734 #2,423
1999 modern 2,750 #2,429
2000 modern 2,807 #2,374
2001 modern 2,713 #2,400
2002 modern 2,839 #2,363
2003 modern 2,790 #2,354
2004 modern 2,785 #2,358
2005 modern 2,796 #2,323
2006 modern 2,810 #2,316
2007 modern 2,830 #2,317
2008 modern 2,835 #2,326
2009 modern 2,843 #2,377
2010 modern 2,877 #2,395
2011 modern 2,831 #2,401
2012 modern 2,829 #2,361
2013 modern 2,859 #2,381
2014 modern 2,903 #2,354
2015 modern 2,904 #2,323
2016 modern 2,950 #2,286

Geography

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Where Meikles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Borrowstounness and Carriden, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Bathgate and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blackness, Bo'ness - Carriden and Grahamsdyke, Lesmahagow, Chapelton, Glengavel and Sandford, Bo'ness - Kinneil and Douglas, Coalburn and Rigside. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Borrowstounness and Carriden Linlithgow
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Bathgate Linlithgow
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blackness, Bo'ness - Carriden and Grahamsdyke Falkirk
2 Lesmahagow South Lanarkshire
3 Chapelton, Glengavel and Sandford South Lanarkshire
4 Bo'ness - Kinneil Falkirk
5 Douglas, Coalburn and Rigside South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meikle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meikle

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Meikle 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

Meikle is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Meikle falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Meikle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Meikle

The surname Meikle originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Scots language word "meikle," which means "great" or "large." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who was physically large or tall.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Meikle date back to the late 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers was Adam Meikle, who was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document recording those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England during his conquest of Scotland.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various Scottish records, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which documented financial transactions and land holdings. For example, in 1458, John Meikle was granted lands in Dumfriesshire.

Meikle is also found in place names throughout Scotland, such as Meikleour in Perthshire and Meiklerig in Dumfriesshire. These place names likely originated from the surname, indicating areas where families with the Meikle name settled or held lands.

Notable individuals with the surname Meikle include:

1. Andrew Meikle (1719-1811), a Scottish millwright and inventor known for his contributions to the development of the threshing machine. 2. William Meikle (1804-1855), a Scottish civil engineer who was involved in the construction of several notable bridges, including the Old Hutchesontown Bridge in Glasgow. 3. James Meikle (1779-1858), a Scottish architect responsible for designing various buildings in Edinburgh, such as the Royal High School and the Regent Bridge. 4. Thomas Meikle (1826-1899), a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Victorian Legislative Council. 5. Robert Meikle (1721-1799), a Scottish physician and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy and nomenclature.

While the Meikle surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Scottish emigration and settlement in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meikle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meikle 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. Lanarkshire leads with 730 Meikles recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.74x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 730 10.74x
Midlothian 281 9.98x
West Lothian 188 59.39x
Ayrshire 159 10.11x
Renfrewshire 136 8.35x
Stirlingshire 107 13.80x
Dunbartonshire 78 13.81x
Lancashire 77 0.31x
Northumberland 65 2.08x
Middlesex 32 0.15x
Roxburghshire 32 8.40x
Fife 29 2.33x
Surrey 27 0.26x
Perthshire 21 2.23x
Argyllshire 19 3.25x
Durham 19 0.30x
Dumfriesshire 15 3.23x
East Lothian 14 5.03x
Kent 14 0.20x
Angus 12 0.62x
Dorset 11 0.80x
Ross-shire 10 1.73x
Wigtownshire 10 3.58x
Buteshire 8 6.28x
Berwickshire 7 2.75x
Inverness-shire 7 1.12x
Kinross-shire 7 13.17x
Hampshire 6 0.14x
Hertfordshire 6 0.41x
Caithness 5 1.74x
Glamorgan 4 0.11x
Peeblesshire 3 3.03x
Morayshire 2 0.61x
Selkirkshire 2 1.05x
Somerset 2 0.06x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.05x
Cheshire 1 0.02x
Cumberland 1 0.06x
Essex 1 0.02x
Kincardineshire 1 0.39x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.33x
Royal Navy 1 0.40x
Staffordshire 1 0.01x
Suffolk 1 0.04x
Warwickshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 165 Meikles recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.59x.

Place Total Index
Barony 165 9.59x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 109 9.62x
Govan 92 5.47x
Lesmahagow 92 127.96x
Glasgow 59 4.89x
Avondale 47 118.24x
Hamilton 40 21.09x
Bothwell 38 20.61x
Kilbarchan 36 72.74x
Old Monkland 34 12.60x
South Leith 33 10.41x
Kirkliston 32 173.35x
Bonhill 31 34.19x
Dalserf 29 42.75x
Linlithgow 27 66.50x
Bathgate 26 37.83x
Boness 26 59.58x
Maryhill 26 19.54x
Tarbolton 25 96.56x
Rutherglen 22 22.06x
Colinton 20 63.69x
Neilston 20 24.46x
North Leith 20 15.35x
Dumbarton 19 24.16x
Livingstone 19 175.93x
Cathcart 17 19.29x
Larbert 17 36.68x
Sorn 17 55.00x
Everton 16 2.01x
Paisley High Church 16 12.34x
Polmont 16 55.91x
West Calder 16 28.82x
New Monkland 15 7.46x
Whitburn 15 32.79x
Kilmarnock 14 7.48x
Airth 13 131.98x
Blackburn 13 1.96x
Crieff 12 34.20x
Liverpool 12 0.79x
Penicuik 12 31.36x
Torphichen 12 108.89x
Bermondsey 11 1.76x
Cumbernauld 11 35.53x
Falkirk 11 6.06x
Hownam 11 582.01x
Jedburgh 11 29.47x
Lewisham 11 2.88x
Mauchline 11 60.84x
Ormiston 11 149.05x
Campsie 10 23.50x
Duddingston 10 17.69x
Dunipace 10 73.69x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 10 51.26x
Galston 10 23.25x
Largs 10 26.98x
Loudoun 10 26.43x
Mearns 10 35.04x
Westoe 10 2.82x
Blantyre 9 12.72x
East Kilbride 9 30.92x
Old Kilpatrick 9 13.48x
Uphall 9 25.85x
Ayr 8 10.77x
Beath 8 20.34x
Beith 8 17.04x
Carriden 8 55.75x
Glassford 8 76.34x
Inveresk 8 10.49x
Lanark 8 14.63x
Slamannan 8 18.84x
Southend 8 116.45x
Stranraer 8 31.34x
Tain 8 36.58x
Wapping London 8 49.84x
West Derby 8 1.10x
Westgate 8 4.13x
Coldstream 7 38.00x
Dunfermline 7 3.66x
Stirling 7 7.16x
Stonehouse 7 30.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Annie 11
Margaret 9
Jessie 8
Elizabeth 7
Jane 7
Isabella 5
Sarah 5
Agnes 4
Ann 4
Janet 4
Catherine 3
Ellen 3
Alice 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Helen 2
Margery 2
Martha 2
Cathe. 1
Cathe.Jones 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Elisa 1
Eliz. 1
Evelyn 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Isa. 1
Isabel 1
J. 1
Jeanet 1
Jennie 1
Kathrina 1
Lilian 1
Lizzie 1
Lottie 1
Louisa 1
Maggie 1
Millicent 1
Minnie 1
Rachael 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1
Tamor 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 23
James 21
Robert 13
George 9
Thomas 8
Richard 5
Andrew 4
Archibald 4
Henry 3
Hugh 3
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Gilbert 2
Harry 2
Alexr.Paul 1
Cunigham 1
Frederick 1
G.W. 1
Hamilton 1
Jas.Alexr. 1
Joseph 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Meikle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meikle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,162 people were recorded with the Meikle surname. That placed it at #2,056 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meikle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,950 in 2016. That gives Meikle a modern rank of #2,286.

What does the Meikle surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Scots word "mekill" meaning "large", likely originally referring to someone of large stature.

What does the Meikle map show?

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