NameCensus.

UK surname

Meng

A Chinese surname meaning "dream" or "to dream," which originated from a noble family in ancient China.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire, Birmingham and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meng is 130 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

130

2016, ranked #26,152

Peak year

2016

130 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016, ranked #26,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Meng surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meng surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meng 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
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1901 historical 14 #32,506
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 17 #36,181
1998 modern 20 #35,885
1999 modern 25 #35,413
2000 modern 36 #34,317
2001 modern 33 #34,436
2002 modern 33 #34,717
2003 modern 38 #34,361
2004 modern 48 #33,742
2005 modern 61 #32,814
2006 modern 72 #32,059
2007 modern 69 #32,662
2008 modern 73 #32,555
2009 modern 78 #32,471
2010 modern 109 #28,831
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 126 #26,148
2013 modern 129 #26,211
2014 modern 126 #26,781
2015 modern 127 #26,494
2016 modern 130 #26,152

Geography

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Where Mengs 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 Huntingdonshire, Birmingham, Wakefield, Runnymede and New Town West. 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 Huntingdonshire 019 Huntingdonshire
2 Birmingham 042 Birmingham
3 Wakefield 017 Wakefield
4 Runnymede 001 Runnymede
5 New Town West City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meng

These lists show first names that appear often with the Meng 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 Meng

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Meng surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Meng 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Meng 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

Meng 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

Meng 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 Meng 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
Asian - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of Meng

The surname Meng originated in Germany and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "Menag," which means "crowd" or "multitude." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived in a densely populated area or came from a large family.

One of the earliest records of the Meng name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval manuscripts from the 11th century. The name appears in this document as "Menge," which was likely an earlier spelling variation.

During the 13th century, the Meng surname started appearing in various parts of Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. Some notable individuals from this time period include Heinrich Meng, a merchant from Nuremberg who was mentioned in a trade document in 1287, and Konrad Meng, a Knight from Augsburg who fought in the Crusades in the late 1200s.

In the 15th century, the Meng name was also found in some historical records from Switzerland, indicating that the name had spread to neighboring regions. One notable individual from this era was Hans Meng, a Swiss clockmaker who lived in Basel from 1442 to 1512.

As the name continued to spread across Europe, it also began to appear in different spellings and variations. For example, in the Netherlands, the name was sometimes spelled as "Mengh," while in parts of France, it was written as "Mengue."

One of the most famous people to bear the Meng surname was Johann Meng, a German astronomer and mathematician who lived from 1628 to 1692. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and was one of the first to accurately calculate the orbit of comets.

Another notable individual was Friedrich Meng, a German composer and musician who lived from 1763 to 1825. He is best known for his contributions to the development of the clarinet and his compositions for woodwind instruments.

In the 19th century, the Meng surname started to appear in various parts of the United States, likely due to German immigration. One prominent American with this name was William Meng, a businessman and philanthropist from New York who lived from 1842 to 1920.

Overall, the surname Meng has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval Germany, with records of its use spanning across multiple countries and centuries. While its exact origins are not entirely clear, the name has been carried by numerous notable individuals throughout history, from merchants and knights to scientists and composers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Meng surname: questions and answers

How common is the Meng surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016. That gives Meng a modern rank of #26,152.

What does the Meng surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "dream" or "to dream," which originated from a noble family in ancient China.

What does the Meng map show?

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