NameCensus.

UK surname

Mennie

A surname possibly derived from the Scottish surname 'Mennie', a diminutive of a pet form of a male given name.

In the 1881 census there were 415 people recorded with the Mennie surname, ranking it #7,763 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 549, ranked #9,292, down from #7,763 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kennethmont, Gateshead and Rayne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Inverurie South, Ythsie and Heathryfold and Middlefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mennie is 621 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.3%.

1881 census count

415

Ranked #7,763

Modern count

549

2016, ranked #9,292

Peak year

1998

621 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mennie had 415 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,763 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 549 in 2016, ranked #9,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 468 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mennie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mennie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mennie 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 308 #7,478
1861 historical 323 #7,888
1881 historical 415 #7,763
1891 historical 453 #8,038
1901 historical 468 #8,458
1911 historical 131 #19,404
1997 modern 598 #8,162
1998 modern 621 #8,190
1999 modern 605 #8,399
2000 modern 609 #8,347
2001 modern 581 #8,469
2002 modern 591 #8,543
2003 modern 585 #8,479
2004 modern 581 #8,539
2005 modern 582 #8,450
2006 modern 581 #8,485
2007 modern 581 #8,564
2008 modern 583 #8,606
2009 modern 603 #8,569
2010 modern 595 #8,844
2011 modern 575 #8,967
2012 modern 554 #9,115
2013 modern 564 #9,139
2014 modern 562 #9,226
2015 modern 549 #9,324
2016 modern 549 #9,292

Geography

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Where Mennies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kennethmont, Gateshead, Rayne, Methlick and Nigg. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Inverurie South, Ythsie, Heathryfold and Middlefield, Torry East and Mearns North and Inverbervie. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Kennethmont Aberdeen
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Rayne Aberdeen
4 Methlick Aberdeen
5 Nigg Kincardine

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Inverurie South Aberdeenshire
2 Ythsie Aberdeenshire
3 Heathryfold and Middlefield Aberdeen City
4 Torry East Aberdeen City
5 Mearns North and Inverbervie Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mennie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mennie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mennie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mennie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mennie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mennie 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

Mennie falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mennie

The surname MENNIE is of Scottish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated in the regions of Aberdeenshire and Angus, where it was likely derived from the Gaelic word "mèinn" or "mèinne," meaning "a kid" or "a young goat."

In the 13th century, records show the name MENNIE appearing in various forms, such as Menny, Menie, and Meney. These variations were common due to the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. The earliest recorded instance of the surname is found in the Aberdeen Burgh Records of 1275, where a certain John Meny is mentioned.

During the 15th century, the name MENNIE gained prominence in the region of Angus. The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1456 reference a John Menny, who was a landowner in the area. This suggests that the family had established itself as part of the local gentry.

The MENNIE surname is also associated with the ancient lands of Menie in Aberdeenshire. This connection can be traced back to the 16th century, when a branch of the family settled in the area. One notable figure from this lineage was Sir John Mennie (1548-1612), who served as a prominent military leader and was knighted for his services to the Scottish crown.

In the 17th century, the MENNIE name appears in various historical documents, including the Regality of St. Andrews Muniments from 1620, which mentions a James Mennie. Another notable figure from this era was Robert Mennie (1668-1732), a respected minister and theologian who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1723.

The 18th century saw the MENNIE name spread beyond Scotland, with some members of the family settling in other parts of the British Isles. One such individual was William Mennie (1745-1820), a successful merchant who established a trading company in London.

As the MENNIE surname continued to disperse throughout the 19th century, it gained recognition in various fields. John Mennie (1805-1888) was a prominent Scottish architect responsible for the design of several notable buildings in Aberdeen. Another figure of note was Alexander Mennie (1872-1945), a respected educator and headmaster of several prestigious schools in Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mennie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mennie 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 247 Mennies recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.72x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 247 65.72x
Middlesex 23 0.57x
Kincardineshire 22 44.53x
Durham 21 1.74x
Banffshire 16 19.01x
Lancashire 11 0.23x
Lanarkshire 9 0.69x
Morayshire 9 14.27x
Angus 8 2.13x
Roxburghshire 8 10.88x
Caithness 6 10.80x
Ross-shire 6 5.38x
Cornwall 4 0.87x
Warwickshire 4 0.39x
Hampshire 3 0.36x
Midlothian 3 0.55x
Perthshire 3 1.65x
Yorkshire 3 0.07x
Devon 2 0.24x
Berwickshire 1 2.04x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.39x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.92x
Kent 1 0.07x
Northumberland 1 0.17x
Renfrewshire 1 0.32x
Surrey 1 0.05x
Sutherland 1 3.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 64 Mennies recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.57x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 64 81.57x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 36 51.20x
Methlick 23 764.12x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 21 40.16x
Rayne 14 786.52x
Kennethmont 10 714.29x
Banff 9 123.12x
Elgin 9 73.41x
Keithhall 9 731.71x
Premnay 9 697.67x
Turriff 9 148.27x
Kemnay 8 350.88x
Peterculter 8 301.89x
Ashkirk 7 1014.49x
Auchindoir Kearn 7 331.75x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 9.15x
Dundee 7 4.99x
Govan 7 2.16x
Hackney London 7 3.08x
Insch 7 327.10x
Nigg 7 171.15x
Peterhead 7 35.23x
Fetteresso 6 77.52x
Knockbain 6 229.89x
Shoreditch London 6 3.41x
Banchory Devenick 5 108.23x
Cluny 5 276.24x
Aston 4 1.42x
Banchory Ternan 4 93.68x
Belhelvie 4 155.64x
Gamrie 4 42.55x
Oyne 4 298.51x
Padstow 4 131.15x
St Pancras London 4 1.22x
Chapel Of Garioch 3 112.36x
Dunnet 3 134.53x
Halkirk 3 79.79x
Kirkdale 3 3.70x
Portsea 3 1.84x
Barony 2 0.60x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 0.91x
Gartly 2 161.29x
Islington London 2 0.51x
Marnoch 2 44.25x
Midmar 2 137.93x
Perth East Church 2 11.65x
St Luke London 2 3.07x
Stoke Damerel 2 3.38x
Tarves 2 56.34x
Wortley In Bramley 2 6.28x
Alford 1 48.78x
Clatt 1 158.73x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.04x
Clyne 1 39.68x
Daviot 1 138.89x
Drumblade 1 75.19x
Dumbarton 1 6.59x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 8.87x
Fulbourn 1 40.65x
Gate Fulford 1 10.65x
Kensington London 1 0.44x
Kincardine O Neil 1 37.31x
Kintore 1 30.58x
Lambeth 1 0.28x
Lauder 1 36.76x
Leslie 1 136.99x
Lewisham 1 1.35x
Liverpool 1 0.34x
Lonmay 1 29.33x
Meldrum 1 31.55x
Melrose 1 15.75x
Monifieth 1 7.53x
Monquhitter 1 25.71x
Mortlach 1 24.33x
Neilston 1 6.33x
Newhills 1 12.99x
Perth Middle Church 1 14.60x
Skene 1 40.16x
Tough 1 105.26x
Tynemouth 1 3.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Euphemia 2
Helen 2
Jane 2
Jessie 2
Margaret 2
Nellie 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Christian 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Isabell 1
Isabl. 1
Jemima 1
Louisa 1
Lousie 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
William 4
James 3
Alex 2
Edward 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Thomas 2
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Basil 1
Charles 1
David 1
Fredrick 1
George 1
Leonerd 1
Robert 1

FAQ

Mennie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mennie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 415 people were recorded with the Mennie surname. That placed it at #7,763 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mennie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 549 in 2016. That gives Mennie a modern rank of #9,292.

What does the Mennie surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the Scottish surname 'Mennie', a diminutive of a pet form of a male given name.

What does the Mennie map show?

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