NameCensus.

UK surname

Mepham

A habitational surname derived from the Old English word "meopham" meaning "homestead at the tree stump."

In the 1881 census there were 547 people recorded with the Mepham surname, ranking it #6,313 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 984, ranked #5,874, up from #6,313 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Ore and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hastings, Rother and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mepham is 1,129 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 79.9%.

1881 census count

547

Ranked #6,313

Modern count

984

2016, ranked #5,874

Peak year

2002

1,129 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mepham had 547 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,313 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 984 in 2016, ranked #5,874.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 995 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Mepham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mepham surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mepham 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 303 #7,590
1861 historical 326 #7,814
1881 historical 547 #6,313
1891 historical 716 #5,503
1901 historical 889 #5,190
1911 historical 995 #4,561
1997 modern 1,091 #5,102
1998 modern 1,109 #5,221
1999 modern 1,116 #5,235
2000 modern 1,119 #5,196
2001 modern 1,087 #5,220
2002 modern 1,129 #5,172
2003 modern 1,073 #5,283
2004 modern 1,064 #5,331
2005 modern 1,020 #5,460
2006 modern 1,019 #5,471
2007 modern 1,013 #5,545
2008 modern 1,009 #5,613
2009 modern 1,028 #5,638
2010 modern 1,049 #5,652
2011 modern 1,013 #5,756
2012 modern 997 #5,749
2013 modern 1,016 #5,750
2014 modern 1,014 #5,792
2015 modern 1,001 #5,802
2016 modern 984 #5,874

Geography

Back to top

Where Mephams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Ore, London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Chobham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hastings, Rother and Wealden. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 Ore Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
5 Chobham Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hastings 004 Hastings
2 Rother 006 Rother
3 Wealden 002 Wealden
4 Hastings 002 Hastings
5 Rother 007 Rother

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mepham

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mepham

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Mepham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mepham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Mepham 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

Mepham is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mepham falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mepham

The surname Mepham is of English origin, deriving from the Old English personal name 'Mappa' combined with the Old English word 'ham' meaning homestead or village. It is believed to have originated in the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

Mepham is thought to have its roots in the county of Kent, where several villages and hamlets bear names derived from similar Old English words, such as Mepham and Meopham. These place names likely refer to the homesteads or settlements of individuals named Mappa.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Mepham can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Kent from the year 1199, where a certain William de Mepham is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in Kent by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Simon de Mepham (c.1235-1333) held the position of Archbishop of Canterbury from 1328 until his death. He was a significant figure in the English Church during a turbulent period of conflict between the monarchy and the clergy.

Another historical figure with the surname Mepham was Thomas Mepham (c.1410-1481), a 15th-century English priest and theologian who served as the Chancellor of Oxford University from 1460 to 1461.

During the 16th century, the surname Mepham appears in records from the county of Sussex, where a family of that name held lands and properties. One notable member was John Mepham (c.1520-1585), a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure named William Mepham (1612-1688) was a successful merchant and alderman in the city of London, serving as the Sheriff of London in 1667.

Another historical figure with the Mepham surname was Richard Mepham (1737-1821), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars, rising to the rank of Admiral.

While the surname Mepham is not among the most common in England, it has a rich historical lineage dating back to the medieval period and has been borne by notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mepham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mepham 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. Sussex leads with 293 Mephams recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.45x.

County Total Index
Sussex 293 32.45x
Surrey 106 4.06x
Kent 65 3.56x
Middlesex 45 0.84x
Essex 19 1.80x
Staffordshire 5 0.28x
Bedfordshire 4 1.44x
Hampshire 4 0.36x
Midlothian 3 0.42x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Royal Navy 1 1.57x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chobham in Surrey leads with 47 Mephams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1019.52x.

Place Total Index
Chobham 47 1019.52x
Burwash 29 692.12x
Battle 28 459.77x
Ore 26 386.90x
Brighton 25 13.72x
West Ham 19 8.14x
Withyam 19 492.23x
Brightling 17 1370.97x
Hastings All Sts 16 188.01x
Chertsey 15 88.97x
Lewisham 14 14.37x
Heathfield 13 355.19x
Kingston On Thames 13 20.74x
Eastbourne 12 28.88x
Darenth 10 354.61x
Hastings St Leonards 10 75.36x
Sunbury 10 155.52x
Hornsey 9 13.29x
Warbleton 9 334.57x
Ticehurst 8 144.93x
Wadhurst 8 134.91x
Bethnal Green London 7 3.01x
Frant 7 109.38x
Rotherfield 7 88.05x
Stone In Dartford 7 149.25x
Westminster St John 7 10.73x
Cliffe 6 196.72x
Fletching 6 148.51x
Hastings St Mary In The 6 31.15x
Penge 6 17.54x
Rottingdean 6 194.17x
Gravesend 5 32.32x
Herstmonceaux 5 184.50x
St George Hanover 5 7.15x
Willingdon 5 218.34x
Bedford St Mary 4 56.02x
Hooe 4 465.12x
Lambeth 4 0.86x
Newington 4 2.02x
Poplar London 4 3.96x
Trentham 4 26.02x
Battersea 3 1.52x
Crayford 3 37.59x
Dartford 3 16.06x
Greenwich 3 3.52x
Hartfield 3 104.90x
South Leith 3 3.72x
Wartling 3 272.73x
Windlesham 3 61.10x
Woolwich 3 4.44x
Ashford 2 11.24x
Barcombe 2 92.17x
Bromley 2 7.18x
Cove 2 138.89x
Folkestone 2 5.64x
Guestling 2 136.05x
Hellingly 2 66.23x
Norwood 2 16.33x
Scarborough 2 4.15x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 1.86x
Swanscombe 2 24.36x
Aston 1 0.27x
Buckland 1 133.33x
Canterbury St Mary 1 8.16x
Hastings St Clement 1 11.76x
Hastings St Mary 1 4.45x
Horley 1 22.88x
Kensington London 1 0.34x
Lewes St John Southover 1 16.50x
Limpsfield 1 40.16x
Lindfield 1 26.18x
Maidstone 1 1.84x
Old Windsor 1 21.51x
Royal Navy 1 1.83x
Salehurst 1 25.58x
Tonbridge 1 1.52x
Walmer 1 12.59x
Weybridge 1 17.86x
Wimbledon 1 3.41x
Worth 1 15.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 19
Ellen 13
Martha 11
Alice 10
Eliza 10
Annie 9
Louisa 9
Emily 8
Fanny 7
Emma 6
Hannah 6
Harriet 6
Jane 6
Kate 6
Caroline 5
Lucy 5
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Edith 4
Frances 4
Rose 4
Ann 3
Florence 3
Grace 3
Lizzie 3
Margaret 3
Philadelphia 3
Susannah 3
Amy 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Esther 2
Harriett 2
Lois 2
Marion 2
Matilda 2
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Elemy 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizth. 1
Ester 1
Jemima 1
Katie 1
Lilly 1
Lizzy 1
Maggie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 40
John 33
George 31
James 25
Henry 18
Thomas 18
Charles 12
Alfred 10
Albert 7
Joseph 7
Richard 5
Samuel 5
Amos 4
Benjamin 4
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Frederick 4
Arthur 3
Mark 3
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Jesse 2
Jonathan 2
Moses 2
Peter 2
Thos. 2
Clifford 1
Daniel 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Ellis 1
Ephraim 1
Ethelbert 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Horace 1
Jessie 1
Levi 1
Lewes 1
Lucien 1
Luther 1
Philip 1
Simeon 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Mepham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mepham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 547 people were recorded with the Mepham surname. That placed it at #6,313 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mepham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 984 in 2016. That gives Mepham a modern rank of #5,874.

What does the Mepham surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from the Old English word "meopham" meaning "homestead at the tree stump."

What does the Mepham map show?

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