NameCensus.

UK surname

Mercieca

A Maltese surname derived from the Latin word "merces" meaning "wages" or "pay".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Teignbridge, Bracknell Forest and Tower Hamlets.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mercieca is 163 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

2010

163 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Mercieca surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mercieca surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mercieca 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
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 140 #22,031
1998 modern 146 #22,031
1999 modern 153 #21,551
2000 modern 155 #21,341
2001 modern 152 #21,294
2002 modern 160 #21,011
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 147 #22,094
2005 modern 145 #22,253
2006 modern 148 #22,111
2007 modern 152 #22,022
2008 modern 154 #22,034
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 163 #22,205
2011 modern 158 #22,473
2012 modern 153 #22,963
2013 modern 159 #22,706
2014 modern 151 #23,745
2015 modern 157 #22,997
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Merciecas 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 Teignbridge, Bracknell Forest, Tower Hamlets and Bexley. 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 Teignbridge 010 Teignbridge
2 Bracknell Forest 007 Bracknell Forest
3 Tower Hamlets 026 Tower Hamlets
4 Teignbridge 008 Teignbridge
5 Bexley 019 Bexley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mercieca

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mercieca

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mercieca, 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 Mercieca surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Mercieca 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mercieca 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

Mercieca 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

Mercieca 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 Mercieca 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 Mercieca, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mercieca

The surname Mercieca originated in Malta, an archipelago located in the central Mediterranean Sea. The name has its roots in the Maltese language and is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 15th or 16th century.

The name Mercieca is derived from the Maltese word "merċa," which means "meadow" or "pasture land." This connection suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived or worked in open fields or meadows, possibly as farmers or herdsmen.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mercieca can be found in the archives of the Cathedral of Mdina, the former capital city of Malta. These records, dating back to the 16th century, mention individuals bearing the Mercieca surname, indicating its presence on the islands during that time.

Throughout the centuries, the Mercieca name has been associated with various notable individuals from Malta. One such figure was Ġan Franġisk Mercieca (1580-1645), a renowned sculptor and woodcarver who contributed significantly to the artistic heritage of the Maltese islands. His intricate woodcarvings can still be admired in several churches and chapels across Malta.

Another prominent Mercieca was Vincenzo Mercieca (1760-1836), a Maltese lawyer and politician who played an influential role in the governance of Malta during the early 19th century. He served as a member of the Maltese National Assembly and actively advocated for the preservation of Malta's autonomy under British rule.

In the realm of literature, Guze Muscat Mercieca (1866-1935) was a prominent Maltese writer and poet who celebrated the Maltese language and culture through his works. His poetry collection, "L-Għanja tal-Malti" (The Song of the Maltese), is considered a seminal work in Maltese literature.

The Mercieca name has also been linked to religious figures, such as Ġużeppi Mercieca (1875-1947), a Maltese priest and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Maltese linguistics and folklore.

Lastly, the surname Mercieca has been associated with several place names in Malta, such as "Wied Merċieca" (Mercieca Valley) and "Ħal Merċieca" (Mercieca Village), further reinforcing its deep-rooted connection to the Maltese archipelago.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mercieca surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mercieca surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Mercieca a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Mercieca surname mean?

A Maltese surname derived from the Latin word "merces" meaning "wages" or "pay".

What does the Mercieca map show?

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