NameCensus.

UK surname

Mercier

An occupational surname referring to a merchant or trader, derived from the Old French "mercier."

In the 1881 census there were 69 people recorded with the Mercier surname, ranking it #23,816 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 230, ranked #17,812, up from #23,816 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Paddington and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Hertfordshire, Vale of White Horse and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mercier is 231 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 233.3%.

1881 census count

69

Ranked #23,816

Modern count

230

2016, ranked #17,812

Peak year

2015

231 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mercier had 69 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,816 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016, ranked #17,812.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 111 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Mercier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mercier surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mercier 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 30 #27,891
1861 historical 35 #29,571
1881 historical 69 #23,816
1891 historical 68 #28,300
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 88 #24,041
1997 modern 153 #20,868
1998 modern 175 #19,658
1999 modern 178 #19,592
2000 modern 167 #20,332
2001 modern 160 #20,616
2002 modern 165 #20,619
2003 modern 169 #20,092
2004 modern 170 #20,146
2005 modern 195 #18,458
2006 modern 191 #18,825
2007 modern 198 #18,600
2008 modern 201 #18,584
2009 modern 206 #18,657
2010 modern 201 #19,387
2011 modern 198 #19,410
2012 modern 211 #18,539
2013 modern 220 #18,324
2014 modern 228 #17,977
2015 modern 231 #17,733
2016 modern 230 #17,812

Geography

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Where Merciers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Paddington, Manchester and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Hertfordshire, Vale of White Horse, Birmingham, Bournemouth and South Oxfordshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Paddington London (West Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Hertfordshire 014 North Hertfordshire
2 Vale of White Horse 001 Vale of White Horse
3 Birmingham 095 Birmingham
4 Bournemouth 020 Bournemouth
5 South Oxfordshire 019 South Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mercier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mercier

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

Mercier 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

Mercier falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mercier is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Mercier

The surname Mercier has its origins in France, where it first emerged in the Middle Ages. The name is an occupational surname derived from the Old French word "mercier," which means "merchant" or "trader." It referred to individuals who were involved in the mercantile trade, either as merchants, shopkeepers, or peddlers.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Mercier can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of France, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country. One notable early record is the Pipe Rolls of Normandy from 1180, which mentions a certain Radulfus Mercier.

In the 13th century, the surname Mercier appeared in several historical documents, such as the Cartulaire de Notre-Dame de Paris, which recorded a Petrus Mercier in 1240. The name was also found in the Masselin Cartulary from Flanders in 1290, where a certain Johannes Mercier was mentioned.

As the name spread across France, it evolved into various spellings and forms, including Mercier, Mersier, Merciere, and Mersière. These variations often reflected regional dialects and linguistic influences.

Several notable individuals throughout history have borne the surname Mercier. One of the earliest was Philippe Mercier (1689-1760), a French painter and etcher who worked in England and became a founding member of the Royal Academy of Arts.

Another prominent figure was Louis Sébastien Mercier (1740-1814), a French dramatist, writer, and revolutionary who is best known for his utopian novel "L'An 2440" (The Year 2440).

In the field of literature, Désiré Mercier (1851-1926) was a Belgian poet and writer who played a significant role in the Flemish literary revival of the late 19th century.

The name Mercier also has a strong association with the military. One example is Honoré Mercier (1840-1894), a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 11th Premier of Quebec from 1887 to 1891.

Another notable individual was Eugène Mercier (1838-1899), a French general who played a crucial role in the Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War.

While the surname Mercier has its roots in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and exploration, with bearers of the name found in countries such as Belgium, Canada, and the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mercier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mercier 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. Middlesex leads with 17 Merciers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.10x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 17 2.10x
Channel Islands 15 62.53x
Hertfordshire 10 17.92x
Lancashire 10 1.04x
Gloucestershire 7 4.41x
Essex 6 3.75x
Yorkshire 5 0.62x
Cheshire 4 2.24x
Flintshire 4 18.38x
Surrey 4 1.01x
Sussex 1 0.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kemerton in Gloucestershire leads with 7 Merciers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.

Place Total Index
Kemerton 7 5000.00x
Trinity 7 1250.00x
Aston 5 3125.00x
Openshaw 5 111.11x
St George Hanover 5 47.30x
Aldenham 4 784.31x
Chester St John Baptist 4 124.61x
Paddington London 4 13.44x
Prittlewell 4 181.00x
Rhuddlan 4 208.33x
St Helier 4 51.22x
Kensington London 3 6.67x
Wigan 3 22.35x
York St Michael Le 3 1153.85x
Ashton In Makerfield 2 72.99x
Islington London 2 2.55x
Lambeth 2 2.83x
St Pancras London 2 3.07x
St Saviour 2 150.38x
West Ham 2 5.67x
Brighton 1 3.63x
Doncaster 1 17.06x
Falsgrave 1 84.75x
Newington 1 3.34x
St Clement 1 277.78x
St Giles In Fields 1 35.84x
St Owen 1 158.73x
Wandsworth 1 12.84x
Watford 1 23.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Louise 2
Marie 2
Mary 2
Rose 2
Alicia 1
Angile 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Constance 1
Elisa 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Eveline 1
Felicia 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Honoree 1
Jeanne 1
Lavinia 1
Loe 1
Margaret 1
Marguerite 1
Pauline 1
Phebe 1
Selina 1
Victorie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 5
George 5
John 3
Ernest 2
James 2
Jerome 2
Philip 2
Allen 1
Alphose 1
Christopher 1
Cyril 1
Emmanuel 1
Eugeni 1
Francis 1
Francois 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Jean 1
Joseph 1
Major 1
Manuell 1
Vincent 1

FAQ

Mercier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mercier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 69 people were recorded with the Mercier surname. That placed it at #23,816 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mercier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016. That gives Mercier a modern rank of #17,812.

What does the Mercier surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a merchant or trader, derived from the Old French "mercier."

What does the Mercier map show?

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