NameCensus.

UK surname

Merron

A locational surname originating from a place named Merron in France.

In the 1881 census there were 50 people recorded with the Merron surname, ranking it #26,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 169, ranked #21,884, up from #26,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Bromley and Isle of Wight.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Merron is 176 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 238.0%.

1881 census count

50

Ranked #26,587

Modern count

169

2016, ranked #21,884

Peak year

2009

176 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Merron had 50 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 169 in 2016, ranked #21,884.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 69 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Merron surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Merron surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Merron 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 15 #31,942
1881 historical 50 #26,587
1891 historical 52 #30,061
1901 historical 68 #26,598
1911 historical 69 #25,965
1997 modern 143 #21,761
1998 modern 158 #20,992
1999 modern 150 #21,826
2000 modern 162 #20,735
2001 modern 155 #21,047
2002 modern 158 #21,178
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 154 #21,432
2005 modern 152 #21,572
2006 modern 152 #21,721
2007 modern 154 #21,804
2008 modern 162 #21,350
2009 modern 176 #20,632
2010 modern 161 #22,385
2011 modern 165 #21,829
2012 modern 169 #21,437
2013 modern 175 #21,320
2014 modern 167 #22,180
2015 modern 168 #21,971
2016 modern 169 #21,884

Geography

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Where Merrons 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 Cheshire East, Bromley, Isle of Wight and High Peak. 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 Cheshire East 004 Cheshire East
2 Bromley 023 Bromley
3 Bromley 037 Bromley
4 Isle of Wight 012 Isle of Wight
5 High Peak 003 High Peak

Forenames

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First names often paired with Merron

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Merron

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Merron, 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 Merron surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Merron 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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Merron is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Merron is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Merron falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Merron is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Merron

The surname Merron is believed to have originated in France, with roots dating back to the medieval period. The name is thought to have derived from the Old French word "meron," which referred to a small hill or mound. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived near or on a distinctive hill or elevated land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholders and properties in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This entry suggests that the name had already spread to England by the late 11th century, likely carried by Norman settlers.

In the 13th century, a notable individual bearing the name was Jean de Merron, a French knight who participated in the Seventh Crusade led by King Louis IX. Records indicate that he was born around 1225 and died in battle during the Crusade in 1250.

Another early example is Robert Merron, a prominent landowner and merchant from the town of Ipswich, England, who was documented in records from the late 14th century. He was active in local affairs and served as a town councilor in the 1380s.

During the 16th century, the name appears to have been particularly concentrated in the region of Normandy, France. One notable figure from this era was Pierre Merron, a scholar and philosopher born in Rouen in 1535. He was known for his work on the interpretation of ancient texts and served as a professor at the University of Paris.

In the 17th century, a prominent bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Merron, an English military officer who fought in the English Civil War. Born in 1620, he was a staunch Royalist and served in the King's army, participating in several major battles before being captured and imprisoned in 1646. He was eventually released and died in 1685.

Another noteworthy individual was Marie-Anne Merron, a French philanthropist and patron of the arts, who lived from 1725 to 1802. She was known for her support of various charitable organizations and her patronage of artists and writers during the Age of Enlightenment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Merron families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Merron 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. Lancashire leads with 26 Merrons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.49x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 26 4.49x
Middlesex 6 1.23x
Durham 5 3.45x
Nottinghamshire 5 7.61x
Northumberland 4 5.51x
Cumberland 2 4.76x
Cheshire 1 0.93x
Staffordshire 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 8 Merrons recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.77x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 8 22.77x
Kirkdale 7 71.94x
Salford 6 35.25x
Shoreditch London 6 28.38x
Arnold 5 520.83x
Brandon Byshottles 5 274.73x
Manchester 4 15.37x
North Shields 4 275.86x
Ardwick 1 19.16x
Birkenhead 1 11.66x
Burton Upon Trent 1 25.97x
Preston Quarter 1 84.75x
Whitehaven 1 44.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Bridget 2
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 2
Elizth. 2
Rose 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Rosa 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
Edward 3
Andrew 2
James 2
John 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Charles 1
Frank 1
Peter 1
Wilfred 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Merron households.

FAQ

Merron surname: questions and answers

How common was the Merron surname in 1881?

In 1881, 50 people were recorded with the Merron surname. That placed it at #26,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Merron surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 169 in 2016. That gives Merron a modern rank of #21,884.

What does the Merron surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place named Merron in France.

What does the Merron map show?

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