NameCensus.

UK surname

Mesher

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "mesher" referring to one who worked with meshes or nets.

In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Mesher surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 162, ranked #22,512, up from #24,711 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Poole St James, London parishes and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, Southend-on-Sea and Tandridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mesher is 177 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 157.1%.

1881 census count

63

Ranked #24,711

Modern count

162

2016, ranked #22,512

Peak year

1998

177 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mesher had 63 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,711 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 162 in 2016, ranked #22,512.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 104 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Mesher surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mesher surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mesher 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 23 #29,205
1861 historical 60 #26,313
1881 historical 63 #24,711
1891 historical 83 #26,376
1901 historical 99 #22,999
1911 historical 104 #22,209
1997 modern 166 #19,797
1998 modern 177 #19,523
1999 modern 172 #20,009
2000 modern 173 #19,889
2001 modern 168 #19,986
2002 modern 169 #20,307
2003 modern 169 #20,092
2004 modern 167 #20,367
2005 modern 169 #20,153
2006 modern 150 #21,915
2007 modern 153 #21,912
2008 modern 154 #22,034
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 158 #22,692
2011 modern 158 #22,473
2012 modern 156 #22,645
2013 modern 164 #22,236
2014 modern 170 #21,914
2015 modern 163 #22,407
2016 modern 162 #22,512

Geography

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Where Meshers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Poole St James, London parishes, St Marylebone, Hampreston and Wimborne Minster, Gussage All Saints, Chalbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, Southend-on-Sea, Tandridge, Newham and Swale. 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 Poole St James Dorset
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
4 Hampreston Dorset
5 Wimborne Minster, Gussage All Saints, Chalbury Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 014 Central Bedfordshire
2 Southend-on-Sea 016 Southend-on-Sea
3 Tandridge 006 Tandridge
4 Newham 027 Newham
5 Swale 012 Swale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mesher

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mesher

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Mesher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mesher 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mesher 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

Mesher 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mesher

The surname Mesher is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "maesere," which referred to a maker of mesh or wire netting. This occupation was crucial in the production of various tools and equipment used in agriculture and fishing.

The earliest known record of the Mesher surname dates back to the 13th century, where it appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. This ancient document, compiled during the reign of King Edward I, listed individuals by their surnames for taxation purposes.

In the 14th century, the surname Mesher was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, suggesting that families bearing this name were present in different regions of England. Some variations in spelling, such as "Mesher," "Messher," and "Meshure," were common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the Mesher surname was John Mesher, born around 1450 in Gloucestershire. He was a prominent landowner and is mentioned in several historical records from the late 15th century.

Another notable figure was William Mesher, who lived in the 16th century. He was a skilled craftsman and is credited with contributing to the construction of several churches in Oxfordshire, including the renowned St. Mary's Church in Witney.

In the 17th century, the Mesher surname gained further prominence with the birth of Thomas Mesher (1620-1696), a successful merchant and landowner from Warwickshire. His descendants played an active role in the local community and held positions of influence in the region.

A significant historical figure bearing the Mesher surname was Sir Robert Mesher (1745-1821), a distinguished military officer who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He was awarded numerous honors for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

Another notable individual was Elizabeth Mesher (1786-1867), a renowned author and poet from Yorkshire. Her collection of poems, titled "Verses from the Yorkshire Dales," gained widespread acclaim and provided valuable insights into the lives and culture of the region during the 19th century.

The Mesher surname has a rich history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, craftsmen, merchants, military officers, and authors. While its origins can be traced back to the occupation of mesh or wire netting makers in medieval England, the name has since spread and been adopted by families across different regions and social strata.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mesher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mesher 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. Dorset leads with 12 Meshers recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.76x.

County Total Index
Dorset 12 29.76x
Kent 12 5.72x
Surrey 10 3.34x
Sussex 10 9.65x
Middlesex 9 1.46x
Hampshire 5 3.97x
Wiltshire 2 3.68x
Devon 1 0.78x
Gloucestershire 1 0.83x
Yorkshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Farnham in Surrey leads with 10 Meshers recorded in 1881 and an index of 429.18x.

Place Total Index
Farnham 10 429.18x
Hampreston 7 2413.79x
Icklesham 7 3888.89x
Plumstead 7 100.14x
St Marylebone London 6 18.29x
Christchurch 5 183.15x
Gillingham 5 115.74x
Fulham London 3 33.67x
Tarrant Keynston 3 5000.00x
Wimborne 2 408.16x
Chicklade 1 5000.00x
Eastbourne 1 20.96x
Hastings All Sts 1 102.04x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 131.58x
Horfield 1 82.64x
Idmiston 1 833.33x
Middleton Tyas 1 833.33x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 10.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Elizabeth 4
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Carry 1
Charlotte 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Flora 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Lily 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Patiance 1
Rosa 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

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 Mesher households.

FAQ

Mesher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mesher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Mesher surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mesher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 162 in 2016. That gives Mesher a modern rank of #22,512.

What does the Mesher surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "mesher" referring to one who worked with meshes or nets.

What does the Mesher map show?

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