NameCensus.

UK surname

Message

In the 1881 census there were 175 people recorded with the Message surname, ranking it #13,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 257, ranked #16,485, down from #13,982 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Warbleton and Hurstmonceux, Wartling. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eastbourne, Tunbridge Wells and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Message is 261 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.9%.

1881 census count

175

Ranked #13,982

Modern count

257

2016, ranked #16,485

Peak year

1998

261 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Message had 175 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,982 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 257 in 2016, ranked #16,485.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 250 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Message surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Message surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Message 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 91 #18,187
1861 historical 119 #18,393
1881 historical 175 #13,982
1891 historical 227 #13,629
1901 historical 221 #14,212
1911 historical 250 #12,918
1997 modern 248 #15,363
1998 modern 261 #15,241
1999 modern 258 #15,467
2000 modern 252 #15,659
2001 modern 239 #15,963
2002 modern 256 #15,565
2003 modern 241 #16,013
2004 modern 243 #16,004
2005 modern 233 #16,434
2006 modern 235 #16,439
2007 modern 230 #16,890
2008 modern 235 #16,777
2009 modern 238 #17,002
2010 modern 229 #17,805
2011 modern 236 #17,279
2012 modern 250 #16,523
2013 modern 259 #16,392
2014 modern 261 #16,421
2015 modern 261 #16,318
2016 modern 257 #16,485

Geography

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Where Messages are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Warbleton, Hurstmonceux, Wartling, Hellingly and Hawkhurst, Etchingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eastbourne, Tunbridge Wells 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 Warbleton Sussex
3 Hurstmonceux, Wartling Sussex
4 Hellingly Sussex
5 Hawkhurst, Etchingham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eastbourne 013 Eastbourne
2 Eastbourne 007 Eastbourne
3 Tunbridge Wells 014 Tunbridge Wells
4 Eastbourne 004 Eastbourne
5 Wealden 014 Wealden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Message

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Message

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Message is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Message is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Message families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Message 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 115 Messages recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.96x.

County Total Index
Sussex 115 39.96x
Kent 21 3.61x
Hampshire 10 2.86x
Middlesex 10 0.59x
Surrey 7 0.84x
Staffordshire 5 0.87x
Lancashire 3 0.15x
Yorkshire 2 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 4.92x
Shropshire 1 0.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hailsham in Sussex leads with 22 Messages recorded in 1881 and an index of 1264.37x.

Place Total Index
Hailsham 22 1264.37x
Warbleton 18 2093.02x
Eastbourne 12 90.63x
Hellingly 11 1145.83x
Hastings All Sts 8 295.20x
Hastings St Mary In The 8 130.29x
Marden 8 583.94x
Carisbrooke 7 144.03x
Herstmonceaux 7 804.60x
Hawkhurst 6 331.49x
Yalding 6 408.16x
Brighton 5 8.61x
Croydon 5 10.83x
Hackney London 5 5.22x
Little Horsted 5 2777.78x
Pevensey 5 2380.95x
Salehurst 3 240.00x
Wednesbury 3 20.83x
West Derby 3 5.06x
Hammersmith London 2 4.76x
Iden 2 606.06x
Lepton 2 112.99x
Portsea 2 2.92x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 3.27x
Wartling 2 571.43x
Aldershot 1 8.53x
Burwash 1 74.63x
Canterbury St George 1 142.86x
Chelsea London 1 1.94x
Donington 1 434.78x
Fairlight 1 357.14x
Harrow On The Hill 1 29.33x
Hastings St Clement 1 36.90x
Heathfield 1 85.47x
Isfield 1 384.62x
Lambeth 1 0.67x
Paddington London 1 1.59x
Preston 1 19.88x
Royal Navy 1 5.75x
Streatham 1 7.90x
Ticehurst 1 56.82x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 9
William 8
James 7
John 7
Frank 3
George 3
Reuben 3
Robert 3
Stephen 3
Thomas 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charley 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jno. 1
Joshua 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Ruben 1
Samur 1
Spencer 1

FAQ

Message surname: questions and answers

How common was the Message surname in 1881?

In 1881, 175 people were recorded with the Message surname. That placed it at #13,982 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Message surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 257 in 2016. That gives Message a modern rank of #16,485.

What does the Message map show?

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