NameCensus.

UK surname

Messias

A surname indicating Jewish ancestry and meaning "Messiah" in Greek.

In the 1881 census there were 32 people recorded with the Messias surname, ranking it #29,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 111, ranked #29,049, up from #29,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Croydon, Harrow and Chiltern.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Messias is 111 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 246.9%.

1881 census count

32

Ranked #29,082

Modern count

111

2016, ranked #29,049

Peak year

2013

111 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Messias had 32 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016, ranked #29,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 72 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Messias surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Messias surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Messias 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
1881 historical 32 #29,082
1891 historical 30 #31,889
1901 historical 64 #27,010
1911 historical 72 #25,642
1997 modern 91 #28,215
1998 modern 98 #27,923
1999 modern 95 #28,465
2000 modern 88 #29,284
2001 modern 86 #29,281
2002 modern 80 #30,387
2003 modern 77 #30,762
2004 modern 79 #30,799
2005 modern 79 #30,950
2006 modern 91 #29,725
2007 modern 88 #30,515
2008 modern 89 #30,713
2009 modern 92 #30,820
2010 modern 96 #30,854
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 100 #30,258
2013 modern 111 #28,856
2014 modern 110 #29,294
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 111 #29,049

Geography

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Where Messias' 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 Croydon, Harrow and Chiltern. 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 Croydon 030 Croydon
2 Harrow 009 Harrow
3 Croydon 036 Croydon
4 Chiltern 011 Chiltern
5 Chiltern 010 Chiltern

Forenames

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First names often paired with Messias

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Messias

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Messias surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Messias household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Messias is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Messias 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

Messias falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Messias 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Messias

The surname Messias has its origins in Portugal, where it first emerged in the 15th century. It is derived from the Portuguese word "Messias," which itself comes from the Hebrew word "Mashiach," meaning "anointed one" or "Messiah." This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with individuals of Jewish descent or those who held strong religious beliefs.

During the Middle Ages, Messias was a relatively uncommon surname in Portugal, but it began to appear more frequently in historical records from the 16th century onwards. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was João Messias, a Portuguese merchant who lived in the city of Porto in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Messias surname can be found in various Portuguese colonial settlements, particularly in Brazil. One notable figure from this period was Francisco Messias de Melo, a Brazilian landowner and businessman who was born in 1645 in the town of São Cristóvão, in what is now the state of Sergipe.

As the Portuguese empire expanded, the Messias surname spread to other parts of the world, including India and Africa. In the late 18th century, a man named José Messias da Cunha served as a colonial administrator in Portuguese Mozambique, where he oversaw the construction of several important public works projects.

Throughout the 19th century, the Messias surname remained relatively uncommon outside of Portugal and its former colonies. However, there are records of individuals with this name living in other parts of Europe, such as Spain and Italy. One notable figure from this period was the Italian artist Giuseppe Messias, who was born in Naples in 1820 and became known for his landscape paintings.

In the 20th century, the Messias surname gained more widespread recognition, particularly in Brazil, where it has become a relatively common name. One of the most famous Brazilians to bear this surname was Aníbal Messias, a politician and lawyer who served as the governor of the state of São Paulo from 1947 to 1951.

Overall, the Messias surname has a rich and diverse history that spans several centuries and multiple continents. While its origins can be traced back to Portugal and the Portuguese Empire, it has since become a part of the cultural heritage of many different countries and regions around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Messias families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Messias 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 32 Messias' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.26x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 32 10.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George In East in Middlesex leads with 18 Messias' recorded in 1881 and an index of 849.06x.

Place Total Index
St George In East 18 849.06x
Spitalfields London 14 595.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Leah 3
Rebecca 3
Julia 2
Rachel 2
Sarah 2
Esther 1
Hanah 1
Jennet 1
Rose 1
Slugail 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Abraham 2
Jacob 2
Samuel 2
Benjamin 1
Davied 1
Hyam 1
Hyman 1
Johnny 1
Michael 1
Samson 1
Solomon 1
Techiel 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 Messias households.

FAQ

Messias surname: questions and answers

How common was the Messias surname in 1881?

In 1881, 32 people were recorded with the Messias surname. That placed it at #29,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Messias surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016. That gives Messias a modern rank of #29,049.

What does the Messias surname mean?

A surname indicating Jewish ancestry and meaning "Messiah" in Greek.

What does the Messias map show?

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