NameCensus.

UK surname

Mettam

A habitational surname likely referring to someone from the English village of Mettam.

In the 1881 census there were 311 people recorded with the Mettam surname, ranking it #9,470 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 277, ranked #15,619, down from #9,470 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stapleford, Lincoln St Botolph and Lincoln St Swithin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chesterfield, North Kesteven and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mettam is 406 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.9%.

1881 census count

311

Ranked #9,470

Modern count

277

2016, ranked #15,619

Peak year

1901

406 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mettam had 311 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,470 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016, ranked #15,619.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 406 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mettam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mettam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mettam 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 251 #8,761
1861 historical 168 #13,895
1881 historical 311 #9,470
1891 historical 343 #9,994
1901 historical 406 #9,393
1911 historical 402 #9,249
1997 modern 333 #12,615
1998 modern 329 #13,070
1999 modern 324 #13,288
2000 modern 317 #13,439
2001 modern 313 #13,361
2002 modern 308 #13,763
2003 modern 288 #14,192
2004 modern 294 #14,055
2005 modern 274 #14,663
2006 modern 278 #14,623
2007 modern 283 #14,579
2008 modern 278 #14,901
2009 modern 292 #14,700
2010 modern 299 #14,769
2011 modern 280 #15,310
2012 modern 281 #15,198
2013 modern 270 #15,911
2014 modern 276 #15,788
2015 modern 269 #15,955
2016 modern 277 #15,619

Geography

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Where Mettams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stapleford, Lincoln St Botolph, Lincoln St Swithin, Whittington and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chesterfield, North Kesteven and Sheffield. 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 Stapleford Derbyshire
2 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
3 Lincoln St Swithin Lincolnshire
4 Whittington Derbyshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chesterfield 002 Chesterfield
2 North Kesteven 013 North Kesteven
3 Sheffield 070 Sheffield
4 Sheffield 003 Sheffield
5 Sheffield 015 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mettam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mettam

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Mettam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mettam 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mettam 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

Mettam is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mettam falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mettam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mettam

The surname Mettam is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "mæt," meaning "meeting" or "assembly," and the suffix "-ham," meaning "homestead" or "village." This suggests that the name may have referred to a person who lived in a village or area where meetings or assemblies were held.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mettam can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a person named Godric de Metham, who was a landowner in the county of Yorkshire.

During the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Metham and Mettham, in records from various regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One notable individual from this period was Sir Thomas de Metham, a knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence alongside Edward I in the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name Mettam was further associated with the village of Metham, located in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Records from this time show individuals with variations of the name, such as Robert de Metham and John de Metham, who were landowners and influential figures in the area.

Jumping to the 16th century, we find Sir Thomas Metham, a prominent lawyer and member of the Privy Council under Henry VIII. He was born in 1508 and played a significant role in the dissolution of the monasteries during the English Reformation.

Another notable figure was Sir George Mettam, born in 1645, who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Northallerton in Yorkshire during the reign of Charles II.

Moving forward to the 18th century, we encounter John Mettam, a renowned landscape architect and gardener who designed and created gardens for several notable estates in England, including Wentworth Woodhouse in Yorkshire, born in 1720.

In the 19th century, one of the most prominent individuals with the surname Mettam was Charles Mettam, born in 1810, a renowned architect responsible for designing numerous churches, schools, and public buildings across England, particularly in the Gothic Revival style.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mettam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mettam 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. Yorkshire leads with 146 Mettams recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.86x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 146 4.86x
Derbyshire 48 10.11x
Lincolnshire 48 9.90x
Nottinghamshire 40 9.78x
Durham 7 0.78x
Kent 6 0.58x
Warwickshire 6 0.78x
Middlesex 5 0.16x
Cardiganshire 1 1.35x
Cheshire 1 0.15x
Hampshire 1 0.16x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Staffordshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesall Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 61 Mettams recorded in 1881 and an index of 99.77x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesall Bierlow 61 99.77x
Sheffield 36 37.62x
Whittington 25 380.52x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 15 53.57x
St Swithin Lincoln 15 196.59x
Hucknall Torkard 12 115.72x
Bradfield 11 94.91x
Newark Upon Trent 10 68.03x
Ordsall 8 255.59x
Bishopwearmouth 7 9.04x
Chesterfield 7 39.33x
Birmingham 6 2.35x
Nether Hallam 6 14.75x
Waddington 6 674.16x
Beighton 5 232.56x
Brightside Bierlow 5 8.48x
Corby 5 617.28x
Litchurch 5 26.16x
Margate St John Baptist 5 26.39x
New Sleaford 5 160.77x
Ecclesfield 4 18.15x
Islington London 4 1.36x
Skelton In Guisbrough 4 49.20x
Stapleford 4 120.48x
Taddington 4 952.38x
Boston Hall Hills 3 365.85x
Ollerton 3 352.94x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 3 43.99x
Stickney 3 416.67x
Thurlby 3 937.50x
St Michael Lincoln 2 152.67x
Walesby 2 689.66x
Boston 1 6.79x
Boughton 1 322.58x
Coates 1 2000.00x
Cyfoethy Brenin 1 82.64x
Davenham 1 163.93x
Eckington 1 8.67x
Heeley 1 10.95x
Kensington London 1 0.59x
Little Bolton 1 2.16x
Northwood 1 11.30x
Norton 1 25.58x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 1 40.98x
Pelhams Lands 1 588.24x
Ramsgate 1 5.92x
Stafford St Mary 1 6.90x
Tickhill 1 52.08x
Wombwell 1 11.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Sarah 16
Elizabeth 11
Ann 8
Annie 7
Florence 7
Emily 6
Emma 6
Jane 6
Lucy 5
Charlotte 4
Eliza 4
Hannah 4
Harriet 4
Alice 3
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Fanny 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Minnie 3
Rebecca 3
Agnes 2
Allice 2
Betsy 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Gertrude 2
Marrian 2
Ruth 2
Anne 1
Eda 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizh. 1
Esther 1
Fanier 1
Frederick 1
Georgenia 1
Harriotte 1
Ida 1
Infant 1
Kate 1
Kezia 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Lydia 1
Maranda 1
Margret 1
Matilda 1
Nelly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
John 17
Charles 10
Joseph 9
George 7
Thomas 7
Samuel 6
Arthur 5
Harry 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Edward 4
James 4
Alfred 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Fred 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Sam 2
Tom 2
Wilfred 2
Alan 1
Benj. 1
Benjn. 1
Colin 1
Constantine 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Fredric 1
Geo.Bernard 1
Harold 1
J.W. 1
Oswald 1
Seth 1
Willy 1

FAQ

Mettam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mettam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 311 people were recorded with the Mettam surname. That placed it at #9,470 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mettam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016. That gives Mettam a modern rank of #15,619.

What does the Mettam surname mean?

A habitational surname likely referring to someone from the English village of Mettam.

What does the Mettam map show?

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