NameCensus.

UK surname

Metz

A German toponymic surname derived from the city of Metz, France, indicating an ancestral origin in that region.

In the 1881 census there were 42 people recorded with the Metz surname, ranking it #27,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 174, ranked #21,466, up from #27,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Christ Church Spitalfields, London parishes and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, South Cambridgeshire and Sutton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Metz is 176 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 314.3%.

1881 census count

42

Ranked #27,721

Modern count

174

2016, ranked #21,466

Peak year

2015

176 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Metz had 42 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016, ranked #21,466.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 138 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Metz surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Metz surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Metz 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 24 #29,038
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1881 historical 42 #27,721
1891 historical 67 #28,424
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 138 #18,811
1997 modern 130 #23,021
1998 modern 151 #21,578
1999 modern 153 #21,551
2000 modern 144 #22,357
2001 modern 148 #21,664
2002 modern 155 #21,431
2003 modern 163 #20,554
2004 modern 153 #21,528
2005 modern 149 #21,866
2006 modern 148 #22,111
2007 modern 150 #22,212
2008 modern 144 #23,037
2009 modern 150 #22,937
2010 modern 160 #22,487
2011 modern 156 #22,690
2012 modern 170 #21,379
2013 modern 161 #22,521
2014 modern 168 #22,075
2015 modern 176 #21,291
2016 modern 174 #21,466

Geography

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Where Metz' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Christ Church Spitalfields, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Manchester, South Cambridgeshire, Sutton, Isle of Wight and Ealing. 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 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Manchester 024 Manchester
2 South Cambridgeshire 019 South Cambridgeshire
3 Sutton 003 Sutton
4 Isle of Wight 004 Isle of Wight
5 Ealing 028 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Metz

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Metz

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Metz surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Metz 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Metz 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

Metz 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

Metz 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 Metz 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Metz

The surname Metz originates from the city of Metz, located in the Lorraine region of northeastern France. It first emerged as a locational surname during the medieval period, referring to someone who hailed from or lived near the city.

The city of Metz has a rich history dating back to ancient times. It was an important Roman settlement known as Divodurum Mediomatricorum, serving as a center of the Mediomatrici tribe. The name Metz derives from the Celtic word "Mediomatrici," meaning "inhabitants of the middle lands."

One of the earliest known references to the surname Metz can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and population surveys conducted in England in 1086. This suggests that individuals bearing the name had already migrated to England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Elias de Metz was recorded as a prominent scholar and theologian from the city of Metz. He was known for his contributions to the development of scholastic philosophy and his influential writings.

Another historical figure associated with the surname Metz was Conrad Metz, a 16th-century Renaissance painter from the city of Worms, Germany. He was renowned for his religious artworks and is considered one of the most important German painters of his time, active between 1510 and 1551.

In the 17th century, Johannes Metz (1617-1692) was a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. He is best known for his work on the theory of comets and his collaboration with Johannes Hevelius.

During the 18th century, Christian Gottfried Metz (1721-1787) was a German philosopher and theologian who wrote extensively on topics such as natural theology and the philosophy of religion. He served as a professor at the University of Göttingen and had a considerable influence on the intellectual discourse of his time.

In the 19th century, Friedrich Metz (1807-1884) was a German-American architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in St. Louis, Missouri, including the Old Cathedral and the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France. His architectural works were instrumental in shaping the city's urban landscape during the mid-1800s.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Metz families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Metz 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 22 Metz' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 22 5.37x
Glamorgan 5 7.01x
Lanarkshire 4 3.02x
Essex 2 2.47x
Kent 2 1.43x
Northumberland 2 3.28x
Sussex 2 2.90x
Angus 1 2.64x
Lancashire 1 0.21x
Renfrewshire 1 3.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spitalfields London in Middlesex leads with 8 Metz' recorded in 1881 and an index of 259.74x.

Place Total Index
Spitalfields London 8 259.74x
Shoreditch London 6 33.80x
Leckwith 5 2941.18x
Barony 4 11.93x
Hornsey 4 77.22x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 54.95x
Walthamstow 2 68.73x
Brighton 1 7.18x
Deptford St Paul 1 9.28x
Fulham London 1 16.84x
Greenock East 1 10000.00x
Hastings St Mary 1 58.14x
Islington London 1 2.52x
Lewisham 1 13.42x
Monifieth 1 74.63x
St Bartholomew Less 1 476.19x
St Pancras London 1 3.03x
Wavertree 1 64.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ada 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Dorette 1
E. 1
Harriet 1
Josephine 1
Julia 1
Katarina 1
Laura 1
Louise 1
Maria 1
Mary 1
Rebecca 1
Rosy 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Andrew 2
Jacob 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Carl 1
Douglas 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Gustav 1
Hyman 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Rudolph 1
Simon 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 Metz households.

FAQ

Metz surname: questions and answers

How common was the Metz surname in 1881?

In 1881, 42 people were recorded with the Metz surname. That placed it at #27,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Metz surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016. That gives Metz a modern rank of #21,466.

What does the Metz surname mean?

A German toponymic surname derived from the city of Metz, France, indicating an ancestral origin in that region.

What does the Metz map show?

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