NameCensus.

UK surname

Meunier

An occupational surname referring to a miller or flour grinder.

In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Meunier surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 132, ranked #25,882, up from #31,170 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Scarborough, Bristol and Basingstoke and Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meunier is 140 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 676.5%.

1881 census count

17

Ranked #31,170

Modern count

132

2016, ranked #25,882

Peak year

2014

140 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meunier had 17 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,170 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016, ranked #25,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 26 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Meunier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meunier surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meunier 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1881 historical 17 #31,170
1891 historical 26 #32,189
1901 historical 24 #31,365
1911 historical 24 #30,800
1997 modern 63 #31,335
1998 modern 65 #31,477
1999 modern 77 #30,427
2000 modern 85 #29,598
2001 modern 86 #29,281
2002 modern 91 #29,181
2003 modern 88 #29,506
2004 modern 89 #29,623
2005 modern 87 #29,966
2006 modern 89 #30,027
2007 modern 90 #30,228
2008 modern 95 #29,822
2009 modern 108 #28,311
2010 modern 117 #27,557
2011 modern 107 #28,979
2012 modern 117 #27,394
2013 modern 127 #26,452
2014 modern 140 #24,977
2015 modern 136 #25,352
2016 modern 132 #25,882

Geography

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Where Meuniers 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 Scarborough, Bristol, Basingstoke and Deane, Lichfield and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 Scarborough 014 Scarborough
2 Bristol 030 Bristol, City of
3 Basingstoke and Deane 014 Basingstoke and Deane
4 Lichfield 005 Lichfield
5 Kensington and Chelsea 019 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meunier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meunier

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Meunier, 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 Meunier surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Meunier 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Meunier is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Meunier 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

Meunier 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 Meunier is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Meunier

The surname Meunier has its origins in France and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "mounier," which means "miller" or someone who operates a mill. The name likely originated in areas where mills were prevalent, such as along rivers or streams.

The earliest recorded instances of the Meunier surname can be found in medieval French records and documents. For example, a Jean Meunier is mentioned in a parish record from the village of Mons in Normandy, dated 1297. Another early reference is to a Pierre Meunier, who was a landowner in the Burgundy region in the 14th century.

In some cases, the surname may have derived from a place name containing the word "moulin" (mill), such as Moulins-lès-Metz in northeastern France. The name could also have been adopted as a descriptive surname for someone who worked at a mill or lived near one.

One notable figure with the Meunier surname was Jacques Meunier (1552-1625), a French Catholic priest and theologian who served as the rector of the University of Paris. Another was Jean-Baptiste Meunier (1765-1815), a French geologist and mining engineer who made significant contributions to the study of mineralogy.

Other historical figures bearing this name include:

1. Pierre-François Meunier (1738-1808), a French architect and urban planner known for his work on the Place de la Concorde in Paris. 2. Étienne Meunier (1841-1914), a French geologist and mineralogist who made important discoveries in the field of petrology. 3. Constantin Meunier (1831-1905), a Belgian painter and sculptor renowned for his depictions of industrial workers and scenes of everyday life. 4. Philippe Meunier (1850-1923), a French engineer and industrialist who was a pioneer in the development of reinforced concrete construction. 5. Jean-Marie Meunier (1815-1885), a French historian and author who wrote extensively on the history of the French Revolution.

Over the centuries, the Meunier surname has spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, but its origins can be traced back to the millers and mill workers of medieval France.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meunier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meunier 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 9 Meuniers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.43x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 9 5.43x
Surrey 7 8.67x
Warwickshire 1 2.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southwark Christchurch in Surrey leads with 7 Meuniers recorded in 1881 and an index of 897.44x.

Place Total Index
Southwark Christchurch 7 897.44x
St Pancras London 4 30.01x
Chelsea London 2 40.08x
St Luke London 2 75.19x
Edgbaston 1 76.92x
St George Hanover 1 46.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sophia 2
Betsy 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alphonse 2
Augusta 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Henri 1
Jules 1
Moses 1
Stanislass 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 Meunier households.

FAQ

Meunier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meunier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Meunier surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meunier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016. That gives Meunier a modern rank of #25,882.

What does the Meunier surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a miller or flour grinder.

What does the Meunier map show?

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