NameCensus.

UK surname

Meyer

A German occupational surname referring to a steward, bailiff, or high-ranking official.

In the 1881 census there were 964 people recorded with the Meyer surname, ranking it #4,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,329, ranked #2,800, up from #4,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, London parishes and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Torbay and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meyer is 2,380 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 141.6%.

1881 census count

964

Ranked #4,027

Modern count

2,329

2016, ranked #2,800

Peak year

2014

2,380 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meyer had 964 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,329 in 2016, ranked #2,800.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,710 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Meyer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meyer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meyer 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 355 #6,654
1861 historical 343 #7,444
1881 historical 964 #4,027
1891 historical 1,112 #3,814
1901 historical 1,566 #3,289
1911 historical 1,710 #2,867
1997 modern 1,955 #3,111
1998 modern 2,033 #3,120
1999 modern 2,074 #3,094
2000 modern 2,076 #3,076
2001 modern 2,019 #3,092
2002 modern 2,103 #3,042
2003 modern 2,088 #2,997
2004 modern 2,127 #2,948
2005 modern 2,097 #2,948
2006 modern 2,094 #2,963
2007 modern 2,111 #2,975
2008 modern 2,153 #2,942
2009 modern 2,203 #2,946
2010 modern 2,313 #2,881
2011 modern 2,266 #2,901
2012 modern 2,279 #2,830
2013 modern 2,347 #2,802
2014 modern 2,380 #2,786
2015 modern 2,343 #2,795
2016 modern 2,329 #2,800

Geography

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Where Meyers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, London parishes, Paddington and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Torbay, Kensington and Chelsea and Isle of Anglesey. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 Paddington London (West Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 037 Barnet
2 Barnet 034 Barnet
3 Torbay 019 Torbay
4 Kensington and Chelsea 006 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Isle of Anglesey 003 Isle of Anglesey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meyer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meyer

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

Meyer 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

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

Meaning and origin of Meyer

The surname Meyer has its origins in Germany and is derived from the German word "Meier," which means a bailiff or a steward. The name first appeared in the 12th century in the area of Saxony, where the Meiers were landowners and officials responsible for managing agricultural estates.

In the Middle Ages, the Meyer surname was commonly associated with individuals who held positions of authority in the rural areas of Germany. The name can be found in various historical records, including the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, which dates back to the 13th century and contains references to individuals with the surname Meyer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Meyer is in the Annales Saxonici Fuldenses, a chronicle from the 9th century, which mentions a certain "Meiarius" who served as a royal steward. This suggests that the name's origins may extend even further back in time.

In the 14th century, the Meyer surname appeared in the Stadtbuch von Quedlinburg, a medieval municipal record from the city of Quedlinburg in Saxony-Anhalt. This document contains several entries related to individuals with the surname Meyer, indicating their presence in the region during that period.

Some notable historical figures with the surname Meyer include Johann Meyer (1450-1510), a German theologian and reformer who supported Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation; Friedrich Meyer (1824-1898), a Swiss botanist and poet; Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825-1898), a Swiss poet and writer known for his historical novels; and Albert Meyer (1870-1953), a Swiss artist and painter renowned for his landscapes and portraits.

Another prominent individual with the Meyer surname was Eduard Meyer (1855-1930), a German historian and Egyptologist who made significant contributions to the study of ancient history. He is particularly known for his work on the history of the ancient Near East and his comprehensive Geschichte des Altertums (History of Antiquity).

The Meyer surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Germany, such as Meyern, Meyerstadt, and Meyersdorf, reflecting the widespread presence of individuals with this surname in different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meyer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meyer 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 401 Meyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.22x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 401 4.22x
Surrey 89 1.92x
Lancashire 71 0.63x
Yorkshire 63 0.67x
Kent 59 1.82x
Northumberland 23 1.63x
Warwickshire 23 0.96x
Hampshire 19 0.98x
Essex 18 0.96x
Devon 17 0.86x
Cheshire 16 0.76x
Durham 14 0.50x
Gloucestershire 14 0.75x
Midlothian 11 0.87x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.86x
Sussex 10 0.62x
Cambridgeshire 9 1.50x
Lincolnshire 9 0.59x
Worcestershire 9 0.73x
Staffordshire 8 0.25x
Huntingdonshire 7 3.71x
Renfrewshire 7 0.95x
Glamorgan 6 0.36x
Northamptonshire 6 0.67x
Wiltshire 6 0.71x
Dorset 5 0.80x
Isle of Man 5 2.84x
Lanarkshire 5 0.16x
Somerset 5 0.33x
Cornwall 4 0.37x
Derbyshire 3 0.20x
Hertfordshire 3 0.46x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.35x
Fife 2 0.36x
Oxfordshire 2 0.34x
Royal Navy 2 1.77x
Shropshire 2 0.24x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.11x
Bedfordshire 1 0.20x
Cumberland 1 0.12x
Monmouthshire 1 0.15x
Stirlingshire 1 0.29x
Suffolk 1 0.09x
Westmorland 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 86 Meyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.26x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 86 11.26x
St George In East 44 68.15x
Islington London 33 3.59x
Newington 26 7.42x
Paddington London 25 7.16x
Kensington London 24 4.55x
Hackney London 21 3.95x
Mile End Old Town 21 14.02x
Lambeth 19 2.30x
St Marylebone London 17 3.35x
Hampstead London 15 10.15x
Toxteth Park 15 3.93x
Deptford St Paul 14 5.60x
Camberwell 13 2.14x
Birmingham 12 1.50x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 6.71x
Tynemouth 12 15.87x
Bethnal Green London 11 2.67x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 10 31.08x
Southampton St Mary 10 8.17x
Bishopwearmouth 9 3.71x
Bristol St James St Paul 9 14.50x
Great Meolse 9 687.02x
Hornsea 9 150.75x
St Giles In Fields 9 27.49x
Burton Extra 8 43.55x
Clerkenwell London 8 3.57x
Dudley 8 5.31x
Greenwich 8 5.29x
Hove 8 11.39x
St George Hanover 8 6.46x
Arrington 7 886.08x
Cheetham 7 8.33x
Chelsea London 7 2.45x
Great Staughton 7 191.26x
Hampton Wick London 7 100.72x
Nottingham St Mary 7 2.12x
St Botolph Aldgate 7 54.01x
St Clement Danes 7 45.57x
West Greenock 7 5.30x
Woolwich 7 5.85x
Aston 6 0.91x
Brixham 6 26.21x
Byker 6 8.59x
Eccleshill 6 26.21x
Great Grimsby 6 6.23x
Hornsey 6 5.00x
Romford 6 20.26x
Salford 6 1.81x
Trowbridge 6 16.17x
West Derby 6 1.82x
Woodford 6 28.29x
Bradford 5 2.20x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 0.98x
Eversley 5 223.21x
Halifax 5 3.62x
Onchan 5 9.85x
St Martin In Fields 5 8.80x
Streatham 5 7.10x
Battersea 4 1.15x
Beckenham 4 9.45x
Bedminster 4 2.79x
Edgbaston 4 5.39x
Erith 4 12.54x
Mansfield 4 9.04x
Milton In Gravesend 4 8.24x
Northampton All Sts 4 13.21x
Prestwich 4 14.23x
Rawdon 4 36.10x
Southwark Christchurch 4 8.99x
Southwark St John 4 13.78x
St Luke London 4 2.63x
Swansea Town 4 2.95x
Tonbridge 4 3.42x
Tranmere 4 5.19x
Westminster St 4 11.43x
Whitechapel London 4 4.28x
Wool 4 242.42x
Newton Abbot St Mary 3 18.11x
Shoreditch London 3 0.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 44
Frederick 23
George 23
Henry 22
John 22
Charles 21
Edward 15
Albert 11
Joseph 9
Thomas 9
Arthur 8
James 8
Alfred 7
Herman 7
Louis 7
Ernest 5
Fredk. 5
Harry 5
Heinrich 5
Walter 5
Wilhelm 5
Christian 4
Edwin 4
Herbert 4
Otto 4
Philip 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Adolph 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Fritz 3
Hans 3
Hermann 3
Jacob 3
Leopold 3
Paul 3
Peter 3
Theodore 3
Benjamin 2
Conrad 2
Diedrich 2
E. 2
Edmund 2
Gustav 2
Mark 2
Montague 2
Nathan 2
Oscar 2
Phillip 2

FAQ

Meyer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meyer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 964 people were recorded with the Meyer surname. That placed it at #4,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meyer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,329 in 2016. That gives Meyer a modern rank of #2,800.

What does the Meyer surname mean?

A German occupational surname referring to a steward, bailiff, or high-ranking official.

What does the Meyer map show?

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