NameCensus.

UK surname

Meyler

A surname of German origin meaning a miller or grinder.

In the 1881 census there were 85 people recorded with the Meyler surname, ranking it #21,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 174, ranked #21,466, up from #21,573 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary, Dinas and Fishguard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ribble Valley, Calderdale and Sefton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meyler is 215 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 104.7%.

1881 census count

85

Ranked #21,573

Modern count

174

2016, ranked #21,466

Peak year

2002

215 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meyler had 85 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,573 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 130 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Meyler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meyler surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Meyler 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 84 #19,067
1861 historical 77 #23,975
1881 historical 85 #21,573
1891 historical 112 #22,291
1901 historical 120 #20,545
1911 historical 130 #19,504
1997 modern 198 #17,729
1998 modern 200 #18,114
1999 modern 207 #17,855
2000 modern 206 #17,880
2001 modern 206 #17,624
2002 modern 215 #17,487
2003 modern 207 #17,746
2004 modern 206 #17,883
2005 modern 200 #18,144
2006 modern 202 #18,160
2007 modern 198 #18,600
2008 modern 195 #18,958
2009 modern 197 #19,218
2010 modern 211 #18,774
2011 modern 203 #19,098
2012 modern 192 #19,730
2013 modern 192 #20,067
2014 modern 186 #20,664
2015 modern 184 #20,719
2016 modern 174 #21,466

Geography

Back to top

Where Meylers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary, Dinas, Fishguard, Llanelly and Swansea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ribble Valley, Calderdale, Sefton and Horsham. 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 Mary Pembrokeshire
2 Dinas Cardiganshire
3 Fishguard Pembrokeshire
4 Llanelly Carmarthenshire
5 Swansea Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ribble Valley 003 Ribble Valley
2 Calderdale 007 Calderdale
3 Sefton 038 Sefton
4 Ribble Valley 002 Ribble Valley
5 Horsham 016 Horsham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Meyler

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Meyler

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Meyler surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Meyler household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Meyler is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Meyler 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

Meyler falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Meyler 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Meyler

The surname MEYLER is of German origin, derived from the German word "Meiler" which translates to "charcoal burner" or "maker of charcoal." This occupation-based surname emerged in the 13th century, during a time when charcoal was a valuable commodity used in various industries such as blacksmithing and glassmaking.

The name is believed to have originated in the regions of modern-day Germany, particularly in areas with a strong tradition of forestry and charcoal production. Early variations of the spelling included Meyl, Meyler, and Meyler.

One of the earliest known records of the name MEYLER can be found in the Nuremberg Chronicles, a famous illustrated world history book published in 1493. The book mentions a Hans Meyler, a prominent charcoal burner from the city of Nuremberg.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the MEYLER name was Johann Meyler (1520-1588), a German theologian and author who wrote extensively on religious matters. His works played a significant role in shaping the theological discourse of his time.

Another prominent individual with the MEYLER surname was Friedrich Meyler (1697-1768), a German architect and urban planner who contributed to the development of several cities in central Europe. His designs were highly influential in the architectural styles of the 18th century.

In the 19th century, Carl Meyler (1828-1903) was a German-American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. He established several charitable organizations and was a strong advocate for education and social welfare.

The MEYLER name also has connections to various place names in Germany, such as Meylersdorf, a village in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, which likely derived its name from the occupation of charcoal burning.

While the surname MEYLER has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. The name continues to be associated with its historical ties to the charcoal industry and the rich cultural heritage of the regions where it originated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Meyler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meyler 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. Pembrokeshire leads with 31 Meylers recorded in 1881 and an index of 117.65x.

County Total Index
Pembrokeshire 31 117.65x
Carmarthenshire 21 60.10x
Lancashire 9 0.91x
Glamorgan 7 4.85x
Middlesex 5 0.60x
Cardiganshire 3 14.84x
Brecknockshire 2 12.06x
Devon 2 1.16x
Surrey 2 0.50x
Kent 1 0.35x
Somerset 1 0.75x
Warwickshire 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. Llanelly in Carmarthenshire leads with 19 Meylers recorded in 1881 and an index of 241.42x.

Place Total Index
Llanelly 19 241.42x
Liverpool 7 11.72x
Swansea Town 5 42.23x
Uzmaston 5 3125.00x
Dinas 4 1818.18x
Narberth North 4 851.06x
Pembroke St Mary 4 117.99x
Steynton 4 470.59x
Cardigan St Mary 3 389.61x
Hammersmith London 3 14.69x
Haverfordwest St Mary 3 789.47x
Hendon 2 67.11x
Lambeth 2 2.77x
Llandilo Fawr 2 128.21x
Llangattock 2 148.15x
Puncheston 2 2857.14x
Roch 2 1333.33x
Toxteth Park 2 6.00x
Aston 1 1.74x
Barming 1 526.32x
Bathwick 1 67.57x
Camrose 1 400.00x
Devonport 1 50.51x
Honiton 1 105.26x
Llanychaer 1 2000.00x
Mathry 1 434.78x
Swansea Lower 1 135.14x
Ystradyfodwg 1 7.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Margaret 4
Sarah 4
Lucy 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Dorcas 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Gwladys 1
Hannah 1
M.E. 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Meryam 1
Rachel 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
John 6
Thomas 6
David 2
George 2
Jason 2
Levi 2
Ralph 2
Samuel 2
D.G. 1
Ebenezer 1
Eleazer 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
Jonah 1
Llewellin 1
Richard 1

FAQ

Meyler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meyler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 85 people were recorded with the Meyler surname. That placed it at #21,573 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meyler surname today?

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

What does the Meyler surname mean?

A surname of German origin meaning a miller or grinder.

What does the Meyler map show?

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