NameCensus.

UK surname

Meyrick

A variant of the Welsh surname Merrick, derived from a place name in Herefordshire.

In the 1881 census there were 773 people recorded with the Meyrick surname, ranking it #4,791 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,331, ranked #4,516, up from #4,791 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Merthyr Tydfil and Margam. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Shropshire and Merthyr Tydfil.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meyrick is 1,342 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.2%.

1881 census count

773

Ranked #4,791

Modern count

1,331

2016, ranked #4,516

Peak year

2014

1,342 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meyrick had 773 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,791 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,331 in 2016, ranked #4,516.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,105 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Meyrick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meyrick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meyrick 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 563 #4,504
1861 historical 423 #6,073
1881 historical 773 #4,791
1891 historical 782 #5,134
1901 historical 980 #4,838
1911 historical 1,105 #4,205
1997 modern 1,224 #4,637
1998 modern 1,316 #4,516
1999 modern 1,316 #4,551
2000 modern 1,300 #4,577
2001 modern 1,269 #4,579
2002 modern 1,282 #4,632
2003 modern 1,273 #4,562
2004 modern 1,284 #4,533
2005 modern 1,253 #4,593
2006 modern 1,254 #4,591
2007 modern 1,250 #4,655
2008 modern 1,267 #4,612
2009 modern 1,303 #4,597
2010 modern 1,329 #4,605
2011 modern 1,313 #4,597
2012 modern 1,307 #4,553
2013 modern 1,330 #4,557
2014 modern 1,342 #4,542
2015 modern 1,326 #4,558
2016 modern 1,331 #4,516

Geography

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Where Meyricks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Merthyr Tydfil, Margam, Bedwelty and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Shropshire and Merthyr Tydfil. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
3 Margam Glamorganshire
4 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 012 Caerphilly
2 Caerphilly 006 Caerphilly
3 Caerphilly 003 Caerphilly
4 Shropshire 038 Shropshire
5 Merthyr Tydfil 002 Merthyr Tydfil

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meyrick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meyrick

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Meyrick, 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 Meyrick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Meyrick 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, Meyrick 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

Meyrick is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Meyrick falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Meyrick 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 Meyrick, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Meyrick

The surname Meyrick is of Welsh origin and derives from the personal name "Meurig", which is a Welsh form of the name Maurice. The name Meurig is believed to have originated from the Latin name "Mauritius", meaning "a Moor" or "dark-skinned person".

Meyrick is a variant spelling of the name that emerged in the Welsh Marches, an area along the border between England and Wales. The earliest known recorded use of the surname Meyrick dates back to the 13th century in Herefordshire, England.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England compiled by order of King William the Conqueror, there are references to individuals with the name "Meuric" or similar spellings, which may have been early precursors to the Meyrick surname.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Meyrick was Sir John Meyrick (c. 1280-1347), a Welsh knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War against France. Another notable figure was Thomas Meyrick (c. 1500-1560), a Welsh lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Pembrokeshire.

In the 16th century, the Meyrick family was prominent in Pembrokeshire, Wales, where they owned estates and held positions of influence. Sir Gelly Meyrick (1556-1601) was a Welsh antiquarian and historian who wrote extensively on the history and genealogy of Welsh families.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, several members of the Meyrick family fought on the Royalist side, including Colonel Rowland Meyrick (1612-1688), who commanded a regiment of foot soldiers for King Charles I.

In the realm of literature, there was Reverend Edmund Meyrick (1632-1713), a Welsh clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including a commentary on the Book of Revelation.

Another notable Meyrick was Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick (1783-1848), an English scholar and antiquarian who amassed a significant collection of medieval armor and weapons, which is now housed at the Wallace Collection in London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meyrick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meyrick 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. Glamorgan leads with 279 Meyricks recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.92x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 279 20.92x
Shropshire 129 19.50x
Monmouthshire 62 11.20x
Middlesex 50 0.65x
Staffordshire 45 1.74x
Warwickshire 22 1.14x
Lancashire 18 0.20x
Surrey 18 0.48x
Wiltshire 15 2.21x
Pembrokeshire 14 5.75x
Isle of Man 11 7.74x
Herefordshire 10 3.18x
Yorkshire 10 0.13x
Cheshire 9 0.53x
Essex 9 0.60x
Leicestershire 9 1.06x
Carmarthenshire 7 2.17x
Hampshire 7 0.45x
Radnorshire 7 11.33x
Gloucestershire 6 0.40x
Kent 6 0.23x
Berkshire 5 0.87x
Anglesey 4 2.95x
Denbighshire 4 1.38x
Durham 4 0.18x
Norfolk 4 0.34x
Sussex 4 0.31x
Derbyshire 3 0.25x
Flintshire 3 1.46x
Cardiganshire 2 1.07x
Brecknockshire 1 0.65x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.22x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.32x
Cornwall 1 0.12x
Devon 1 0.06x
Merionethshire 1 0.71x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.10x
Oxfordshire 1 0.21x
Worcestershire 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. Merthyr Tydfil in Glamorgan leads with 54 Meyricks recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.13x.

Place Total Index
Merthyr Tydfil 54 42.13x
Eglwysilan 33 142.67x
Llanwonno 23 48.01x
Wolverhampton 21 10.57x
Llanfabon 17 243.90x
Swansea Town 17 15.55x
Margam 16 107.60x
Aberystruth 15 30.74x
Birmingham 15 2.33x
Cardiff St John 15 34.44x
Islington London 15 2.02x
Leintwardine 14 437.50x
Bedwellty 12 12.28x
Blaenhonddan 11 177.13x
Clase 11 22.19x
German Peel 11 134.31x
Cardiff St Mary 10 13.62x
Kensington London 10 2.35x
Patshull 10 1960.78x
St Woollos 10 16.19x
Graig 9 362.90x
Lambeth 9 1.35x
Llantwit Vairdre 9 60.04x
Clunbury 8 310.08x
Kinver 8 107.38x
Llansamlet Lower 8 66.28x
Ludlow St Lawrence 8 60.79x
Mynyddyslwyn 8 36.63x
Stoney Stanton 8 306.51x
Wellington 8 21.52x
West Ham 8 2.40x
Pembroke St Mary 7 22.34x
Amesbury 6 202.70x
Bromley London 6 3.56x
Edgton 6 1034.48x
Gelligaer 6 19.70x
Llandaff 6 13.53x
Llantrisant 6 17.85x
Llantwit Lower 6 51.19x
Nash 6 389.61x
Selattyn 6 200.00x
Shrewsbury St Julian 6 36.65x
St Clement Danes 6 48.39x
Tedstone Delamere 6 909.09x
Aston 5 0.94x
Aston Botterell 5 1162.79x
Christchurch 5 14.69x
Clayton Le Moors 5 28.36x
Clungunford 5 324.68x
Glazeley 5 5000.00x
Llanelly 5 6.88x
Lydham 5 1666.67x
Oystermouth 5 48.45x
Shifnal 5 27.84x
Swansea St Thomas 5 37.34x
Upper Llanvrechva 5 58.14x
Wombourn 5 104.17x
Aberavon 4 32.60x
Beaumaris 4 80.00x
Bishops Castle In 4 103.63x
Bitterley 4 152.67x
Blickling 4 487.80x
Leeds 4 0.93x
Manor Bier 4 242.42x
Middlesbrough 4 4.05x
Presteigne 4 102.04x
Sale 4 19.29x
Stockton On Tees 4 3.64x
Stowe 4 597.01x
Wytham 4 769.23x
Bucknell 3 160.43x
Dyffryn Clydach 3 93.46x
Hornsey 3 3.10x
Litchurch 3 6.22x
Madeley 3 12.37x
Ramsbury 3 48.94x
Rhuddlan 3 16.56x
St Marylebone London 3 0.73x
Tranmere 3 4.83x
Ystradyfodwg 3 2.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 71
Ann 31
Elizabeth 29
Margaret 21
Sarah 21
Alice 10
Catherine 10
Eliza 10
Fanny 10
Jane 10
Annie 9
Ellen 9
Emily 8
Emma 6
Hannah 6
Louisa 5
Martha 5
Susan 5
Florence 4
Margret 4
Anne 3
Edith 3
Eva 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Laura 3
Mabel 3
Maria 3
Rachel 3
Selina 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Beatrice 2
Caroline 2
Cath. 2
Cathrine 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Elinor 2
Gertrude 2
Gladys 2
Janet 2
Latitia 2
Lucy 2
Betsy 1
Elenor 1
Elizth. 1
Elvira 1
Harriot 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 64
Thomas 46
John 44
David 20
George 20
James 20
Edward 17
Richard 13
Arthur 10
Lewis 9
Robert 8
Samuel 8
Francis 7
Frederick 7
Joseph 7
Charles 6
Henry 5
Albert 4
Daniel 4
Edwin 4
Alfred 3
Ebenezer 3
Herbert 3
Wm. 3
Edmund 2
Harry 2
Jas. 2
Maurice 2
Meyrick 2
Rees 2
Richd. 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Augustus 1
Cyril 1
Evan 1
F.C. 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Josiah 1
Leo 1
Lewellyn 1
Lilian 1
Louis 1
Morgan 1

FAQ

Meyrick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meyrick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 773 people were recorded with the Meyrick surname. That placed it at #4,791 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meyrick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,331 in 2016. That gives Meyrick a modern rank of #4,516.

What does the Meyrick surname mean?

A variant of the Welsh surname Merrick, derived from a place name in Herefordshire.

What does the Meyrick map show?

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