NameCensus.

UK surname

Misson

French occupational surname from a variant of "mason", a bricklayer or builder.

In the 1881 census there were 128 people recorded with the Misson surname, ranking it #17,079 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 147, ranked #24,071, down from #17,079 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melksham, King's Lynn St Margaret and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dover, East Cambridgeshire and Maidstone.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Misson is 207 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.8%.

1881 census count

128

Ranked #17,079

Modern count

147

2016, ranked #24,071

Peak year

1911

207 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Misson had 128 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,079 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016, ranked #24,071.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 207 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Misson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Misson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Misson 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 113 #15,815
1861 historical 113 #19,151
1881 historical 128 #17,079
1891 historical 172 #16,663
1901 historical 178 #16,284
1911 historical 207 #14,635
1997 modern 159 #20,339
1998 modern 172 #19,883
1999 modern 173 #19,935
2000 modern 152 #21,603
2001 modern 149 #21,568
2002 modern 151 #21,809
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 145 #22,289
2005 modern 142 #22,577
2006 modern 137 #23,270
2007 modern 140 #23,231
2008 modern 133 #24,350
2009 modern 132 #24,929
2010 modern 144 #24,147
2011 modern 145 #23,837
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 150 #23,653
2014 modern 147 #24,177
2015 modern 147 #24,036
2016 modern 147 #24,071

Geography

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Where Missons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Melksham, King's Lynn St Margaret, London parishes, Maidstone, Linton, Loddington and Hundon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dover, East Cambridgeshire, Maidstone and Hounslow. 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 Melksham Wiltshire
2 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent
5 Hundon Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dover 011 Dover
2 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire
3 Maidstone 008 Maidstone
4 East Cambridgeshire 011 East Cambridgeshire
5 Hounslow 004 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Misson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Misson

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Misson is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Misson 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

Misson falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Misson 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Misson

The surname Misson has its origins in France, with records dating back to the late 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "misson," which referred to a small dwelling or a modest house. The name may have initially been used to identify individuals who lived in such humble abodes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Misson can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of lands and property conducted in England in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Robert de Misson, suggesting that the name had already gained recognition by that time.

During the Middle Ages, the Misson family appears to have been concentrated in the northern regions of France, particularly in the provinces of Normandy and Picardy. The name is also associated with several place names, such as Misson-sur-Seine, a small village located in the department of Aube, and Misson, a commune in the department of Loire-Atlantique.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name Misson was Gilles de Misson, a French scholar and theologian who served as the Bishop of Tournai from 1292 to 1301. Another prominent individual was Jean de Misson, a French writer and explorer who lived from 1653 to 1722. He is best known for his travelogue, "A New Voyage to Italy," which provided valuable insights into the cultural and social landscape of 17th-century Italy.

The name Misson also made its way to England, where it is believed to have been introduced by Norman settlers following the conquest of 1066. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in England is found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, dated 1176, which mentions a certain Walter Misson.

Another notable figure was Sir William Misson, an English politician and Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire from 1640 to 1653. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, serving as a captain in the Parliamentary army.

In the 18th century, the name Misson gained further recognition with the life of Francis Maximilian Misson, a French Huguenot who fled to England during the persecution of Protestants in France. Born in 1651, he became a renowned writer and traveler, publishing works such as "A New Voyage to Italy" and "Travels in England."

As the centuries passed, the Misson surname continued to spread across various regions, with families bearing this name making significant contributions to various fields, including academia, politics, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Misson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Misson 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. Kent leads with 26 Missons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.50x.

County Total Index
Kent 26 5.50x
Cambridgeshire 25 28.50x
Middlesex 22 1.59x
Channel Islands 14 34.11x
Surrey 12 1.78x
Norfolk 10 4.70x
Gloucestershire 8 2.95x
Wiltshire 7 5.71x
Nottinghamshire 4 2.14x
Somerset 4 1.79x
Yorkshire 3 0.22x
Devon 2 0.69x
Cumberland 1 0.84x
Hampshire 1 0.35x
Lancashire 1 0.06x
Lincolnshire 1 0.45x
Suffolk 1 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Maidstone in Kent leads with 14 Missons recorded in 1881 and an index of 99.43x.

Place Total Index
Maidstone 14 99.43x
Bottisham 12 1600.00x
Camberwell 10 11.30x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 10 156.49x
Melksham 7 328.64x
St Andrewthe Less 6 59.88x
St John 6 769.23x
West Malling 6 566.04x
Poplar London 5 19.13x
St Brelade 5 471.70x
Bethnal Green London 4 6.65x
Bristol St George 4 31.85x
Paddington London 4 7.85x
Sutton Valence 4 740.74x
Thoroton 4 5714.29x
Walcot 4 33.70x
Dullingham 3 769.23x
Elland Cum Greetland 3 48.54x
St Helier 3 22.46x
Westley Waterless 3 3750.00x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 7.82x
Erith 2 42.92x
Mile End Old Town 2 9.15x
St Pancras London 2 1.79x
Stoke Damerel 2 9.91x
Aldershot 1 10.52x
Ardwick 1 6.75x
Bristol St Augustine 1 22.83x
Clerkenwell London 1 3.06x
Clifton 1 7.28x
Cowlinge 1 312.50x
Hackney London 1 1.29x
Islington London 1 0.74x
Kensington London 1 1.30x
Keswick 1 65.79x
Lambeth 1 0.83x
St Benedict Cambridge 1 204.08x
St George Hanover 1 5.53x
Streatham 1 9.73x
Threckingham Swaton 1 714.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Eliza 5
Elizabeth 4
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Jane 3
Julia 3
Susan 3
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Louisa 2
Matilda 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amanda 1
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Cathn. 1
Christina 1
Elleanor 1
Emily 1
Eunice 1
Harriet 1
Hellen 1
Letitia 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Phebe 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
George 8
John 8
Henry 5
Robert 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Francis 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
Ezekiel 2
Frederick 2
Benjamin 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fred. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Philip 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1
Sydney 1
Ted 1
Uriah 1

FAQ

Misson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Misson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 128 people were recorded with the Misson surname. That placed it at #17,079 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Misson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016. That gives Misson a modern rank of #24,071.

What does the Misson surname mean?

French occupational surname from a variant of "mason", a bricklayer or builder.

What does the Misson map show?

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