NameCensus.

UK surname

Myrie

A surname possibly derived from the Old English words "myr" meaning marsh and "ig" meaning an island or meadow.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sandwell, Oldham and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Myrie is 374 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

362

2016, ranked #12,810

Peak year

2010

374 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 362 in 2016, ranked #12,810.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Myrie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Myrie surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Myrie 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 259 #14,912
1998 modern 269 #14,941
1999 modern 265 #15,187
2000 modern 268 #15,018
2001 modern 263 #14,999
2002 modern 280 #14,660
2003 modern 289 #14,158
2004 modern 272 #14,843
2005 modern 284 #14,306
2006 modern 306 #13,724
2007 modern 325 #13,291
2008 modern 329 #13,286
2009 modern 343 #13,168
2010 modern 374 #12,597
2011 modern 355 #12,963
2012 modern 335 #13,408
2013 modern 357 #12,984
2014 modern 357 #13,068
2015 modern 359 #12,906
2016 modern 362 #12,810

Geography

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Where Myries 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 Sandwell, Oldham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and Lewisham. 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 Sandwell 009 Sandwell
2 Oldham 010 Oldham
3 Coventry 007 Coventry
4 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton
5 Lewisham 027 Lewisham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Myrie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Myrie

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Myrie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Myrie 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Myrie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Myrie 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

Myrie falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Myrie 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Myrie

The surname Myrie originates from the Gaelic language and is believed to have its roots in Scotland, specifically in the Highlands region. The name is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "muir," which means "sea" or "ocean." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have lived in coastal areas or had some connection to maritime activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Myrie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document that recorded the names of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. In this document, the name is spelled as "Muir," which was a common alternative spelling at the time.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Myrie surname was prevalent in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. Several notable individuals from this time period bore the name, including Robert Myrie (1540-1612), a prominent merchant and landowner in Ayrshire, and William Myrie (1578-1643), a respected minister in the Church of Scotland.

In the 18th century, the name Myrie began to spread beyond Scotland, with some families emigrating to Ireland and England. One notable bearer of the name from this period was Sir John Myrie (1720-1795), an English naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

As the centuries progressed, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Myrie, Myre, and Muir becoming more common. One of the most famous individuals with this surname was John Muir (1838-1914), the renowned Scottish-American naturalist, author, and environmental philosopher, who is often referred to as the "Father of the National Parks." He played a crucial role in the establishment of several national parks in the United States, including Yosemite and Sequoia.

Another notable figure with the Myrie surname was Sir David Myre (1862-1938), a Scottish businessman and politician who served as the Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1921 to 1933. He was also a member of the British Parliament, representing the Glasgow Pollok constituency.

While the surname Myrie may have originated in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with bearers of the name found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, its historical roots remain firmly grounded in the Scottish Highlands and the Gaelic language.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Myrie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Myrie 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. Royal Navy leads with 1 Myries recorded in 1881 and an index of 909.09x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 1 909.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Royal Navy in Royal Navy leads with 1 Myries recorded in 1881 and an index of 1000.00x.

Place Total Index
Royal Navy 1 1000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 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 Myrie households.

FAQ

Myrie surname: questions and answers

How common is the Myrie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 362 in 2016. That gives Myrie a modern rank of #12,810.

What does the Myrie surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the Old English words "myr" meaning marsh and "ig" meaning an island or meadow.

What does the Myrie map show?

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