MEAKER
The surname Meaker is of English origin and is classed as an occupational name. In Middle English the word meke meant “gentle” or “humble”, and the surname was likely applied either as a nickname to a person who displayed such qualities or to a servant or worker who occupied a low social position.
Another explanation for the provenance of Meaker traces it to pre‑7th‑century Anglo‑Saxon roots, deriving from the topographical word Mucke, literally “the muddy place”. Before land draining became widespread, such terrain was common, and the term came to denote water meadows or low‑lying areas that flooded in winter. Consequently a Meaker was a person who lived or worked at such a location. Historical records show a variety of spellings—including Meaker, Mecar, Mecer, Meckeurer and Meacer. The earliest documented instance of the name is that of Ellen Meacer, who married Isaac Purpoynt on 21 December 1577 at St. Leonard’s Church, Eastcheap, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In later centuries the surname is recorded in parish registers: Mary Meaker married Edward Tomson at St. John’s Church, Hackney on 14 December 1619, and on 21 August 1782 Elizabeth Meaker was wed to James Warham at St. Olave’s Church, Southwark, both in London. These entries confirm the continued presence of the name throughout the London area during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The coat of arms associated with the name is registered in Balgheim, Germany, and is described as per pale counter‑charged blue and gold, with two silver fleur‑de‑lis. This heraldic device is considered authentic for families bearing the name Meaker.
Typical given names associated with the Meaker surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- Clive
- David
- Dominic
- Ian
- John
- Michael
- Paul
Female
- Alison
- Deborah
- Diane
- Hannah
- Ingrid
- Jennifer
- Joanne
- Lesley
- Mary
- Rachel
- Sara
- Sarah
- Susan
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
- Mestayer
- Mateer
- Matier
- McAteer
- Meacher
- Maker
- Makar
- Makara
- Makary
- Macker
- Maiker
- Maicer
- Meake
- Makari
- Makers
- Makery
- Makkar
- Makker
- Makower
- Makura
- Malker
- Meacer
- Mecer
- Meciar
- Mecker
- Meeker
- Mekari
- Meker
- Mekers
- Mexcer
- Mexer
- Makore
- Makori
- Makorie
- Makra
- Malkern
- Masker
- Mayekar
- Meakel
- Meakle
- Mesker
- MacQuarrie
- Macquire
- MacRae
- Macro
- Magor
- McGarr
- McQuarrie
- McQuire
- McRae
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Meaker in...
Braille
⠍⠑⠁⠅⠑⠗
Morse
--..--.-..-.
Semaphore
There are approximately 413 people named Meaker in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around six in a million people in Britain are named Meaker.
Surname type: Occupational name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Meaker
- Michael Meaker - Welsh football player
- Stuart Meaker - Cricketer
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.