I created a full size map (4/4) and was using the /tp command to try to quickly fill in the map. After doing this for a while I started to notice some lag, so I checked the debug screen, and I was at 99% memory usage. When I tried to shut down Minecraft, it froze and took several minutes to exit.
I increased the memory to 4GB and tried to recreate the problem. I used /tp in the same pattern and was able to see the memory slowly climb as I teleported around. It got memory usage up to 30% before I quit, and I expect it would have kept climbing as I kept using /tp. Perhaps this is related to teleporting into ungenerated chunks while the chunks I was in were still gnenerating or rendering.
When mapping the "normal" way (flying or walking) I did not see the issue. I did this in single player, so I don't know if this is a server or client issue.
I started a (0, 0) and used the following commands to teleport into ungenerated chunks.
/tp ~ ~ ~128
/tp ~128 ~ ~-2048
I used the first command multiple times until I reached the bottom of a map, and then used the second command to go back to the top of the map, and repeated.
Cannot confirm for
1.8.7 after some time the memory usage goes back to normal but please recheck