NameCensus.

UK surname

Mabin

A Scottish surname derived from the Middle English word "mabyn," meaning "little boy."

In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Mabin surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 124, ranked #26,975, down from #20,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, Sherford and Stokenham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Plymouth and Torridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mabin is 124 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.8%.

1881 census count

92

Ranked #20,709

Modern count

124

2016, ranked #26,975

Peak year

2016

124 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mabin had 92 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016, ranked #26,975.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 123 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mabin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mabin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mabin 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 80 #19,558
1861 historical 87 #22,681
1881 historical 92 #20,709
1891 historical 87 #25,802
1901 historical 123 #20,248
1911 historical 72 #25,642
1997 modern 101 #26,774
1998 modern 107 #26,555
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 110 #26,248
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 107 #26,849
2003 modern 110 #26,220
2004 modern 109 #26,607
2005 modern 114 #25,837
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 119 #25,747
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 115 #27,634
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 121 #27,503
2015 modern 122 #27,245
2016 modern 124 #26,975

Geography

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Where Mabins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, Sherford, Stokenham, St George the Martyr and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Plymouth and Torridge. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
2 Sherford Devon
3 Stokenham Devon
4 St George the Martyr London (South Districts)
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 002 South Hams
2 Plymouth 019 Plymouth
3 Plymouth 030 Plymouth
4 Torridge 004 Torridge
5 Plymouth 028 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mabin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mabin

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

Mabin is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mabin 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 Mabin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mabin

The surname Mabin is of Scottish origin, emerging in the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "mæðen", meaning "maiden" or "young girl", suggesting that the name may have been originally a nickname for someone of youthful or unmarried appearance.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Scottish Borders region, particularly around the towns of Jedburgh and Kelso. In the late 13th century, a Thomas Mabin is mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded oaths of allegiance to King Edward I of England.

By the 14th century, the name had spread to other parts of Scotland, with variations in spelling such as Maben, Mabyn, and Maybin appearing in various records. One notable bearer was Sir John Maben, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

In the 16th century, the name began to appear in England, possibly due to Scottish migration or intermarriage. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of William Mabin, a merchant from Aberdeen who settled in London in the 1530s.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several notable Mabins, including John Mabin (1591-1653), a Scottish minister and author of religious works, and Robert Mabin (1620-1689), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of comets.

As the name spread further throughout the British Isles, it also found its way to Ireland, where it was sometimes anglicized as Maben or Maybin. One such individual was Patrick Maben (1760-1835), an Irish poet and playwright whose works often celebrated Irish culture and folklore.

Other notable Mabins include James Mabin (1784-1863), a Scottish architect responsible for the design of several notable buildings in Edinburgh, and Sir Henry Mabin (1818-1892), a British naval officer who served in the Crimean War and later became an admiral.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mabin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mabin 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. Devon leads with 49 Mabins recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.23x.

County Total Index
Devon 49 26.23x
Hertfordshire 9 14.55x
Roxburghshire 8 49.20x
Lanarkshire 6 2.07x
Middlesex 6 0.67x
Cumberland 3 3.88x
Lancashire 3 0.28x
Surrey 3 0.69x
Gloucestershire 2 1.14x
Yorkshire 2 0.22x
Cornwall 1 0.98x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth Charles The in Devon leads with 15 Mabins recorded in 1881 and an index of 182.26x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth Charles The 15 182.26x
Baldock 9 1551.72x
Stokenham 9 1698.11x
Jedburgh 8 503.14x
Tormoham 8 101.27x
Sherford 7 5833.33x
Willesden 6 70.92x
Barony 4 5.45x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 20.85x
Preston Quarter 3 138.25x
Bristol St Stephen 2 434.78x
Castleford 2 61.73x
Newton Abbot St Mary 2 127.39x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 4.30x
Battersea 1 3.03x
Bigbury 1 714.29x
Bothwell 1 12.71x
Charleton 1 588.24x
Cheetham 1 12.59x
Falmouth 1 27.78x
Govan 1 1.39x
Kingsbridge 1 212.77x
Penge 1 17.45x
Richmond 1 16.31x
South Pool 1 833.33x
Stoke 1 131.58x
West Derby 1 3.21x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
Charles 4
Alfred 3
George 3
James 3
John 3
Edmond 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Hery 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Mabin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mabin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Mabin surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mabin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016. That gives Mabin a modern rank of #26,975.

What does the Mabin surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Middle English word "mabyn," meaning "little boy."

What does the Mabin map show?

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