NameCensus.

UK surname

Malby

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the dweller by the boundary".

In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Malby surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 125, ranked #26,827, down from #19,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to King's Lynn St Margaret, St Pancras and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Forest Heath and Mid Sussex.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Malby is 173 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.4%.

1881 census count

103

Ranked #19,410

Modern count

125

2016, ranked #26,827

Peak year

1911

173 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Malby had 103 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016, ranked #26,827.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 173 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Malby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Malby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Malby 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 49 #24,448
1861 historical 104 #20,477
1881 historical 103 #19,410
1891 historical 136 #19,601
1901 historical 138 #18,955
1911 historical 173 #16,361
1997 modern 139 #22,132
1998 modern 149 #21,755
1999 modern 154 #21,455
2000 modern 145 #22,259
2001 modern 137 #22,740
2002 modern 134 #23,492
2003 modern 132 #23,459
2004 modern 132 #23,625
2005 modern 129 #23,963
2006 modern 129 #24,165
2007 modern 126 #24,860
2008 modern 124 #25,371
2009 modern 129 #25,314
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 123 #27,206
2015 modern 125 #26,808
2016 modern 125 #26,827

Geography

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Where Malbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around King's Lynn St Margaret, St Pancras, London parishes, Shouldham and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Forest Heath, Mid Sussex, Havering and Lewes. 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 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Shouldham Norfolk
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 014 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Forest Heath 005 Forest Heath
3 Mid Sussex 016 Mid Sussex
4 Havering 026 Havering
5 Lewes 002 Lewes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Malby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Malby

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Malby is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Malby is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Malby falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Malby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Malby

The surname Malby originated in England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "mæl" meaning "cross" and "by" meaning "farmstead" or "village." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a cross or landmark.

One of the earliest known references to the Malby name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "de Malby." This indicates that the name was originally a locational surname, referring to a specific place called Malby.

In the 14th century, records show variations of the name such as "Maleby" and "Malby" in various historical documents. One notable individual from this time was John Malby, who was a member of the Parliament of England in 1386.

By the 15th century, the Malby family had established themselves in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. In the 1436 Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, the name appears as "Malebye." During this period, the Malby family was also associated with the village of Malby in Lincolnshire, which may have contributed to the widespread use of the surname.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure bearing the Malby name was Nicholas Malby, who served as a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in 1547 and 1553. Another notable individual was Sir Thomas Malby, a military commander who fought in the Netherlands during the Eighty Years' War in the late 16th century.

The 17th century saw the Malby name spread to other parts of England, including Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. One notable bearer of the name during this time was Sir Edward Malby, a landowner and justice of the peace in Lincolnshire, who was born in 1612.

In the 18th century, the Malby family continued to be influential in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. One notable figure was Christopher Malby, a clergyman and author who was born in Yorkshire in 1734.

Throughout its history, the Malby surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Malby in Lincolnshire, as well as similar spellings like Malbys, Malbey, and Malbie. While not an exhaustive list, these five individuals represent some of the most notable bearers of the Malby surname throughout its long and storied history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Malby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Malby 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. Middlesex leads with 39 Malbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.84x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 39 3.84x
Norfolk 15 9.62x
Yorkshire 7 0.70x
Kent 6 1.73x
Lancashire 6 0.50x
Warwickshire 6 2.35x
Durham 5 1.66x
Sussex 5 2.92x
Essex 4 2.00x
Cambridgeshire 2 3.11x
Surrey 2 0.40x
Cheshire 1 0.45x
Gloucestershire 1 0.50x
Northamptonshire 1 1.05x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.73x
Royal Navy 1 8.27x
Staffordshire 1 0.29x
Suffolk 1 0.81x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 18 Malbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.31x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 18 18.31x
Shouldham 12 5454.55x
Mile End Old Town 7 43.72x
Aston 6 8.52x
Bishopwearmouth 5 19.31x
St Pancras London 5 6.12x
West Derby 5 14.20x
Chichester St Andrew 3 1666.67x
Milton In Gravesend 3 57.80x
Beverley St Martin 2 119.05x
Brightside Bierlow 2 10.15x
Fingrinhoe 2 1818.18x
Lambeth 2 2.26x
Plumstead 2 17.33x
Rumbolds Wyke 2 645.16x
South Shoebury 2 250.00x
St George In East 2 28.99x
Whitechapel London 2 20.00x
Wisbech St Peter 2 62.11x
Baylham 1 526.32x
Beverley St Nicholas 1 121.95x
Birkenhead 1 5.60x
Bradford 1 4.11x
Braunston 1 270.27x
Everton 1 2.61x
Gloucester Longford St 1 370.37x
Hackney London 1 1.76x
Hammersmith London 1 4.00x
Hornsey 1 7.79x
Leeds 1 1.76x
Nottingham St Mary 1 2.83x
Royal Navy 1 9.68x
Setchey 1 2500.00x
Shoreditch London 1 2.27x
South Lynn 1 56.82x
St Marylebone London 1 1.85x
Terrington St John 1 434.78x
Wolverhampton 1 3.80x
Woolwich 1 7.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 6
John 4
William 4
Charles 3
Joseph 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Archer 1
Archibald 1
Chas. 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hy.W. 1
Louis 1
Michael 1
Percy 1
Saml. 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Malby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Malby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Malby surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Malby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016. That gives Malby a modern rank of #26,827.

What does the Malby surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the dweller by the boundary".

What does the Malby map show?

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