NameCensus.

UK surname

Malec

A surname derived from a Polish place name or topographic feature.

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Malec surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 199, ranked #19,653, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Winchester and South Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Malec is 199 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4875.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

199

2016, ranked #19,653

Peak year

2016

199 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Malec had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 199 in 2016, ranked #19,653.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Malec surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Malec surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Malec 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1901 historical 5 #33,728
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 40 #33,666
1998 modern 44 #33,462
1999 modern 48 #33,233
2000 modern 48 #33,288
2001 modern 48 #33,129
2002 modern 49 #33,377
2003 modern 43 #33,951
2004 modern 50 #33,566
2005 modern 61 #32,814
2006 modern 87 #30,292
2007 modern 96 #29,339
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 131 #25,056
2010 modern 145 #24,031
2011 modern 154 #22,886
2012 modern 170 #21,379
2013 modern 173 #21,486
2014 modern 185 #20,739
2015 modern 192 #20,138
2016 modern 199 #19,653

Geography

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Where Malecs 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 Stratford-on-Avon, Winchester, South Kesteven, Southampton and Northampton. 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 Stratford-on-Avon 014 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Winchester 013 Winchester
3 South Kesteven 006 South Kesteven
4 Southampton 023 Southampton
5 Northampton 021 Northampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Malec

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Malec

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Malec is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Malec 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

Malec falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Malec 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Malec

The surname Malec is of Polish origin, derived from the diminutive form of the given name Malachias or Malachi, which means "messenger of God" in Hebrew. This surname can be traced back to the 15th century in the areas of modern-day Poland and the surrounding regions.

The earliest known record of the name Malec appears in a document from the year 1487, which mentions a certain Jan Malec residing in the town of Krakow. This suggests that the name had already been established in Poland by that time.

One of the notable historical references to the surname Malec can be found in the chronicles of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, where a soldier named Stanislaw Malec is mentioned as having fought in the Battle of Grunwald in 1410 against the Teutonic Knights.

In the 16th century, there are records of a family named Malec residing in the village of Opatowiec, which was then part of the Sandomierz Voivodeship. This village's name is derived from the old Slavic word "opatowiec," meaning "a place of an abbot," suggesting that the Malec family may have had connections to a nearby monastery or religious institution.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the surname Malec was Jakub Malec, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Lublin in the late 16th century. He was known for his successful trading ventures and his involvement in local politics.

Another individual of historical significance was Jan Malec (1612-1678), a Catholic priest and philosopher who served as a professor at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. He was widely respected for his contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics.

During the 19th century, the surname Malec gained prominence through the works of Antoni Malec (1796-1863), a Polish poet and playwright who was celebrated for his patriotic and romantic poetry. His works were widely read and performed throughout the Polish territories during that time.

Another notable figure was Józef Malec (1865-1942), a Polish engineer and inventor who is credited with developing one of the earliest prototypes of a mechanical calculator, which he patented in 1892. His contributions to the field of computing were significant for that era.

In the 20th century, one of the most renowned individuals with the surname Malec was Jerzy Malec (1916-1998), a Polish actor and director who gained national recognition for his roles in several popular films and theater productions. He was also a respected acting teacher and mentor to many aspiring actors in Poland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Malec families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Malec 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. Caernarfonshire leads with 4 Malecs recorded in 1881 and an index of 254.78x.

County Total Index
Caernarfonshire 4 254.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llanbeblig in Caernarfonshire leads with 4 Malecs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Llanbeblig 4 2500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliz.A.Abllet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Esmond 1
Hyder 1
Kussale 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 Malec households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 3

FAQ

Malec surname: questions and answers

How common was the Malec surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Malec surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Malec surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 199 in 2016. That gives Malec a modern rank of #19,653.

What does the Malec surname mean?

A surname derived from a Polish place name or topographic feature.

What does the Malec map show?

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