NameCensus.

UK surname

Mallalieu

A derived French surname potentially meaning "hamlet dweller".

In the 1881 census there were 229 people recorded with the Mallalieu surname, ranking it #11,784 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 303, ranked #14,637, down from #11,784 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Mottram-in-Longdendale and Rochdale. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oldham, Fylde and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mallalieu is 320 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.3%.

1881 census count

229

Ranked #11,784

Modern count

303

2016, ranked #14,637

Peak year

1999

320 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mallalieu had 229 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,784 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 303 in 2016, ranked #14,637.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 280 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mallalieu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mallalieu surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mallalieu 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 126 #14,626
1861 historical 162 #14,310
1881 historical 229 #11,784
1891 historical 280 #11,665
1901 historical 250 #13,136
1911 historical 40 #28,913
1997 modern 290 #13,832
1998 modern 310 #13,578
1999 modern 320 #13,398
2000 modern 319 #13,391
2001 modern 305 #13,594
2002 modern 307 #13,805
2003 modern 310 #13,522
2004 modern 295 #14,025
2005 modern 303 #13,757
2006 modern 305 #13,766
2007 modern 300 #14,048
2008 modern 295 #14,303
2009 modern 307 #14,192
2010 modern 301 #14,697
2011 modern 305 #14,439
2012 modern 298 #14,565
2013 modern 299 #14,780
2014 modern 304 #14,703
2015 modern 298 #14,832
2016 modern 303 #14,637

Geography

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Where Mallalieus are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Mottram-in-Longdendale, Rochdale, Whalley and Ashton-under-Lyne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oldham, Fylde and Kirklees. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Mottram-in-Longdendale Lancashire
3 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Whalley Lancashire
5 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oldham 006 Oldham
2 Fylde 005 Fylde
3 Oldham 013 Oldham
4 Oldham 021 Oldham
5 Kirklees 054 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mallalieu

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mallalieu

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mallalieu is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Mallalieu 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

Mallalieu 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 Mallalieu 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mallalieu

The surname Mallalieu has its origins in France, deriving from the Old French word "malal" or "malau," which translates to "sick" or "ill." It likely emerged as a descriptive nickname for someone who appeared sickly or pale in appearance.

In the 11th century, the name was first recorded in Normandy, a region in northern France. During this period, variations of the spelling included Malaleu, Malalleu, and Malalyeu. The name's earliest documented appearance is found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and property compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Mallalieu name was Gervais Mallalieu, a Norman nobleman who accompanied William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Gervais Mallalieu was granted lands in Lincolnshire, and his descendants continued to reside in the area for several centuries.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various records across England, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed landowners and their holdings. During this time, the name was often associated with the village of Mallalieu in Lincolnshire, suggesting a possible place of origin for some branches of the family.

Notable individuals with the Mallalieu surname include Sir John Mallalieu (1572-1642), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire during the reign of King Charles I. Another prominent figure was William Mallalieu (1678-1731), a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the East Midlands region of England.

In the 19th century, Joseph Mallalieu (1828-1909) gained recognition as a Methodist minister and author, publishing several influential works on theology and religious history. Additionally, James Mallalieu (1805-1879), a successful industrialist and philanthropist, made significant contributions to the development of the textile industry in Lancashire.

Another notable bearer of the Mallalieu name was Sir Godfrey Mallalieu (1897-1985), a distinguished British lawyer and judge who served as Lord Justice of Appeal and played a pivotal role in shaping legal principles and precedents during his illustrious career.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mallalieu families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mallalieu 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. Lancashire leads with 104 Mallalieus recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.94x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 104 3.94x
Yorkshire 72 3.27x
Cheshire 39 7.94x
Gloucestershire 5 1.15x
Derbyshire 3 0.86x
Warwickshire 2 0.36x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.71x
Dorset 1 0.69x
Sussex 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 59 Mallalieus recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.27x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 59 69.27x
Saddleworth 54 317.65x
Stayley 21 374.33x
Accrington 9 37.52x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 13.87x
Tintwistle 8 305.34x
Chadderton 5 38.76x
Matley 5 3125.00x
Middleton In Oldham 5 63.21x
Ardwick 4 16.81x
Linthwaite 4 86.39x
Stapleton 4 48.37x
Halifax 3 9.27x
Headingley Cum Burley 3 21.14x
Ockbrook 3 202.70x
Soyland 3 113.64x
Spotland 3 10.22x
Castleton 2 7.59x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 4.77x
Hyde 2 13.80x
Layton With Warbreck 2 20.66x
Leeds 2 1.61x
Mottram 2 90.09x
Priors Marston 2 454.55x
Rishworth 2 235.29x
Brighton 1 1.32x
Broughton In Salford 1 4.14x
Dukinfield 1 4.41x
Everton 1 1.19x
Horfield 1 22.78x
Levenshulme 1 36.76x
Meltham 1 29.15x
Portland 1 12.74x
St Michael Cambridge 1 243.90x
Stretford 1 6.89x
Withington 1 11.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Sarah 13
Hannah 8
Ann 7
Eliza 6
Elizabeth 5
Alice 4
Jane 4
Martha 4
Annie 3
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Eva 2
Louisa 2
Ada 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Clementia 1
Eda 1
Ellena 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Helena 1
Josephine 1
Julia 1
June 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Marthan 1
May 1
Miriam 1
Rose 1
Susan 1
Vestula 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 15
William 14
John 12
David 5
Frank 5
George 5
Benjamin 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Henry 3
Samuel 3
Ellis 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Jno. 2
Joseph 2
Adam 1
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Ashworth 1
Benjm. 1
Benjn. 1
Edward 1
Festus 1
Francis 1
Franklin 1
Frederick 1
H.B.Clive 1
Harold 1
J.F.Stora 1
Jonas 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Lot 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Saml. 1
Seth 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Mallalieu surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mallalieu surname in 1881?

In 1881, 229 people were recorded with the Mallalieu surname. That placed it at #11,784 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mallalieu surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 303 in 2016. That gives Mallalieu a modern rank of #14,637.

What does the Mallalieu surname mean?

A derived French surname potentially meaning "hamlet dweller".

What does the Mallalieu map show?

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