NameCensus.

UK surname

Mallan

A Scottish surname often originating from the Isle of Arran.

In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Mallan surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 116, ranked #28,197, down from #19,999 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whitworth, Govan Combination and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Mains, Newlands and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mallan is 171 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.4%.

1881 census count

98

Ranked #19,999

Modern count

116

2016, ranked #28,197

Peak year

1891

171 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mallan had 98 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,999 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016, ranked #28,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 171 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mallan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mallan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mallan 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 91 #18,187
1861 historical 142 #15,982
1881 historical 98 #19,999
1891 historical 171 #16,733
1901 historical 118 #20,721
1911 historical 80 #24,821
1997 modern 103 #26,498
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 111 #26,182
2000 modern 103 #27,280
2001 modern 107 #26,328
2002 modern 112 #26,165
2003 modern 112 #25,948
2004 modern 108 #26,741
2005 modern 114 #25,837
2006 modern 122 #25,010
2007 modern 129 #24,503
2008 modern 123 #25,505
2009 modern 130 #25,176
2010 modern 128 #26,036
2011 modern 119 #27,063
2012 modern 123 #26,561
2013 modern 121 #27,255
2014 modern 126 #26,781
2015 modern 127 #26,494
2016 modern 116 #28,197

Geography

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Where Mallans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Whitworth, Govan Combination, St Marylebone, Washington and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Mains, Newlands, Sunderland and High Blantyre. 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 Whitworth Durham
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
4 Washington Durham
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Mains South Lanarkshire
2 Newlands Glasgow City
3 Sunderland 005 Sunderland
4 High Blantyre South Lanarkshire
5 Sunderland 013 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mallan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mallan

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mallan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mallan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mallan 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

Mallan is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mallan falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mallan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mallan

The surname Mallan is believed to have originated in Ireland, derived from the Irish Gaelic word "mallacht," which means "curse." It is thought to have been initially used as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who was considered unlucky or prone to misfortune.

The name first appeared in early Irish annals and records, with some of the earliest documented instances dating back to the 16th century. One notable example is Pádraig Ó Mallán, a 16th-century Irish poet and historian from County Tyrone.

In the 17th century, the name was found in various Irish records, including the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns and the Hearth Money Rolls. Notably, Edmond Mallan was listed as a landowner in County Fermanagh in the 1662 Hearth Money Rolls.

The name has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Mallanstown in County Westmeath and Mallanbane in County Tyrone. These place names likely derived from the surname itself or from individuals bearing the name who owned or resided in those areas.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Mallan. One of the earliest recorded was Sir Thomas Mallan, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the 15th century and served as a diplomat and envoy to the court of King James III of Scotland.

Another prominent figure was William Mallan, an Irish-born soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He served as a lieutenant in the Continental Army and was present at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781.

In the realm of literature, Mary Mallan (1895-1982) was an Irish author and poet, known for her works celebrating the beauty of the Irish countryside and her contributions to the Irish literary revival.

James Mallan (1849-1923) was a Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and played a significant role in the development of the city of Winnipeg in the late 19th century.

More recently, Sir Richard Mallan (1925-2016) was a British judge and legal scholar who served as a Lord Justice of Appeal in England and Wales and made notable contributions to the field of commercial law.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mallan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mallan 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. Lanarkshire leads with 25 Mallans recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.09x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 25 8.09x
Middlesex 22 2.30x
Durham 13 4.57x
Lancashire 9 0.79x
Yorkshire 9 0.95x
Renfrewshire 7 9.45x
Cheshire 5 2.37x
Glamorgan 3 1.80x
Argyllshire 1 3.76x
Berkshire 1 1.39x
Cumberland 1 1.22x
Derbyshire 1 0.67x
Surrey 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 10 Mallans recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.08x.

Place Total Index
Govan 10 13.08x
St Marylebone London 9 17.63x
Chelsea London 7 24.31x
Rutherglen 7 154.19x
Whitworth 7 336.54x
Liverpool 6 8.71x
Abbey 5 44.25x
Barony 5 6.39x
Worsbrough 5 179.86x
Birkenhead 4 23.78x
York St Mary 4 102.04x
Swansea Town 3 21.98x
Westoe 3 18.61x
Blantyre 2 62.11x
Framwellgate 2 119.05x
Lochwinnoch 2 181.82x
Paddington London 2 5.69x
Tottenham 2 13.14x
Barrow In Furness 1 6.48x
Bothwell 1 11.93x
Bray 1 47.39x
Claughton With Grange 1 104.17x
Dalston 1 156.25x
Ealing 1 11.71x
Everton 1 2.77x
Hartlepool 1 24.75x
Kilmore Kilbride 1 59.17x
Lambeth 1 1.20x
Litchurch 1 16.61x
Salford 1 3.00x
St Pancras London 1 1.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Maria 2
Mary 2
Caroline 1
Diana 1
Egniss 1
Eleanor 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jennette 1
Katherine 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Rachel 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
James 5
George 4
Robert 4
Edward 2
Patrick 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
E.H. 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Michael 1
Owen 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Mallan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mallan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Mallan surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mallan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016. That gives Mallan a modern rank of #28,197.

What does the Mallan surname mean?

A Scottish surname often originating from the Isle of Arran.

What does the Mallan map show?

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