UK surname
A surname of Scottish origin meaning "bald" or "bald-headed".
In the 1881 census there were 89 people recorded with the Mally surname, ranking it #21,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 32, ranked #35,887, down from #21,091 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Toxteth Park and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mally is 160 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 64.0%.
1881 census count
89
Ranked #21,091
Modern count
32
2016, ranked #35,887
Peak year
1851
160 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mally surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mally surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 160 | #12,347 |
| 1861 | historical | 155 | #14,881 |
| 1881 | historical | 89 | #21,091 |
| 1891 | historical | 125 | #20,713 |
| 1901 | historical | 122 | #20,344 |
| 1911 | historical | 41 | #28,802 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 11 | #37,270 |
| 2009 | modern | 13 | #37,140 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 22 | #36,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 25 | #36,276 |
| 2014 | modern | 27 | #36,180 |
| 2015 | modern | 27 | #36,173 |
| 2016 | modern | 32 | #35,887 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Toxteth Park, Gateshead, Manchester and Oldswinford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Oldswinford | Worcestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mally surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mally, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mally surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mally household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mally is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mally is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mally, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Mally originated in Scotland during the medieval period, deriving from a Scottish Gaelic word 'mala' meaning 'brow' or 'ridge'. It was likely an occupational name for someone who lived on or near a prominent ridge or hillside.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Mally date back to the 13th century in the county of Aberdeenshire, where the name was often spelled variations like 'Mallie' or 'Maley'. One of the earliest known bearers was John Mally, a landowner in the parish of Kincardine O'Neil around 1270.
In the 14th century, the Mally name spread to other areas of Scotland, including Fife and Angus. Historical records from this period include mentions of Thomas Mally, a merchant in St Andrews in 1387, and Robert Mally, a cleric in Brechin in 1421.
As the centuries progressed, the Mally surname became more widespread across Scotland. Notable bearers include Sir John Mally (1612-1683), a Scottish judge and Senator of the College of Justice in Edinburgh, and James Mally (1789-1864), a Scottish minister and writer from Perthshire.
Other early examples of the name can be found in England, where it was sometimes rendered as 'Malley'. One of the earliest English references is to a John Malley from Yorkshire, recorded in the Feet of Fines for 1301. Another was William Malley, a landowner in Wiltshire mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of 1523.
While not an aristocratic surname, the Mally name has a long history stretching back over 700 years in Scotland and parts of northern England. Other noteworthy individuals bearing this surname include David Mally (1637-1669), a Scottish covenanter minister, and James Mally (1768-1840), a Scottish poet and songwriter from Angus.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mally surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 23 Mallys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.23x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 23 | 2.23x |
| Lanarkshire | 17 | 6.06x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 1.16x |
| Durham | 7 | 2.71x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 2.09x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 1.37x |
| Herefordshire | 3 | 8.43x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 2.32x |
| Devon | 2 | 1.11x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 1.32x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.68x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.23x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 2.67x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.47x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.91x |
| Argyllshire | 1 | 4.14x |
| Dunbartonshire | 1 | 4.29x |
| Nairnshire | 1 | 37.74x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.68x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 16 Mallys recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.52x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barony | 16 | 22.52x |
| Leeds | 7 | 14.41x |
| Preston | 7 | 25.41x |
| Gateshead | 6 | 31.04x |
| Wolverhampton | 4 | 17.75x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 4.80x |
| Bolehall Glascote | 2 | 215.05x |
| Cwmdu | 2 | 108.70x |
| Devonport | 2 | 96.15x |
| Kings Caple | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 2.64x |
| Manchester | 2 | 4.32x |
| Manningham | 2 | 18.87x |
| Munslow | 2 | 1111.11x |
| North Shields | 2 | 77.52x |
| Stockport | 2 | 20.28x |
| Wardleworth | 2 | 33.96x |
| Barnacre With Bonds | 1 | 370.37x |
| Bramhall | 1 | 126.58x |
| Bury | 1 | 8.50x |
| Calveley | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Campbeltown | 1 | 34.36x |
| Cardross | 1 | 35.71x |
| Coddington | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Conside Knitsley | 1 | 49.75x |
| Darenth | 1 | 217.39x |
| Dover Castle | 1 | 476.19x |
| Farnworth | 1 | 16.21x |
| Garston | 1 | 32.89x |
| Govan | 1 | 1.44x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 7.40x |
| Hopwood | 1 | 74.07x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.19x |
| Layton With Warbreck | 1 | 26.46x |
| Leyburn | 1 | 344.83x |
| Nairn | 1 | 62.11x |
| Subdeanery | 1 | 90.09x |
| Throckley | 1 | 277.78x |
| Ulverston | 1 | 33.33x |
| Whalley | 1 | 66.67x |
| Wuerdle Wardle | 1 | 31.95x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mally surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mally surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Mally households.
FAQ
In 1881, 89 people were recorded with the Mally surname. That placed it at #21,091 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 32 in 2016. That gives Mally a modern rank of #35,887.
A surname of Scottish origin meaning "bald" or "bald-headed".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mally bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.