UK surname
A habitational surname referring to someone from Malmesbury in Wiltshire, England.
In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Malsbury surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 87, ranked #32,476, down from #19,410 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Pancras, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Wednesbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Malsbury is 112 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.5%.
1881 census count
103
Ranked #19,410
Modern count
87
2016, ranked #32,476
Peak year
1861
112 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Malsbury surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Malsbury surname density by area, 1881 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 | 104 | #16,746 |
| 1861 | historical | 112 | #19,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 103 | #19,410 |
| 1891 | historical | 87 | #25,802 |
| 1901 | historical | 88 | #24,270 |
| 1911 | historical | 97 | #23,076 |
| 1997 | modern | 81 | #29,436 |
| 1998 | modern | 87 | #29,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 85 | #29,578 |
| 2000 | modern | 81 | #30,036 |
| 2001 | modern | 86 | #29,281 |
| 2002 | modern | 90 | #29,314 |
| 2003 | modern | 91 | #29,121 |
| 2004 | modern | 84 | #30,244 |
| 2005 | modern | 84 | #30,359 |
| 2006 | modern | 83 | #30,808 |
| 2007 | modern | 85 | #30,954 |
| 2008 | modern | 87 | #30,999 |
| 2009 | modern | 89 | #31,235 |
| 2010 | modern | 92 | #31,366 |
| 2011 | modern | 92 | #31,301 |
| 2012 | modern | 90 | #31,790 |
| 2013 | modern | 94 | #31,656 |
| 2014 | modern | 94 | #31,909 |
| 2015 | modern | 91 | #32,153 |
| 2016 | modern | 87 | #32,476 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Pancras, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Wednesbury, Banbury and Sulgrave. 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 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 2 | Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory | Northamptonshire |
| 3 | Wednesbury | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Banbury | Oxfordshire |
| 5 | Sulgrave | Northamptonshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Malsbury 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 Malsbury, 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 Malsbury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Malsbury 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, Malsbury 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 Malsbury is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Malsbury, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Malsbury originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English words "mæl" meaning "speech" or "assembly" and "bury" meaning a fortified town or manor. This suggests the name may have been associated with a place where public assemblies or legal proceedings were held.
The earliest known record of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Maelesberie," referring to a settlement in Wiltshire. This indicates that the name was already well-established by the late 11th century.
In the 13th century, the name appears in various spellings such as "Malesbury," "Malesbyry," and "Malesburie" in official records and charters from Wiltshire and surrounding counties.
One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Malsbury, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the reign of Edward III (1312-1377). He was recorded as participating in the Battle of Crécy in 1346.
Another early example is William Malsbury, a merchant from Bristol who was mentioned in the city's guild records in the late 14th century.
During the 16th century, the surname appears to have spread beyond its original geographic roots, with records showing individuals bearing the name in various parts of England, including London and the northern counties.
In the 17th century, a prominent figure was Richard Malsbury (1592-1670), a member of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and one of the founders of the town of Rowley, Massachusetts.
Another notable bearer was Robert Malsbury (1668-1744), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and philosophy.
In the 18th century, the name was carried by John Malsbury (1736-1812), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire, who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Tewkesbury.
As the name spread and evolved over time, other spellings such as "Mawsbury" and "Maulsbury" emerged, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Malsbury 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. Northamptonshire leads with 46 Malsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.68x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northamptonshire | 46 | 48.68x |
| Oxfordshire | 19 | 30.63x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 1.19x |
| Staffordshire | 7 | 2.06x |
| Warwickshire | 6 | 2.37x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.60x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 1.94x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.90x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.67x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.20x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sulgrave in Northamptonshire leads with 11 Malsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6875.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sulgrave | 11 | 6875.00x |
| St Andrew Holborn | 8 | 234.60x |
| Bloxham | 6 | 983.61x |
| Bodicote | 6 | 2500.00x |
| Northampton St Giles | 6 | 166.67x |
| Wednesbury | 6 | 70.75x |
| Banbury | 4 | 322.58x |
| Weedon Beck | 4 | 588.24x |
| York St Saviour | 4 | 421.05x |
| Abthorpe | 3 | 1875.00x |
| Birmingham | 3 | 3.55x |
| Great Billing | 3 | 2307.69x |
| Litchborough | 3 | 2500.00x |
| Neithrop | 3 | 143.54x |
| Radway | 3 | 3333.33x |
| Wappenham | 3 | 1875.00x |
| Brotton | 2 | 153.85x |
| Eydon | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Mortimer West End | 2 | 1538.46x |
| Morton Pinkney | 2 | 1333.33x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 2.47x |
| Wellingborough | 2 | 42.11x |
| Whilton | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Byker | 1 | 13.53x |
| Darlaston | 1 | 21.32x |
| Farnborough | 1 | 46.30x |
| Hardingstone | 1 | 111.11x |
| Holdenhurst | 1 | 18.52x |
| Leicester St Mary | 1 | 11.11x |
| Maidford | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Northampton St Sepulchre | 1 | 20.79x |
| Paulerspury | 1 | 256.41x |
| Southwark Christchurch | 1 | 21.23x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.86x |
| West Haddon | 1 | 322.58x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 9.68x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Malsbury 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 Malsbury 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 Malsbury households.
FAQ
In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Malsbury surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016. That gives Malsbury a modern rank of #32,476.
A habitational surname referring to someone from Malmesbury in Wiltshire, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Malsbury 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.