NameCensus.

UK surname

Malson

A variation of the English surname Malleson, derived from a place name referring to a hamlet or small settlement.

In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Malson surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 101, ranked #30,929, down from #28,285 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gelligaer, Toxteth Park and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torfaen and Monmouthshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Malson is 220 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 165.8%.

1881 census count

38

Ranked #28,285

Modern count

101

2016, ranked #30,929

Peak year

1861

220 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Malson had 38 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,285 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016, ranked #30,929.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 220 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Malson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Malson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Malson 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 57 #23,092
1861 historical 220 #11,076
1881 historical 38 #28,285
1891 historical 142 #18,995
1901 historical 95 #23,462
1911 historical 96 #23,193
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 105 #26,822
1999 modern 111 #26,182
2000 modern 103 #27,280
2001 modern 102 #27,093
2002 modern 107 #26,849
2003 modern 112 #25,948
2004 modern 106 #27,045
2005 modern 111 #26,260
2006 modern 109 #26,872
2007 modern 111 #26,954
2008 modern 108 #27,684
2009 modern 106 #28,666
2010 modern 114 #28,017
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 108 #29,379
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 101 #30,929

Geography

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Where Malsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gelligaer, Toxteth Park, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Lambeth and Long Benton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torfaen and Monmouthshire. 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 Gelligaer Glamorganshire
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Long Benton Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torfaen 002 Torfaen
2 Torfaen 003 Torfaen
3 Torfaen 006 Torfaen
4 Monmouthshire 009 Monmouthshire
5 Torfaen 004 Torfaen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Malson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Malson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Malson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Malson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Malson 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

Malson is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Malson 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 Malson 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 Malson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Malson

The surname MALSON has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "mal" meaning "speech" or "discourse" and "sunu" meaning "son." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who was a skilled orator or storyteller.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MALSON can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were a census of landowners in England. Here, the name is spelled "Mallesone." This spelling variation highlights the fluid nature of surnames during this period, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and pronunciation.

In the 14th century, the MALSON name appears in the Court Rolls of the Borough of Colchester, a town in Essex, England. These records document legal proceedings and property transactions involving individuals with the surname.

The MALSON name has been linked to various place names, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. For example, there is a small village called Malson near the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire. This may indicate that the surname originated from people who hailed from this area.

One notable bearer of the MALSON surname was John Malson, a 16th-century English clergyman and author. Born in 1535, he served as the rector of St. Michael Bassishaw in London and published several theological works before his death in 1611.

Another historical figure with the MALSON name was William Malson, a 17th-century English merchant and explorer. Malson embarked on several voyages to the West Indies and is believed to have played a role in the establishment of British colonies in the Caribbean.

In the 18th century, a prominent MALSON family resided in Yorkshire, where they owned substantial landholdings and were involved in local politics. One member of this family, Thomas Malson (1725-1798), served as a Justice of the Peace and was known for his contributions to the local community.

As the MALSON name spread across England, it also took on various spelling variations, such as Malleson, Mallison, and Malinson. These variations reflect the regional dialects and accents of different areas, as well as the inconsistencies in record-keeping during earlier centuries.

Throughout its history, the MALSON surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, merchants, landowners, and public servants. While not a particularly common name, it has left its mark on the historical records of England and continues to be a part of the country's rich tapestry of surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Malson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Malson 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. Gloucestershire leads with 13 Malsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.61x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 13 20.61x
Yorkshire 10 3.14x
Middlesex 5 1.55x
Staffordshire 2 1.84x
Cornwall 1 2.75x
Lancashire 1 0.26x
Warwickshire 1 1.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ruardean in Gloucestershire leads with 9 Malsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6428.57x.

Place Total Index
Ruardean 9 6428.57x
Easingwold 4 1739.13x
Heckmondwike 3 291.26x
Mile End Old Town 3 59.06x
Westbury On Severn East 3 209.79x
Ealing 2 69.69x
Fazeley 2 1000.00x
Holy Trinity 2 26.08x
Leamington Priors 1 50.00x
Marrick 1 3333.33x
Newent 1 312.50x
Perranuthnoe 1 1000.00x
Widnes 1 36.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Rosena 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Bridget 1
Florence 1
Juliana 1
Leah 1
Louisa 1
Marth 1
Mary 1
Rosetta 1
Ruth 1
Sithey 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
Albert 1
Charles 1
Christian 1
Florence 1
George 1
James 1
Lee 1
Oliver 1
William 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 Malson households.

FAQ

Malson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Malson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Malson surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Malson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016. That gives Malson a modern rank of #30,929.

What does the Malson surname mean?

A variation of the English surname Malleson, derived from a place name referring to a hamlet or small settlement.

What does the Malson map show?

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