NameCensus.

UK surname

Malt

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of malt.

In the 1881 census there were 252 people recorded with the Malt surname, ranking it #11,012 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 330, ranked #13,765, down from #11,012 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, King's Lynn St Margaret and Hockwell with Wilton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Winchester, Shropshire and Harborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Malt is 380 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.0%.

1881 census count

252

Ranked #11,012

Modern count

330

2016, ranked #13,765

Peak year

1998

380 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Malt had 252 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,012 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 330 in 2016, ranked #13,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 293 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Malt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Malt surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Malt 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 204 #10,250
1861 historical 203 #11,865
1881 historical 252 #11,012
1891 historical 220 #13,937
1901 historical 279 #12,225
1911 historical 293 #11,650
1997 modern 346 #12,273
1998 modern 380 #11,827
1999 modern 371 #12,101
2000 modern 376 #11,928
2001 modern 364 #12,033
2002 modern 375 #12,018
2003 modern 342 #12,627
2004 modern 351 #12,422
2005 modern 341 #12,605
2006 modern 350 #12,448
2007 modern 351 #12,571
2008 modern 343 #12,899
2009 modern 354 #12,858
2010 modern 358 #13,001
2011 modern 341 #13,341
2012 modern 342 #13,184
2013 modern 342 #13,399
2014 modern 344 #13,426
2015 modern 332 #13,705
2016 modern 330 #13,765

Geography

Back to top

Where Malts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, King's Lynn St Margaret, Hockwell with Wilton, St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Winchester, Shropshire, Harborough, South Norfolk and Isle of Wight. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
3 Hockwell with Wilton Norfolk
4 St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey London (South Districts)
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Winchester 006 Winchester
2 Shropshire 025 Shropshire
3 Harborough 004 Harborough
4 South Norfolk 006 South Norfolk
5 Isle of Wight 012 Isle of Wight

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Malt

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Malt

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Malt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Malt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Malt is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Malt is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Malt falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Malt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Malt

The surname Malt is of English origin and can be traced back to medieval times. It is believed to have originated in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, prominent regions in East Anglia. The surname is occupational in nature, derived from the Old English word meld, which means grain or barley, specifically referring to a malterer or someone who produced malt for brewing beer or ale. Variations in the spelling of the surname in historical documents include Malter and Malte.

One of the earliest references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a person named Aluric Malter was recorded in Norfolk. This record indicates the presence of the occupation and the surname Malt in the region during the Norman Conquest. By the 13th century, the name had become more common, reflecting the growth of the brewing industry in medieval England.

A prominent bearer of the surname was Robert Malt, a maltster from Suffolk in the late 14th century. Historical records from that period mention his business dealings in the wool and barley trade, highlighting his contributions to the local economy. Another notable figure is William Malt, an influential brewer in Norwich in the early 16th century, whose establishment was well-documented in tax records.

In the 17th century, John Malt, born in 1624, became a key figure in the agricultural development of Norfolk. His advanced techniques in barley cultivation boosted the quality of malt, making it highly sought after by brewers in London and other major cities. The genealogy of the Malt family shows that they continued to thrive in agricultural and brewing professions through the centuries.

Mary Malt, born in 1752, is another distinguished individual from the Malt lineage. She played a significant role in the establishment of a local charitable foundation in Suffolk, aimed at supporting poor farmers and maltsters. Her efforts were well-regarded, and historical records commemorate her contributions to the community.

By the 19th century, the Malt surname had also appeared in the industrial sector, with James Malt, born in 1820 in Manchester, being a prominent figure in the early brewing industry during the Industrial Revolution. His innovations in brewing technology significantly improved the efficiency of malt production, ensuring the surname Malt's enduring association with the ale-making craft.

Through centuries, the Malt surname has been intrinsically linked to the production of malt and brewing, reflecting a rich history rooted in medieval England. The bearers of this name have made enduring contributions to their local communities and industries, highlighting the evolution of an occupation into a distinguished family name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Malt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Malt 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. Norfolk leads with 51 Malts recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.49x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 51 13.49x
Middlesex 26 1.06x
Surrey 21 1.75x
Essex 19 3.92x
Berkshire 16 8.67x
Hampshire 14 2.78x
Lancashire 13 0.45x
Cambridgeshire 10 6.42x
Durham 10 1.37x
Yorkshire 10 0.41x
Cheshire 9 1.66x
Lincolnshire 7 1.78x
Suffolk 7 2.34x
Kent 6 0.72x
Staffordshire 6 0.72x
Denbighshire 5 5.39x
Sussex 5 1.21x
Gloucestershire 4 0.83x
Buckinghamshire 3 2.02x
Wiltshire 3 1.38x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.60x
Flintshire 1 1.51x
Glamorgan 1 0.23x
Merionethshire 1 2.22x
Somerset 1 0.25x
Worcestershire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 11 Malts recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.27x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 11 10.27x
Bermondsey 10 13.66x
Wisbech St Peter 10 128.04x
Usworth 9 231.96x
Chertsey 8 103.36x
Hockwold Cum Wilton 8 1250.00x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 8 70.48x
Longparish 8 1403.51x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 8 326.53x
Stradsett 8 6666.67x
Brandon 7 344.83x
Chelsea London 7 9.45x
White Waltham 7 1014.49x
Elmstead 6 769.23x
St Swithin Lincoln 6 97.09x
Westminster St James 6 23.74x
Chester Holy Trinity 5 196.85x
Holbeck 5 30.98x
Hurstbourne Priors 5 1470.59x
Watlington 5 961.54x
Arundel 4 172.41x
Bromsberrow 4 1818.18x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 4 71.17x
Earley 4 130.29x
Hungerford 4 160.00x
Reddish 4 99.50x
Snodland 4 168.07x
St George Hanover 4 12.47x
Wednesbury 4 19.29x
Wortley In Bramley 4 20.74x
Battersea 3 3.32x
Denbigh 3 80.43x
Paddington London 3 3.32x
Ramsbury 3 152.28x
Ridley 3 3750.00x
Toxteth Park 3 3.04x
Basford 2 13.10x
Brentwood 2 67.57x
Burnham 2 105.82x
Cheetham 2 9.19x
Kensington London 2 1.46x
Pickhill 2 833.33x
Shouldham 2 377.36x
St Pancras London 2 1.01x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 2.27x
Tottington Lower End 2 14.43x
Weeting With Broomhill 2 714.29x
West Dereham 2 425.53x
Widnes 2 9.51x
Bray 1 18.45x
Buckingham 1 33.11x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 12.50x
Catsfield 1 169.49x
Chester St John Baptist 1 10.26x
Feltwell Feltwell Anchor 1 144.93x
Greenwich 1 2.56x
Hepworth 1 222.22x
Hinton St George 1 175.44x
Leeds 1 0.73x
Mallwyd 1 90.91x
Mold Hartsheath 1 588.24x
Newmarket St Mary 1 43.48x
Spalding 1 12.82x
St Clement Danes 1 25.13x
St Marylebone London 1 0.76x
Swansea Lower 1 45.87x
Tenbury 1 56.82x
Tonbridge 1 3.31x
Upper Clatford 1 161.29x
Westoe 1 2.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Eliza 9
Elizabeth 8
Sarah 7
Ellen 6
Alice 5
Harriet 4
Jane 4
Maria 4
Ann 3
Charlotte 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Harriett 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Anne 1
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Dinah 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Elzth. 1
Flora 1
Francis 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Hariet 1
Jessie 1
Joincetta 1
Julia 1
Nahomi 1
Nelly 1
Phoebe 1
Rose 1
Zillah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
James 12
John 11
Henry 8
Robert 8
Thomas 8
Charles 5
George 5
David 4
Joseph 3
Albert 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
Brian 1
Cecil 1
Charl. 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Freddy 1
Fredrick 1
Hewafell 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
Jeremiah 1
Jonathan 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Malt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Malt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 252 people were recorded with the Malt surname. That placed it at #11,012 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Malt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 330 in 2016. That gives Malt a modern rank of #13,765.

What does the Malt surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of malt.

What does the Malt map show?

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