NameCensus.

UK surname

Medlin

Derived from a place name meaning "middle lake" in Old English, likely referring to someone who lived there.

In the 1881 census there were 205 people recorded with the Medlin surname, ranking it #12,643 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 233, ranked #17,625, down from #12,643 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Constantine, Budock and Gluvias. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Wellingborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Medlin is 243 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.7%.

1881 census count

205

Ranked #12,643

Modern count

233

2016, ranked #17,625

Peak year

2014

243 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Medlin had 205 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,643 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016, ranked #17,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 230 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Medlin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Medlin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Medlin 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 120 #15,144
1861 historical 131 #17,052
1881 historical 205 #12,643
1891 historical 215 #14,155
1901 historical 230 #13,851
1911 historical 226 #13,840
1997 modern 200 #17,618
1998 modern 194 #18,451
1999 modern 196 #18,464
2000 modern 195 #18,494
2001 modern 191 #18,453
2002 modern 193 #18,713
2003 modern 198 #18,252
2004 modern 205 #17,935
2005 modern 211 #17,520
2006 modern 216 #17,397
2007 modern 228 #16,984
2008 modern 225 #17,282
2009 modern 230 #17,382
2010 modern 218 #18,375
2011 modern 207 #18,841
2012 modern 215 #18,304
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 243 #17,232
2015 modern 229 #17,846
2016 modern 233 #17,625

Geography

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Where Medlins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Constantine, Budock, Gluvias, Falmouth Town and Falmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Wellingborough. 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 Constantine Cornwall
2 Budock Cornwall
3 Gluvias Cornwall
4 Falmouth Town Cornwall
5 Falmouth Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 062 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 042 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 046 Cornwall
4 Wellingborough 004 Wellingborough
5 Wellingborough 005 Wellingborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Medlin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Medlin

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Medlin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Medlin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Medlin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Medlin is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Medlin

The surname Medlin originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "midd," meaning "middle," and the suffix "-linge," denoting "a dweller or inhabitant." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived in the middle of a particular area or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1292, which mentions a John Medlinge. The Feet of Fines were ancient legal documents that recorded land transfers and agreements.

In the 14th century, various spellings of the name appeared in historical records, such as Medlyng, Medlynge, and Medeling. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that period.

The Medlin surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Medling in Kent and Medlinge in Sussex. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname or vice versa.

One notable individual bearing the Medlin name was John Medlin, born in 1608 in Bredfield, Suffolk, England. He later immigrated to America and settled in Virginia, becoming one of the first Medlins in the New World.

Another significant figure was Richard Medlin, born in 1620 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a Puritan minister who later became the rector of St. Mary's Church in Nottinghamshire.

In the 18th century, William Medlin, born in 1725 in Wiltshire, England, gained recognition as a successful merchant and landowner. His descendants continued to play influential roles in the local community.

Thomas Medlin, born in 1782 in Somerset, England, was a renowned architect and builder. He designed several notable buildings, including the Medlin Manor in his hometown.

During the 19th century, Emily Medlin, born in 1845 in Dorset, England, made a name for herself as a celebrated author and poet. Her works often explored themes of nature and the English countryside.

While the Medlin surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with descendants of early Medlin immigrants establishing themselves in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Medlin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Medlin 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. Cornwall leads with 181 Medlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.57x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 181 79.57x
Devon 14 3.35x
Yorkshire 4 0.20x
Middlesex 2 0.10x
Berkshire 1 0.66x
Hampshire 1 0.24x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 4.18x
Somerset 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. St Gluvias Penryn in Cornwall leads with 60 Medlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 3296.70x.

Place Total Index
St Gluvias Penryn 60 3296.70x
Falmouth 56 695.65x
Budock 22 1286.55x
St Dominick 9 1578.95x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 24.83x
St Austell 8 102.83x
Gwinear 6 555.56x
St Gluvias 5 393.70x
Constantine 4 303.03x
Middlesbrough 4 15.43x
St Clement 4 168.78x
Paignton 3 94.34x
North Hill 2 273.97x
Camborne 1 10.67x
Feock 1 70.42x
Hackney London 1 0.89x
Kenwyn 1 16.81x
Laira 1 1111.11x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 11.81x
Madron Penzance 1 12.09x
Mawnan 1 277.78x
New Windsor 1 19.72x
Plymouth Charles The 1 5.43x
Portsea 1 1.24x
Royal Navy 1 4.89x
St George Bloomsbury 1 8.67x
Tormoham 1 5.65x
Walton On Hill 1 7.74x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Medlin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Medlin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 205 people were recorded with the Medlin surname. That placed it at #12,643 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Medlin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016. That gives Medlin a modern rank of #17,625.

What does the Medlin surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "middle lake" in Old English, likely referring to someone who lived there.

What does the Medlin map show?

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