NameCensus.

UK surname

Medlyn

An English surname derived from the name Medeline, a medieval diminutive of Maud.

In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Medlyn surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 123, ranked #27,115, down from #17,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stithians, Mabe and Wendron. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Medlyn is 138 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.8%.

1881 census count

122

Ranked #17,602

Modern count

123

2016, ranked #27,115

Peak year

1901

138 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Medlyn had 122 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016, ranked #27,115.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 138 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Medlyn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Medlyn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Medlyn 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 108 #16,308
1861 historical 96 #21,648
1881 historical 122 #17,602
1891 historical 109 #22,701
1901 historical 138 #18,955
1911 historical 137 #18,880
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 103 #27,280
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 98 #28,046
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 97 #29,527
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 119 #27,250
2011 modern 112 #28,117
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 119 #27,813
2015 modern 118 #27,833
2016 modern 123 #27,115

Geography

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Where Medlyns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stithians, Mabe, Wendron, Camborne and Sithney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Stithians Cornwall
2 Mabe Cornwall
3 Wendron Cornwall
4 Camborne Cornwall
5 Sithney Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 046 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 051 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 053 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 055 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 071 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Medlyn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Medlyn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Medlyn, 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 Medlyn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Medlyn 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, Medlyn 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

Medlyn is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Medlyn 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 Medlyn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 15-20 mbit/s.

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

3
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Medlyn

The surname MEDLYN is believed to have originated in Cornwall, England, in the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Cornish place name "Medlin" or "Medelyn," which may have been derived from the Cornish words "med" meaning "middle" and "lin" meaning "pool" or "lake." This suggests that the name referred to someone who lived near a middle pool or lake.

The earliest recorded instance of the MEDLYN surname dates back to the late 16th century in Cornwall. In the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, a document recording those who took an oath of allegiance to the Church of England and the Crown during the English Civil War, several individuals with the surname MEDLYN are listed as residing in various Cornish parishes.

One notable early bearer of the MEDLYN name was John Medlyn, who was born in Cornwall around 1580. He was a merchant and ship owner who was involved in the Newfoundland fishing trade. Records indicate that he owned several ships that made voyages to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland in the early 17th century.

Another early MEDLYN of note was Thomas Medlyn, born in Cornwall in 1612. He was a member of the English Parliament and represented the borough of Penryn, Cornwall, in the Protectorate Parliament of 1654-1655.

In the 18th century, a prominent MEDLYN was Samuel Medlyn, born in Cornwall in 1730. He was a noted botanist and horticulturist who contributed to the study of Cornish flora and helped establish several botanical gardens in the region.

Moving into the 19th century, one of the most notable individuals with the MEDLYN surname was William Medlyn (1816-1887). He was a Cornish mining engineer and geologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of Cornwall's geology and mineral resources. He authored several influential works on the subject and served as the President of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall.

Throughout its history, the MEDLYN surname has maintained a strong connection to its Cornish roots, with many bearers of the name still residing in the region. While it has also spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in Cornwall, where it likely referred to someone living near a specific geographical feature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Medlyn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Medlyn 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 120 Medlyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 89.08x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 120 89.08x
Berkshire 1 1.12x
Glamorgan 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Constantine in Cornwall leads with 38 Medlyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 4871.79x.

Place Total Index
Constantine 38 4871.79x
Wendron 21 1122.99x
Falmouth 15 314.47x
Mabe 8 2857.14x
Sithney 8 588.24x
St Stithians 7 945.95x
Zennor 7 2800.00x
Grade 6 5000.00x
Illogan 4 112.04x
Helston 2 142.86x
Mylor 2 222.22x
Clewer 1 27.32x
Mawgan In Meneage 1 285.71x
Newcastle Higher 1 70.92x
Redruth 1 26.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 8
Philippa 5
Sarah 4
Grace 3
Alice 2
Catherine 2
Jane 2
Priscilla 2
Amy 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizh.M. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethelinda 1
Jemima 1
Lavinia 1
Lucilla 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
John 10
Joseph 7
Thomas 6
Charles 4
James 4
Edwin 3
Mathew 2
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Matthew 1
Nicholas 1
Sampson 1
Samuel 1
Silas 1
Thos. 1
Willm.J. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Medlyn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Medlyn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Medlyn surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Medlyn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016. That gives Medlyn a modern rank of #27,115.

What does the Medlyn surname mean?

An English surname derived from the name Medeline, a medieval diminutive of Maud.

What does the Medlyn map show?

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