NameCensus.

UK surname

Mickle

A surname derived from a Middle English word meaning "great" or "large," likely referring to a person's size or power.

In the 1881 census there were 179 people recorded with the Mickle surname, ranking it #13,787 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 164, ranked #22,314, down from #13,787 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gedling and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mickle is 250 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.4%.

1881 census count

179

Ranked #13,787

Modern count

164

2016, ranked #22,314

Peak year

1891

250 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mickle had 179 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,787 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 164 in 2016, ranked #22,314.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 250 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Mickle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mickle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mickle 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 246 #8,891
1861 historical 222 #10,993
1881 historical 179 #13,787
1891 historical 250 #12,762
1901 historical 211 #14,647
1911 historical 169 #16,564
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 140 #22,615
1999 modern 151 #21,740
2000 modern 158 #21,055
2001 modern 149 #21,568
2002 modern 160 #21,011
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 152 #21,628
2005 modern 144 #22,367
2006 modern 138 #23,156
2007 modern 145 #22,693
2008 modern 150 #22,429
2009 modern 162 #21,791
2010 modern 159 #22,577
2011 modern 157 #22,574
2012 modern 158 #22,460
2013 modern 151 #23,529
2014 modern 151 #23,745
2015 modern 159 #22,796
2016 modern 164 #22,314

Geography

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Where Mickles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gedling and County Durham. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gedling 015 Gedling
2 County Durham 029 County Durham
3 County Durham 026 County Durham
4 County Durham 031 County Durham
5 County Durham 019 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mickle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mickle

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mickle 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

Mickle is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mickle falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mickle 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 Mickle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mickle

The surname Mickle is believed to have originated in Scotland. It is derived from the Old English word "micel," which means "great" or "large." This suggests that the name may have originally been a nickname referring to someone's physical stature or perhaps their importance or standing in the community.

The earliest known record of the name Mickle dates back to the 13th century, where it appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296. These rolls were a collection of homage pledges made to King Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners following his invasion of Scotland.

In the 14th century, the name Mickle was also found in various charters and land records in the Scottish Borders region. These records often referred to places like Mickle Rig, Mickle Blackburn, and Mickle Cavers, which are believed to have been named after individuals or families bearing the Mickle surname.

One notable historical figure with the surname Mickle was William Mickle, a Scottish poet and translator who lived from 1734 to 1788. He is best known for his translation of the Portuguese epic poem "Os Lusíadas" by Luís de Camões.

Another prominent individual was Thomas Mickle, a Scottish engraver and illustrator who lived from 1765 to 1850. He was renowned for his engravings of portraits and landscapes, and his work can be found in various collections across the United Kingdom.

In the 16th century, the name Mickle appears in the records of the Scottish Reformation, with a John Mickle mentioned as a supporter of the Protestant cause. He was likely involved in the religious upheaval that swept through Scotland during that turbulent period.

The surname Mickle has also been found in various spellings throughout history, such as Mickell, Mickill, and Meikle. These variations were common in the past due to inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation.

Finally, it is worth noting that the surname Mickle has been associated with several places in Scotland, including Mickle Fell in Dumfries and Galloway, and Mickle Dales in the Scottish Borders. These place names further reinforce the historical presence and significance of the Mickle surname in Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mickle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mickle 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. Middlesex leads with 39 Mickles recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.07x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 39 2.07x
Yorkshire 34 1.82x
Isle of Man 15 42.91x
Berkshire 11 7.78x
Durham 11 1.96x
Hampshire 10 2.59x
Midlothian 10 3.97x
Lancashire 9 0.40x
Northumberland 9 3.21x
West Lothian 9 31.75x
Dunbartonshire 5 9.88x
Kent 5 0.78x
Lanarkshire 5 0.82x
Berwickshire 3 13.16x
Cheshire 3 0.72x
East Lothian 3 12.03x
Devon 2 0.51x
Ayrshire 1 0.71x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.88x
Cornwall 1 0.47x
Essex 1 0.27x
Montgomeryshire 1 2.32x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.39x
Roxburghshire 1 2.93x
Royal Navy 1 4.46x
Selkirkshire 1 5.87x
Sussex 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aiskew in Yorkshire leads with 10 Mickles recorded in 1881 and an index of 1851.85x.

Place Total Index
Aiskew 10 1851.85x
St Pancras London 10 6.60x
Linlithgow 9 247.25x
Liss 9 1153.85x
Kirklington With 8 5000.00x
Chirton 7 110.41x
Edmonton 7 46.14x
Exelby Leeming Newton 7 1590.91x
Onchan 7 69.51x
Paddington London 7 10.11x
St Anne 7 1842.11x
Clerkenwell London 6 13.50x
Corstorphine 6 431.65x
Kirkdale 6 15.97x
Heckmondwike 5 83.33x
Reading St Giles 5 36.08x
Reading St Lawrence 5 165.56x
Chelsea London 4 7.05x
Dover St Mary Virgin 4 64.31x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 3.94x
Govan 4 2.66x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 16.49x
Old Kilpatrick 4 66.89x
Coldingham 3 146.34x
Gladsmuir 3 270.27x
Heworth 3 27.17x
Gateshead 2 4.77x
Limehouse London 2 9.68x
Livesey 2 51.02x
Morleigh 2 2857.14x
Thornley 2 98.52x
Tranmere 2 13.10x
York St Giles In 2 113.64x
Arbory 1 131.58x
Barony 1 0.65x
Blackburn 1 1.68x
Brighton 1 1.56x
Eton 1 38.76x
Forden 1 169.49x
Great Burstead 1 74.07x
Kelso 1 29.41x
Kirkintilloch 1 14.56x
Liscard 1 13.35x
Middlesbrough 1 4.12x
Minster In Sheppey 1 9.40x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 1 27.17x
Normanby In 1 20.04x
Oxton 1 303.03x
Portsea 1 1.32x
Preston In Tynemouth 1 90.91x
Reading St Mary 1 8.83x
Redruth 1 16.58x
St George Hanover 1 4.07x
St Mary Woolnoth 1 1000.00x
St Quivox 1 21.01x
Stow 1 400.00x
Westminster St 1 14.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Elizabeth 6
Catherine 5
Margaret 5
Hannah 4
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Ellen 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Katherine 2
Sophia 2
Adelaide 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Elizebeth 1
Emma 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Harriette 1
Isabella 1
Jeannette 1
Jenat 1
Johanna 1
Karolina 1
Lucy 1
Miliscent 1
Muriel 1
Rachel 1
Rebekah 1
Rose 1
Roslina 1
Virginie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 10
James 8
Robert 5
Thomas 4
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
David 2
Edwin 2
George 2
Arthur 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Herbert 1
J.J. 1
Nicholas 1
Paul 1
Ralph 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Mickle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mickle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 179 people were recorded with the Mickle surname. That placed it at #13,787 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mickle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 164 in 2016. That gives Mickle a modern rank of #22,314.

What does the Mickle surname mean?

A surname derived from a Middle English word meaning "great" or "large," likely referring to a person's size or power.

What does the Mickle map show?

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