NameCensus.

UK surname

Middle

An English surname derived from the word "middle", likely referring to someone who lived in or near the middle of a town or village.

In the 1881 census there were 147 people recorded with the Middle surname, ranking it #15,674 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 305, ranked #14,576, up from #15,674 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Shropshire and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Middle is 370 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 107.5%.

1881 census count

147

Ranked #15,674

Modern count

305

2016, ranked #14,576

Peak year

1999

370 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Middle had 147 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,674 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 305 in 2016, ranked #14,576.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 305 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Middle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Middle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Middle 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 118 #15,362
1861 historical 205 #11,769
1881 historical 147 #15,674
1891 historical 234 #13,352
1901 historical 225 #14,047
1911 historical 305 #11,307
1997 modern 349 #12,197
1998 modern 367 #12,121
1999 modern 370 #12,124
2000 modern 350 #12,564
2001 modern 333 #12,817
2002 modern 344 #12,777
2003 modern 322 #13,192
2004 modern 317 #13,400
2005 modern 302 #13,788
2006 modern 303 #13,834
2007 modern 312 #13,674
2008 modern 316 #13,661
2009 modern 308 #14,161
2010 modern 309 #14,420
2011 modern 297 #14,698
2012 modern 292 #14,770
2013 modern 307 #14,522
2014 modern 305 #14,678
2015 modern 304 #14,617
2016 modern 305 #14,576

Geography

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Where Middles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Chewton Mendip, Emborrow, Binegar, Compton Martin and Shipham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Shropshire, North Somerset and Mid Sussex. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Chewton Mendip, Emborrow, Binegar, Compton Martin Somerset
5 Shipham Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 018 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Shropshire 026 Shropshire
3 North Somerset 021 North Somerset
4 North Somerset 025 North Somerset
5 Mid Sussex 008 Mid Sussex

Forenames

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First names often paired with Middle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Middle

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Middle, 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 Middle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Middle 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, Middle 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

Middle 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

Middle falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Middle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

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

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Middle

The surname MIDDLE has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "middel" or "middre," which meant "middle" or "amid." These words were likely used to describe someone who lived in the middle part of a town, village, or region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MIDDLE surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a "Robertus de la Middel" is mentioned. This suggests that the name was initially used as a descriptive term to identify someone's place of residence.

In the 14th century, the MIDDLE surname appeared in various historical records, such as the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a "Johannes Midyll" is listed in Yorkshire. The name also appeared in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334, which recorded a "William atte Middel" in Sussex.

During the 15th century, the surname began to take on various spellings, including "Middel," "Myddel," and "Myddle." One notable individual from this time period was John Middleton (c. 1443-1508), a prominent English composer and choirmaster at the Chapel Royal.

In the 16th century, the MIDDLE surname continued to appear in historical records, such as the Muster Rolls of 1539, which listed a "Thomas Myddelton" in Warwickshire. Another notable figure from this era was Sir Hugh Myddelton (1556-1631), an English businessman, goldsmith, and engineer best known for constructing the New River, an artificial waterway that brought fresh water from Hertfordshire to London.

The 17th century saw the MIDDLE surname spread across England, with various individuals bearing the name achieving notable positions. One such person was Sir Thomas Myddelton (1586-1666), a member of Parliament and Lord Mayor of London in 1613-1614.

In the 18th century, the MIDDLE surname continued to be well-represented, with individuals like Charles Middleton (1726-1813), a British naval officer and First Lord of the Admiralty, and Richard Middleton (1726-1804), an English poet and philologist.

As the centuries progressed, the MIDDLE surname became more widespread, with notable individuals bearing the name appearing in various fields, including politics, literature, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Middle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Middle 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. Somerset leads with 49 Middles recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.23x.

County Total Index
Somerset 49 21.23x
Shropshire 24 19.38x
Glamorgan 18 7.21x
Devon 15 5.03x
Gloucestershire 15 5.33x
Surrey 9 1.29x
Middlesex 7 0.49x
Dorset 3 3.19x
Norfolk 2 0.91x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.15x
Cornwall 1 0.62x
Hertfordshire 1 1.01x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.52x
Warwickshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chewton Mendip in Somerset leads with 13 Middles recorded in 1881 and an index of 3421.05x.

Place Total Index
Chewton Mendip 13 3421.05x
Ystradyfodwg 12 54.79x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 30.21x
Shipham 8 4000.00x
Worthen 7 530.30x
Cardiff St Mary 6 43.64x
Church Pulverbach 6 3000.00x
Litton 6 5454.55x
Madeley 6 132.16x
Bethnal Green London 5 8.03x
Kingskerswell 5 1000.00x
Lambeth 5 4.00x
Blagdon 4 816.33x
Clutton 4 800.00x
Bristol All Sts 3 4285.71x
Broadway 3 810.81x
Cullompton 3 230.77x
Newington 3 5.66x
Plymouth Charles The 3 22.81x
Ubley 3 2142.86x
Walton In Gordano 3 1200.00x
Bedminster 2 9.22x
Bristol St George 2 15.37x
Midsomer Norton 2 92.17x
Shrewsbury St Chad 2 45.98x
Tavistock 2 58.82x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 2 107.53x
Westbury On Trym 2 20.99x
Aston 1 1.00x
Bow London 1 5.48x
Fakenham Alethorpe 1 370.37x
Hackney London 1 1.24x
Hartland 1 107.53x
Hertford St John 1 68.03x
Keynsham 1 60.24x
Nottingham St Mary 1 2.00x
Paignton 1 44.05x
Pontesbury 1 66.23x
Shepton Mallet 1 38.61x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.47x
St Columb Major 1 74.07x
Tacolnestone 1 454.55x
Westbury 1 156.25x
Whitchurch 1 41.67x
Wing 1 125.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 7
George 6
Charles 5
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
James 3
Richard 3
Thomas 3
Mark 2
Sidney 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Elisha 1
Farnham 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Samuel 1
Theophilus 1
Tom 1
Wlm. 1

FAQ

Middle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Middle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 147 people were recorded with the Middle surname. That placed it at #15,674 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Middle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 305 in 2016. That gives Middle a modern rank of #14,576.

What does the Middle surname mean?

An English surname derived from the word "middle", likely referring to someone who lived in or near the middle of a town or village.

What does the Middle map show?

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