NameCensus.

UK surname

Middlemist

A surname derived from a location with mist in the middle.

In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Middlemist surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, down from #26,134 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Hull Holy Trinity and Norham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Middlemist is 142 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 98.1%.

1881 census count

53

Ranked #26,134

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

2002

142 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Middlemist had 53 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,134 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 101 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Middlemist surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Middlemist surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Middlemist 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 63 #22,069
1861 historical 49 #27,768
1881 historical 53 #26,134
1891 historical 73 #27,677
1901 historical 101 #22,726
1911 historical 69 #25,965
1997 modern 110 #25,529
1998 modern 129 #23,722
1999 modern 126 #24,239
2000 modern 129 #23,901
2001 modern 133 #23,132
2002 modern 142 #22,687
2003 modern 135 #23,155
2004 modern 132 #23,625
2005 modern 131 #23,737
2006 modern 119 #25,413
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 120 #25,922
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 124 #26,582
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 108 #28,849
2013 modern 111 #28,856
2014 modern 109 #29,452
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Middlemists are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Hull Holy Trinity, Norham, Hawick and Wilton and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street, Cornwall and Dairsie Ceres and Dunino. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Norham Northumberland
4 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 003 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
3 Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street City of Edinburgh
4 Cornwall 020 Cornwall
5 Dairsie Ceres and Dunino Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Middlemist

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Middlemist

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Middlemist is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Middlemist is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Middlemist falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Middlemist is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Middlemist

The surname Middlemist is of English origin, originating in the northern region of England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a combination of the Old English words "middel" meaning "middle" and "mist" meaning "mist" or "fog." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived in an area prone to mists or fogs, possibly near a river or other body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1166, where it appears as "de Middelmist." This early spelling variation highlights the name's connection to a specific place or location.

In the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, the name is listed as "Middelmyst," further demonstrating the evolution of the spelling over time. These early records provide valuable insight into the name's historical origins and development.

Notable individuals bearing the Middlemist surname include John Middlemist (1578-1643), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Twickenham. His works include religious treatises and sermons published during the early 17th century.

Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Middlemist (1638-1712), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1692. He was involved in various trade ventures and played a significant role in the City of London's governance.

In the 19th century, Robert Middlemist (1815-1888) was a Scottish architect known for his work in Edinburgh, where he designed several notable buildings, including the Newington United Presbyterian Church and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

William Middlemist (1859-1926), born in England, was a prominent civil engineer who worked on various railway projects in India, including the construction of the Khyber Pass Railway.

Lastly, Mary Middlemist (1891-1976), a Canadian author and educator, made significant contributions to children's literature with her historical fiction novels set in Canada during the 18th and 19th centuries.

While the surname Middlemist may have evolved over time, its origins can be traced back to medieval England, where it likely referred to a specific geographic location characterized by misty or foggy conditions. The name has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, merchants, architects, engineers, and authors, leaving a lasting impact on their respective fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Middlemist families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Middlemist 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. Roxburghshire leads with 27 Middlemists recorded in 1881 and an index of 288.46x.

County Total Index
Roxburghshire 27 288.46x
Middlesex 10 1.93x
Staffordshire 4 2.29x
Surrey 4 1.59x
Kent 2 1.13x
Somerset 2 2.40x
Yorkshire 2 0.39x
East Lothian 1 14.60x
Northamptonshire 1 2.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Jedburgh in Roxburghshire leads with 20 Middlemists recorded in 1881 and an index of 2173.91x.

Place Total Index
Jedburgh 20 2173.91x
Linton 6 6000.00x
Willesden 6 123.20x
Uttoxeter 4 449.44x
Burnham 2 317.46x
Chelsea London 2 12.85x
Kingston On Thames 2 33.06x
Lambeth 2 4.44x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 57.14x
Bromley 1 37.17x
Dunbar 1 104.17x
Holy Trinity 1 8.12x
Kelso 1 107.53x
Laxton 1 5000.00x
Lewisham 1 10.64x
Mile End Old Town 1 12.25x
St Pancras London 1 2.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Robert 2
Alexander 1
Frederic 1
Geo 1
Henry 1
James 1
John 1
Stephen 1
Thomas 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Middlemist households.

FAQ

Middlemist surname: questions and answers

How common was the Middlemist surname in 1881?

In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Middlemist surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Middlemist surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Middlemist a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Middlemist surname mean?

A surname derived from a location with mist in the middle.

What does the Middlemist map show?

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