NameCensus.

UK surname

Milam

An English occupational surname referring to a mill worker or operator.

In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Milam surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 168, ranked #21,984, down from #19,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Finchamstead, Odiham and Long Sutton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wokingham, Eastleigh and Fareham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Milam is 220 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.1%.

1881 census count

103

Ranked #19,410

Modern count

168

2016, ranked #21,984

Peak year

1911

220 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Milam had 103 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016, ranked #21,984.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 220 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Milam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Milam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Milam 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 78 #19,840
1861 historical 88 #22,554
1881 historical 103 #19,410
1891 historical 168 #16,937
1901 historical 182 #16,057
1911 historical 220 #14,088
1997 modern 183 #18,642
1998 modern 188 #18,796
1999 modern 190 #18,797
2000 modern 187 #18,990
2001 modern 184 #18,907
2002 modern 189 #18,950
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 184 #19,183
2005 modern 177 #19,598
2006 modern 173 #19,995
2007 modern 169 #20,562
2008 modern 172 #20,523
2009 modern 170 #21,095
2010 modern 162 #22,292
2011 modern 165 #21,829
2012 modern 175 #20,984
2013 modern 171 #21,654
2014 modern 171 #21,812
2015 modern 172 #21,649
2016 modern 168 #21,984

Geography

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Where Milams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Finchamstead, Odiham, Long Sutton, London parishes and Battersea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wokingham, Eastleigh, Fareham and Surrey Heath. 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 Finchamstead Berkshire
2 Odiham Hampshire
3 Long Sutton Surrey
4 London parishes London 3
5 Battersea London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wokingham 013 Wokingham
2 Eastleigh 015 Eastleigh
3 Wokingham 005 Wokingham
4 Fareham 001 Fareham
5 Surrey Heath 001 Surrey Heath

Forenames

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First names often paired with Milam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Milam

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

Milam is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Milam falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Milam

The surname Milam is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest records dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "myl" or "mil," which refer to a mill or a mill-stream, and "ham," meaning a homestead or village. Consequently, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a mill or a hamlet centered around a mill.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Milam can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Mileham" in reference to a settlement in Norfolk. This suggests that the name had already become established as a place name and potentially a surname by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Milam family was primarily concentrated in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia. Historical records from this period include references to individuals such as Robert de Mileham, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1166.

By the 13th century, the name had evolved into various spellings, including Milham, Millam, and Milam. One notable bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Milham, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in Norfolk in the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the Milam family spread to other parts of England, with some members establishing themselves in the county of Yorkshire. One influential figure from this period was Robert Milam, who served as the Lord Mayor of York in 1587.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Milam. These include Benjamin C. Milam (1788-1835), a celebrated soldier and leader in the Texas Revolution, and John Milam (1752-1838), an American Revolutionary War soldier and early settler in Kentucky.

Additionally, the name has been associated with various place names, such as Milam County in Texas, which was named after Benjamin C. Milam, and the town of Milam in West Virginia, named after Samuel Milam, an early settler in the area.

While the surname Milam is relatively uncommon today, it continues to hold a rich historical legacy, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in England and reflecting the influence of various bearers of the name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Milam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Milam 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. Hampshire leads with 30 Milams recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.57x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 30 14.57x
Sussex 18 10.63x
Berkshire 14 18.57x
Surrey 14 2.86x
Middlesex 13 1.29x
Lincolnshire 7 4.36x
Devon 5 2.39x
Kent 2 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. New Shoreham in Sussex leads with 11 Milams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1078.43x.

Place Total Index
New Shoreham 11 1078.43x
Battersea 9 24.34x
Odiham 8 888.89x
Ewhurst 7 1842.11x
Worting 7 11666.67x
Basingstoke 5 210.97x
Winkfield 5 400.00x
Yateley 5 1282.05x
Ealing 4 44.54x
Finchampstead 4 1739.13x
Freshwater 4 425.53x
Camberwell 3 4.68x
Chelsea London 3 9.91x
Clee With Weelsby 3 85.23x
Great Grimsby 3 29.41x
Kensington London 3 5.37x
Reading St Mary 3 49.67x
Tiverton 3 83.33x
Enfield 2 30.35x
Streatham 2 26.85x
Colyton 1 125.00x
Deptford St Nicholas 1 36.76x
Dunkeswell 1 714.29x
Lewisham 1 5.47x
Portsea 1 2.48x
Teddington London 1 43.86x
Wainfleet All Sts 1 212.77x
Wantage 1 83.33x
Wokingham 1 58.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 6
George 5
James 4
John 4
Henry 3
Alfred 2
David 2
Edward 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Coren 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Harra 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Infant 1
Mark 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wilfrid 1

FAQ

Milam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Milam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Milam surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Milam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016. That gives Milam a modern rank of #21,984.

What does the Milam surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a mill worker or operator.

What does the Milam map show?

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