NameCensus.

UK surname

Milbourn

A locational surname deriving from Milbourne, Wiltshire, meaning "mill stream" or "mill brook".

In the 1881 census there were 164 people recorded with the Milbourn surname, ranking it #14,624 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 260, ranked #16,349, down from #14,624 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wandsworth, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochford, Southend-on-Sea and Harlow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Milbourn is 319 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.5%.

1881 census count

164

Ranked #14,624

Modern count

260

2016, ranked #16,349

Peak year

1911

319 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Milbourn had 164 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,624 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 260 in 2016, ranked #16,349.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 319 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Milbourn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Milbourn surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Milbourn 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 195 #10,620
1861 historical 209 #11,596
1881 historical 164 #14,624
1891 historical 166 #17,077
1901 historical 224 #14,091
1911 historical 319 #10,967
1997 modern 300 #13,530
1998 modern 303 #13,809
1999 modern 312 #13,615
2000 modern 301 #13,873
2001 modern 280 #14,364
2002 modern 286 #14,442
2003 modern 280 #14,472
2004 modern 285 #14,344
2005 modern 276 #14,579
2006 modern 280 #14,535
2007 modern 271 #15,042
2008 modern 282 #14,748
2009 modern 289 #14,809
2010 modern 286 #15,231
2011 modern 269 #15,800
2012 modern 266 #15,828
2013 modern 271 #15,875
2014 modern 265 #16,247
2015 modern 254 #16,608
2016 modern 260 #16,349

Geography

Back to top

Where Milbourns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wandsworth, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft), London parishes, Altcar and Woodbridge. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochford, Southend-on-Sea, Harlow, Bristol and Thurrock. 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 Wandsworth London (South Districts)
2 Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Altcar Lancashire
5 Woodbridge Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochford 010 Rochford
2 Southend-on-Sea 006 Southend-on-Sea
3 Harlow 006 Harlow
4 Bristol 015 Bristol, City of
5 Thurrock 009 Thurrock

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Milbourn

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Milbourn

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Milbourn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Milbourn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Milbourn 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

Milbourn 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

Milbourn falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Milbourn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Milbourn

The surname Milbourn originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place called Milborne, an old spelling of the town of Milborne Port in Somerset. The name is believed to come from the Old English words "muln" meaning mill and "burna" meaning stream, referring to a mill located by a stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Mulenburne". This entry refers to a manor in Somerset owned by a person with the name Milbourn or a similar spelling.

In the 13th century, the name was recorded as "Milleburn" in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1230. This variation highlights the connection to the Old English words for mill and stream.

A notable early bearer of the name was William de Milbourn, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Somerset in 1285. Feet of Fines were records of land transactions in medieval England.

In the 16th century, the name appeared as "Milbourne" in the parish records of Milborne Port, Somerset. This spelling is closer to the modern version of the name.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Milbourn was Sir John Milbourn (1599-1666), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the English Civil War.

Another noteworthy figure was William Milbourn (1624-1695), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and philosophy.

In the 18th century, the name was recorded as "Milburn" in some instances, possibly due to regional variations in pronunciation or spelling. For example, John Milburn (1752-1822) was a British explorer and navigator who served in the Royal Navy.

The surname Milbourn has also been associated with place names like Milborne St. Andrew and Milborne Wick in Dorset, England, suggesting the name's connection to various locations in the region.

Throughout history, individuals with the surname Milbourn have contributed to various fields, including law, politics, religion, exploration, and literature, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who bear this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Milbourn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Milbourn 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. Surrey leads with 22 Milbourns recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.82x.

County Total Index
Surrey 22 2.82x
Lancashire 21 1.11x
Essex 16 5.07x
Yorkshire 15 0.95x
Durham 13 2.73x
Middlesex 13 0.81x
Northumberland 12 5.04x
Lincolnshire 9 3.52x
Northamptonshire 8 5.32x
Cumberland 6 4.36x
Suffolk 6 3.08x
Nottinghamshire 5 2.32x
Warwickshire 5 1.24x
Cambridgeshire 4 3.95x
Norfolk 4 1.63x
Somerset 3 1.17x
Hampshire 1 0.31x
Leicestershire 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wandsworth in Surrey leads with 15 Milbourns recorded in 1881 and an index of 97.40x.

Place Total Index
Wandsworth 15 97.40x
Walton On Hill 13 126.46x
Byker 7 59.47x
Cantley 7 2258.06x
Polebrook 7 2800.00x
Barking 6 64.94x
Bishopwearmouth 6 14.69x
Heapham 6 7500.00x
North Shoebury 6 5454.55x
St George In East 6 55.15x
Beckingham 5 2000.00x
Birmingham 5 3.72x
Southwick 5 110.86x
East Molesey 4 220.99x
Middlesbrough 4 19.38x
Orton 4 1600.00x
Thornage 4 2222.22x
Woodbridge 4 160.64x
Liverpool 3 2.60x
Midsomer Norton 3 123.46x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 21.10x
Springthorpe 3 2500.00x
Toxteth Park 3 4.67x
Whitechapel London 3 19.02x
Chesterton 2 64.10x
Hutton Cranswick 2 298.51x
Ipswich St Helen 2 86.58x
Tynemouth 2 15.69x
Upwell 2 270.27x
Aikton 1 232.56x
Battersea 1 1.70x
Camberwell 1 0.98x
Chester Le Street 1 27.40x
Hackney London 1 1.12x
Kirkbampton 1 434.78x
Lambeth 1 0.72x
Latchingdon Snoreham 1 333.33x
Leicester St Mary 1 6.98x
Little Bolton 1 4.10x
Little Wakering 1 555.56x
Milford 1 104.17x
Scarborough 1 6.94x
Sheffield 1 1.98x
South Weald 1 37.04x
St George Hanover 1 4.79x
Sunbury 1 52.08x
Tottenham 1 3.92x
Wellingborough 1 13.21x
West Derby 1 1.80x
Westoe 1 3.71x
Woodford 1 28.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 8
Hannah 6
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Sarah 4
Emma 3
Margaret 3
Eliza 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Susan 2
Adeline 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Kezia 1
Lily 1
Louis 1
Matilda 1
Sophia 1
Susanah 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
William 10
Thomas 8
George 7
James 4
Robert 4
Charles 3
Henry 3
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Isaac 2
Richard 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
F.William 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
H... 1
Harrey 1
Joseph 1
Mark 1
Septimus 1
Sidney 1
Tom 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Milbourn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Milbourn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 164 people were recorded with the Milbourn surname. That placed it at #14,624 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Milbourn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 260 in 2016. That gives Milbourn a modern rank of #16,349.

What does the Milbourn surname mean?

A locational surname deriving from Milbourne, Wiltshire, meaning "mill stream" or "mill brook".

What does the Milbourn map show?

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