UK surname
A Germanic surname derived from "mild" and "rada" meaning gentle counsel or advisor.
In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Mildred surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 59, ranked #34,401, down from #18,026 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Buxton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mildred is 158 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 49.6%.
1881 census count
117
Ranked #18,026
Modern count
59
2016, ranked #34,401
Peak year
1911
158 bearers
Map years
5
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mildred surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mildred surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 75 | #20,268 |
| 1861 | historical | 109 | #19,693 |
| 1881 | historical | 117 | #18,026 |
| 1891 | historical | 124 | #20,818 |
| 1901 | historical | 127 | #19,893 |
| 1911 | historical | 158 | #17,277 |
| 1997 | modern | 65 | #31,141 |
| 1998 | modern | 64 | #31,562 |
| 1999 | modern | 70 | #31,135 |
| 2000 | modern | 69 | #31,273 |
| 2001 | modern | 66 | #31,394 |
| 2002 | modern | 68 | #31,626 |
| 2003 | modern | 64 | #32,056 |
| 2004 | modern | 60 | #32,684 |
| 2005 | modern | 57 | #33,178 |
| 2006 | modern | 54 | #33,780 |
| 2007 | modern | 54 | #34,042 |
| 2008 | modern | 55 | #34,165 |
| 2009 | modern | 60 | #33,989 |
| 2010 | modern | 60 | #34,205 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 72 | #33,502 |
| 2013 | modern | 65 | #34,059 |
| 2014 | modern | 65 | #34,082 |
| 2015 | modern | 61 | #34,284 |
| 2016 | modern | 59 | #34,401 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Buxton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buxton | Norfolk |
| 2 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 5 | Brighton | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mildred surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mildred, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mildred surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mildred household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mildred is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mildred is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mildred, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Mildred has its origins in England. It emerged during the medieval period, particularly flourishing from the 12th century onward. The name finds its roots primarily in the south of England, where it was first recorded in ancient documents.
The name is derived from the Old English personal name Mildþryð, which itself is composed of two elements: "milde," meaning gentle or mild, and "þryð," meaning strength. This original combination implies a person noted both for their gentleness and their fortitude. Over time, the personal name evolved into a surname.
One of the earliest historical references to the name Mildred can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, although it is more commonly noted in later medieval registers. Various spellings of the name, such as Mildrud and Mildreth, appear in parish records and legal documents of the period.
The earliest recorded example of the surname as it is spelled today is believed to be Geoffrey Mildred, mentioned in the 1273 Hundred Rolls of Norfolk. Another early record features William Mildred, who is noted in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. The surname often appears in connection with landholding and local governance, suggesting that bearers of the name were typically well-established in their communities.
A prominent figure in the 15th century, Thomas Mildred (1400-1468), was documented as a landowner in Kent. Continuing into the early modern period, the name is found among notable individuals such as Elizabeth Mildred (1620-1694), who was involved in the English Civil War as a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause.
In the 18th century, John Mildred (1723-1790) gained recognition as a successful merchant in London, contributing to the economic growth of the burgeoning metropolis. By the 19th century, Mildred had become more widespread, as evidenced by records of George Mildred (1801-1875), a notable industrialist in the Midlands.
Throughout history, the surname Mildred has been associated with various professions and societal roles, reflecting the diverse nature of its bearers. Notably, many have remained rooted in specific regions of England, with some later generations emigrating abroad, contributing to the global dispersion of the name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mildred surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 46 Mildreds recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.03x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 19 Mildreds recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.18x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 19 | 17.18x |
| Middlesbrough | 14 | 95.11x |
| Portsea | 8 | 17.45x |
| Reigate Borough | 8 | 625.00x |
| Great Warley | 7 | 1372.55x |
| Lakenham | 7 | 281.12x |
| St George Martyr | 7 | 364.58x |
| St Marylebone London | 7 | 11.49x |
| Aylestone | 4 | 400.00x |
| Hornsey | 3 | 20.79x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 3.02x |
| Norwich St John Sepulchre | 3 | 263.16x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 3.27x |
| Darlington | 2 | 15.26x |
| Edmonton | 2 | 21.76x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 3.13x |
| Newington | 2 | 4.75x |
| Stoke Newington London | 2 | 22.50x |
| Brighton | 1 | 2.58x |
| Bromley | 1 | 16.86x |
| Cholsey | 1 | 147.06x |
| Cirencester | 1 | 33.00x |
| Hastings St Mary In The | 1 | 24.39x |
| Leeds | 1 | 1.57x |
| Norwich St Peter Southgate | 1 | 454.55x |
| Springfield | 1 | 101.01x |
| St Martin Pomroy | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Swansea Town | 1 | 6.14x |
| West Beckham | 1 | 833.33x |
| Woodmansterne | 1 | 833.33x |
| York St Martin Mklgt W | 1 | 384.62x |
| York St Mary | 1 | 21.37x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mildred surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 8 |
| Ellen | 4 |
| Emily | 4 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Martha | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Amy | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Esther | 2 |
| Florence | 2 |
| Frances | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Remima | 2 |
| Sophia | 2 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Beatrice | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Daisy | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Eva | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Flora | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Hilda | 1 |
| Ida | 1 |
| Isabel | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Lily | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Paulian | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Walter | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mildred surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Mildred households.
FAQ
In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Mildred surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 59 in 2016. That gives Mildred a modern rank of #34,401.
A Germanic surname derived from "mild" and "rada" meaning gentle counsel or advisor.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mildred bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.