NameCensus.

UK surname

Miler

An occupational surname for someone who worked as a miller or operated a grain mill.

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Miler surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Medway and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Miler is 518 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 452.6%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

1861

518 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Miler had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 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 518 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Miler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Miler surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Miler 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 176 #11,489
1861 historical 518 #5,049
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1891 historical 312 #10,744
1901 historical 76 #25,734
1911 historical 137 #18,880
1997 modern 68 #30,810
1998 modern 60 #31,931
1999 modern 59 #32,174
2000 modern 38 #34,146
2001 modern 30 #34,753
2002 modern 29 #35,030
2003 modern 28 #35,200
2004 modern 38 #34,555
2005 modern 36 #34,894
2006 modern 38 #35,003
2007 modern 41 #34,974
2008 modern 48 #34,629
2009 modern 55 #34,355
2010 modern 63 #34,002
2011 modern 69 #33,532
2012 modern 87 #32,180
2013 modern 95 #31,523
2014 modern 98 #31,370
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Milers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Medway, Coventry, Charnwood and Worcester. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 008 North Lincolnshire
2 Medway 014 Medway
3 Coventry 024 Coventry
4 Charnwood 003 Charnwood
5 Worcester 005 Worcester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Miler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Miler

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Miler is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Miler is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Miler falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Miler is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Miler

The surname MILER originated in Germany during the medieval period. It is derived from the German word "Müller," which means "miller." This occupation-based surname was likely given to individuals who worked in grain mills or owned and operated mills.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MILER surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the Electorate of Brandenburg, dated around the 13th century. In these records, individuals with the surname MILER were mentioned in connection with various transactions and legal matters.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the MILER surname spread throughout various regions of Germany, particularly in areas with a significant milling industry. Some notable examples of individuals with this surname from this period include Johannes MILER, a merchant from Nuremberg, who lived in the late 15th century, and Hans MILER, a master miller from Augsburg, who was active in the early 16th century.

As the MILER surname became more widespread, it also began to appear in different spellings and variations, such as MILLER, MULLER, and MÜLLER. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and scribal variations in the spelling of the name.

One of the most notable individuals with the MILER surname was Johann Sebastian MILER, a German composer and organist who lived from 1685 to 1765. He was a contemporary of Johann Sebastian Bach and is recognized for his contributions to the development of the North German organ school.

Another prominent figure with the MILER surname was Friedrich Maximilian MILER, a German philosopher and historian who lived from 1750 to 1823. He is best known for his work on ancient Greek mythology and his influence on the development of comparative mythology.

In the 19th century, the MILER surname continued to be prevalent in Germany, and individuals with this name also began to migrate to other parts of the world, including the United States and other countries. One notable example from this period is August Friedrich MILER, a German-American artist and illustrator who lived from 1849 to 1925 and is known for his illustrations of children's books.

As the MILER surname spread across different regions and countries, it underwent further variations in spelling and pronunciation, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences of the new areas it was introduced to.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Miler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Miler 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. Middlesex leads with 7 Milers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.99x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 3.99x
Lancashire 5 2.40x
Durham 1 1.91x
Gloucestershire 1 2.90x
Hampshire 1 2.78x
Northumberland 1 3.83x
Oxfordshire 1 9.23x
Surrey 1 1.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Andrew Holborn in Middlesex leads with 7 Milers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1166.67x.

Place Total Index
St Andrew Holborn 7 1166.67x
Toxteth Park 5 70.92x
Chirton 1 169.49x
Clifton 1 57.47x
Eye Dunsden 1 2000.00x
Hetton Le Hole 1 151.52x
Ryde 1 129.87x
Wonersh 1 909.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Amy 1
Ann 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Helenna 1
Katherine 1
Penelope 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2
Thomas 2
Aaron 1
Herbert 1
James 1
William 1
Wm. 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 Miler households.

FAQ

Miler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Miler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Miler surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Miler surname today?

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

What does the Miler surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who worked as a miller or operated a grain mill.

What does the Miler map show?

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