NameCensus.

UK surname

Milgate

From an English place name meaning "ridge near a mill" or a topographic surname.

In the 1881 census there were 165 people recorded with the Milgate surname, ranking it #14,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 215, ranked #18,670, down from #14,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Graveney, Boughton-under-Blean, Eastling and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stafford, South Derbyshire and Thanet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Milgate is 233 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.3%.

1881 census count

165

Ranked #14,559

Modern count

215

2016, ranked #18,670

Peak year

2009

233 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Milgate had 165 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016, ranked #18,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 181 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Milgate surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Milgate surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Milgate 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 159 #12,400
1861 historical 124 #17,797
1881 historical 165 #14,559
1891 historical 151 #18,242
1901 historical 181 #16,107
1911 historical 173 #16,361
1997 modern 172 #19,371
1998 modern 221 #17,021
1999 modern 218 #17,258
2000 modern 218 #17,246
2001 modern 209 #17,469
2002 modern 218 #17,338
2003 modern 211 #17,513
2004 modern 222 #17,020
2005 modern 213 #17,435
2006 modern 218 #17,297
2007 modern 208 #18,013
2008 modern 218 #17,638
2009 modern 233 #17,241
2010 modern 226 #17,942
2011 modern 216 #18,321
2012 modern 219 #18,087
2013 modern 220 #18,324
2014 modern 222 #18,355
2015 modern 216 #18,600
2016 modern 215 #18,670

Geography

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Where Milgates are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Graveney, Boughton-under-Blean, Eastling, London parishes, Mersea, West and Winchelsea, Icklesham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stafford, South Derbyshire, Thanet and Colchester. 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 Graveney, Boughton-under-Blean Kent
2 Eastling Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Mersea, West Essex
5 Winchelsea, Icklesham Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stafford 007 Stafford
2 Stafford 010 Stafford
3 South Derbyshire 005 South Derbyshire
4 Thanet 008 Thanet
5 Colchester 021 Colchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Milgate

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Milgate

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

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Milgate is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Milgate is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Milgate 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 Milgate 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 Milgate, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Milgate

The surname Milgate is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, where it was likely derived from a now-lost place name containing the Old English elements "myln" (meaning mill) and "gatu" (meaning gate or road). This suggests that the name referred to someone who lived near a mill or on a road leading to a mill.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the Milgate name can be found in various historical records from Yorkshire. For example, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of 1297, which list a Roger de Milnegate as a taxpayer in the village of Ripon. Similarly, the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire from 1347 mention a John de Milngate, indicating the presence of the name in the region during the 14th century.

While the Milgate surname does not appear to be mentioned in major historical manuscripts like the Domesday Book, there are references to similar place names and variations of the spelling. For instance, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379 record a Johannes de Molendyngate, which could be an alternate spelling of the same name.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the Milgate surname was William Milgate, born around 1520 in the village of Ripon, Yorkshire. He was a landowner and farmer who lived during the reign of Henry VIII. Another notable Milgate was Robert Milgate, born in 1612 in the nearby village of Masham. He served as a Captain in the Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War and was involved in the siege of York in 1644.

In the 17th century, the Milgate surname started to spread beyond Yorkshire, with some individuals migrating to other parts of England. One such example is John Milgate, born in 1643 in the town of Guildford, Surrey. He was a successful merchant and served as a local magistrate.

As the centuries progressed, the Milgate name continued to be found across various regions of England. Notable individuals include Mary Milgate, born in 1725 in Nottinghamshire, who was a renowned herbalist and healer in her local community. Another Milgate of note was Thomas Milgate, born in 1798 in Lincolnshire, who served as a captain in the Royal Navy and participated in the Napoleonic Wars.

While the surname is not as common today as it was in its historical heyday, it has left a lasting legacy in various parts of England, particularly in the northern counties where it originated. Throughout its history, the Milgate name has been associated with a variety of professions and walks of life, from farmers and merchants to military personnel and community leaders.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Milgate families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Milgate 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. Kent leads with 108 Milgates recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.55x.

County Total Index
Kent 108 19.55x
Sussex 18 6.59x
Middlesex 12 0.74x
Northumberland 10 4.15x
Surrey 9 1.14x
Cumberland 2 1.43x
Devon 2 0.59x
Essex 2 0.63x
Yorkshire 2 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 5.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Faversham in Kent leads with 10 Milgates recorded in 1881 and an index of 189.75x.

Place Total Index
Faversham 10 189.75x
Deptford St Paul 8 18.77x
Graveney 8 5714.29x
Rye 8 308.88x
Staple 8 2758.62x
Cowpen 7 126.13x
Eastling 7 2592.59x
Icklesham 7 1458.33x
Bethnal Green London 6 8.53x
Higham 6 800.00x
Newington In Milton 6 1034.48x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 18.41x
Birchington 5 649.35x
Rochester St Margaret 5 85.76x
Hernhill 4 952.38x
Swalecliffe 4 5000.00x
Bicknor 3 15000.00x
Deal 3 63.69x
Earsdon 3 153.06x
Lenham 3 272.73x
Newnham 3 1764.71x
Sheldwich 3 857.14x
St Marylebone London 3 3.47x
Acol 2 1250.00x
Ash Next Sandwich 2 163.93x
Bermondsey 2 4.15x
Boughton Under Blean 2 215.05x
Herne 2 81.63x
Hollingbourn 2 312.50x
Kensington London 2 2.22x
North Bierley 2 23.09x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 7.70x
St Cuthbert W O 2 29.41x
Beckley 1 147.06x
Charing 1 133.33x
Clapham 1 4.94x
Dunkirk 1 243.90x
Erith 1 18.38x
Hastings St Leonards 1 24.94x
Minster In Thanet 1 86.96x
Ospringe 1 147.06x
Peasmarsh 1 217.39x
Preston Next Faversham 1 76.92x
Prittlewell 1 22.57x
Ramsgate 1 11.09x
Royal Navy 1 6.06x
Stanford 1 625.00x
Stockbury 1 294.12x
Throwley 1 294.12x
Tottenham 1 3.88x
Tunstall 1 666.67x
West Mersea 1 163.93x
Wychling 1 1250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Sarah 8
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Jane 5
Elizabeth 4
Eliza 3
Hannah 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Ann 2
Anne 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Julia 2
Margaret 2
Susan 2
Adelaide 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Emily 1
Emline 1
Emmia 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
Helena 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Louisia 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
May 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Rosey 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
George 9
James 7
John 7
Edward 5
Robert 5
Henry 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Stephen 2
Albert 1
Alfo. 1
Benjamin 1
Cornelius 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
J.George 1
Jonah 1
Jude 1
Moses 1
Obadiah 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Samson 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Wallace 1
Wilm. 1
Zeberdee 1

FAQ

Milgate surname: questions and answers

How common was the Milgate surname in 1881?

In 1881, 165 people were recorded with the Milgate surname. That placed it at #14,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Milgate surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016. That gives Milgate a modern rank of #18,670.

What does the Milgate surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "ridge near a mill" or a topographic surname.

What does the Milgate map show?

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