NameCensus.

UK surname

Millan

A Spanish surname referring to someone who lived near a mill or worked as a miller.

In the 1881 census there were 431 people recorded with the Millan surname, ranking it #7,555 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 575, ranked #8,995, down from #7,555 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Clober and Mains Estate, Beith East and Rural and IZ17.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Millan is 755 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.4%.

1881 census count

431

Ranked #7,555

Modern count

575

2016, ranked #8,995

Peak year

2010

755 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Millan had 431 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,555 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 575 in 2016, ranked #8,995.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 556 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Millan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Millan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Millan 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 375 #6,361
1861 historical 512 #5,112
1881 historical 431 #7,555
1891 historical 556 #6,822
1901 historical 537 #7,652
1911 historical 184 #15,742
1997 modern 418 #10,648
1998 modern 449 #10,428
1999 modern 429 #10,874
2000 modern 440 #10,629
2001 modern 412 #10,980
2002 modern 434 #10,751
2003 modern 431 #10,653
2004 modern 423 #10,816
2005 modern 430 #10,575
2006 modern 425 #10,729
2007 modern 430 #10,729
2008 modern 450 #10,416
2009 modern 500 #9,862
2010 modern 755 #7,348
2011 modern 554 #9,212
2012 modern 544 #9,245
2013 modern 553 #9,299
2014 modern 575 #9,068
2015 modern 575 #9,009
2016 modern 575 #8,995

Geography

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Where Millans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Clober and Mains Estate, Beith East and Rural, IZ17, Kingston West and Dumbreck and Greenock West and Central. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Monkland Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Clober and Mains Estate East Dunbartonshire
2 Beith East and Rural North Ayrshire
3 IZ17 West Dunbartonshire
4 Kingston West and Dumbreck Glasgow City
5 Greenock West and Central Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Millan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Millan

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Millan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Millan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Millan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Millan is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Millan falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Millan 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Millan

The surname "MILLAN" has its origins in Scotland and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "muilionn," which means "mill." This suggests that the original bearers of this name were likely associated with mills or lived near mills.

In the early records, the name appears with various spellings, such as "Millan," "Milne," and "Mylne." One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where a Robert de Milne from Berwickshire swore fealty to King Edward I of England.

The surname "MILLAN" is also associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Millhills and Milltown. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and mills.

One notable early bearer of the name was John Millan, a Scottish theologian and philosopher born in 1579. He served as the principal of the University of Glasgow from 1637 until his death in 1657.

In the 17th century, Andrew Millan, a Scottish mathematician and astronomer, made significant contributions to the field of astronomy. He was born in 1628 and died in 1701.

Another prominent figure with the surname "MILLAN" was William Millan, a Scottish poet and playwright born in 1692. He is best known for his satirical works, which often criticized the social and political issues of his time.

During the 18th century, Alexander Millan, a Scottish soldier and military engineer, played a crucial role in the construction of fortifications in North America. He was born in 1736 and died in 1809.

In the 19th century, James Millan, a Scottish industrialist, made significant contributions to the development of the textile industry in Scotland. He was born in 1810 and died in 1885.

Throughout history, the surname "MILLAN" has been associated with various professions and areas of expertise, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of its bearers. While the name originated in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Millan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Millan 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. Lanarkshire leads with 145 Millans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.71x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 145 10.71x
Angus 38 9.80x
Midlothian 34 6.07x
Lancashire 33 0.66x
Ayrshire 23 7.34x
Surrey 22 1.08x
Middlesex 19 0.45x
Renfrewshire 14 4.32x
Yorkshire 13 0.31x
Cheshire 7 0.76x
Dunbartonshire 7 6.23x
Kent 7 0.49x
Orkney 7 15.20x
Wigtownshire 7 12.60x
Durham 5 0.40x
Monmouthshire 5 1.65x
Aberdeenshire 4 1.03x
Devon 3 0.34x
Gloucestershire 3 0.37x
Lincolnshire 3 0.45x
Peeblesshire 3 15.24x
Stirlingshire 3 1.94x
Warwickshire 3 0.28x
Cumberland 2 0.56x
Fife 2 0.81x
Glamorgan 2 0.27x
Perthshire 2 1.06x
Argyllshire 1 0.86x
Banffshire 1 1.15x
Bedfordshire 1 0.46x
Derbyshire 1 0.15x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.08x
Inverness-shire 1 0.80x
Northumberland 1 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.18x
Royal Navy 1 2.01x
Shropshire 1 0.28x
Somerset 1 0.15x
West Lothian 1 1.59x
Westmorland 1 1.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 39 Millans recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.39x.

Place Total Index
Barony 39 11.39x
Govan 37 11.05x
Glasgow 35 14.56x
Dundee 29 20.04x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 13 5.76x
Camberwell 12 4.49x
Blantyre 9 63.88x
Edinburgh Newington 8 800.00x
Deal 7 57.47x
Stronsay Eday 7 232.56x
Edinburgh St Johns 6 169.49x
Neilston 6 36.86x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 7.13x
Stevenston 6 73.53x
Cambusnethan 5 16.63x
Cardross 5 37.04x
East Kilbride 5 86.21x
Houston Killallan 5 159.24x
Inveresk 5 32.94x
Kilbirnie 5 66.49x
Liff Benvie 5 8.50x
Liverpool 5 1.66x
New Monkland 5 12.50x
Old Monkland 5 9.31x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.20x
Chelsea London 4 3.17x
Hulme 4 3.86x
Kingston On Thames 4 8.17x
Leeds 4 1.71x
Mochrum 4 120.48x
Oxton 4 76.63x
Preston 4 3.01x
St Marylebone London 4 1.79x
St Quivox 4 37.77x
Trevethin 4 14.00x
Westoe 4 5.67x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 3 4.14x
Birmingham 3 0.85x
Blackburn 3 2.27x
Burringham 3 384.62x
Eston 3 33.22x
Kensington London 3 1.29x
Liscard 3 18.03x
Peebles 3 51.55x
Stainland Cum Old 3 42.25x
West Kilbride 3 100.67x
Bothwell 2 5.45x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.54x
Coylton 2 45.05x
Everton 2 1.26x
Kirkdale 2 2.39x
New Kilpatrick 2 18.69x
Over Darwen 2 5.04x
Penninghame 2 35.27x
St Vigeans 2 9.56x
Wavertree 2 12.59x
West Greenock 2 3.44x
Ystradyfodwg 2 3.13x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 0.92x
Auchtergaven 1 31.75x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.48x
Bridgewater 1 5.47x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 3.65x
Cathcart 1 5.70x
Cummertrees 1 63.69x
Dalston 1 35.97x
Dunipace 1 37.04x
Dunstable 1 15.02x
East Stonehouse 1 5.83x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 9.17x
Formby 1 17.79x
Hackney London 1 0.43x
Harris 1 15.92x
Kilmarnock 1 2.68x
Montrose 1 4.26x
Nether Staveley 1 217.39x
Richmond 1 15.43x
Rudford 1 322.58x
Sheffield 1 0.76x
West Calder 1 9.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Emma 5
Margaret 5
Ann 4
Jane 4
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Bridget 2
Charlotte 2
Emily 2
Jessie 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Betsy 1
Clara 1
Clare 1
Cora... 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Isabebella 1
Janet 1
Julia 1
Lauran 1
Louisa 1
MC 1
Mabel 1
Margret 1
Maud 1
Medora 1
Merrile 1
Minnie 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1
Susan 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
John 6
James 5
Ernest 3
Michael 3
Thomas 3
Alexander 2
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
George 2
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
F.L. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Leon 1
Manwell 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Wm.Arthur 1

FAQ

Millan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Millan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 431 people were recorded with the Millan surname. That placed it at #7,555 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Millan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 575 in 2016. That gives Millan a modern rank of #8,995.

What does the Millan surname mean?

A Spanish surname referring to someone who lived near a mill or worked as a miller.

What does the Millan map show?

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