NameCensus.

UK surname

Millen

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Maoláin," meaning "descendant of a devotee of Saint John."

In the 1881 census there were 790 people recorded with the Millen surname, ranking it #4,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,513, ranked #4,090, up from #4,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashford and Maidstone.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Millen is 1,593 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91.5%.

1881 census count

790

Ranked #4,709

Modern count

1,513

2016, ranked #4,090

Peak year

2002

1,593 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Millen had 790 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,513 in 2016, ranked #4,090.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,272 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Millen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Millen surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Millen 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 776 #3,443
1861 historical 1,027 #2,728
1881 historical 790 #4,709
1891 historical 1,272 #3,396
1901 historical 1,268 #3,912
1911 historical 1,206 #3,905
1997 modern 1,512 #3,877
1998 modern 1,553 #3,933
1999 modern 1,558 #3,956
2000 modern 1,571 #3,909
2001 modern 1,524 #3,932
2002 modern 1,593 #3,869
2003 modern 1,512 #3,974
2004 modern 1,491 #4,024
2005 modern 1,441 #4,092
2006 modern 1,465 #4,050
2007 modern 1,487 #4,031
2008 modern 1,486 #4,069
2009 modern 1,543 #4,011
2010 modern 1,589 #3,976
2011 modern 1,556 #4,019
2012 modern 1,522 #4,026
2013 modern 1,531 #4,082
2014 modern 1,551 #4,049
2015 modern 1,531 #4,061
2016 modern 1,513 #4,090

Geography

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Where Millens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, Glasgow, Sittingbourne and Maidstone, Linton, Loddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashford and Maidstone. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Lambeth London (South Districts)
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Sittingbourne Kent
5 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashford 011 Ashford
2 Maidstone 013 Maidstone
3 Ashford 012 Ashford
4 Ashford 014 Ashford
5 Maidstone 017 Maidstone

Forenames

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First names often paired with Millen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Millen

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Millen, 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 Millen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Millen 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Millen is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Millen 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

Millen falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Millen 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 Millen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Millen

The surname Millen has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "milne," which referred to a mill or a mill worker. This suggests that the name was likely first adopted by someone who worked at or lived near a mill.

In medieval England, mills were a vital part of the economy, and the name Millen would have been associated with those involved in the milling industry. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a certain Radulfus Milner is mentioned.

As time passed, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Milner, Millner, and Millener. These variations reflect the regional dialects and scribal inconsistencies of the time. Place names such as Milnrow in Lancashire and Milnhay in Devon may also have influenced the development of the surname.

One notable figure in history who bore the name Millen was William Millen, a 16th-century English composer and organist. He served as the organist at the Chapel Royal during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603).

In the 17th century, John Millen (1628-1701) was a prominent English merchant and philanthropist. He made his fortune through international trade and left a substantial portion of his wealth to charities and educational institutions upon his death.

Moving into the 18th century, we find James Millen (1736-1809), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He played a crucial role in several battles against the French and Spanish fleets.

In the 19th century, Sir John Millen (1856-1937) was a prominent Australian politician who served as the Premier of New South Wales from 1919 to 1920. He was known for his efforts in promoting industrial development and infrastructure projects.

Lastly, in the 20th century, Samuel Gueron Millen (1909-1997) was a prominent American architect known for his modernist designs. Some of his notable works include the Yale University Art Gallery and the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Millen throughout history, highlighting its English origins and association with various professions and accomplishments over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Millen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Millen 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 336 Millens recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.88x.

County Total Index
Kent 336 12.88x
Surrey 96 2.58x
Lanarkshire 86 3.48x
Middlesex 56 0.73x
Renfrewshire 32 5.40x
Sussex 30 2.33x
Lancashire 22 0.24x
Angus 14 1.98x
Aberdeenshire 12 1.69x
Durham 12 0.53x
Northamptonshire 11 1.53x
Cheshire 10 0.59x
Hampshire 10 0.64x
Yorkshire 10 0.13x
Northumberland 9 0.79x
Essex 8 0.53x
Oxfordshire 5 1.06x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.65x
Clackmannanshire 3 4.75x
Devon 3 0.19x
Fife 3 0.66x
Cornwall 2 0.23x
Cumberland 2 0.30x
Gloucestershire 2 0.13x
Staffordshire 2 0.08x
Warwickshire 2 0.10x
Ayrshire 1 0.17x
Roxburghshire 1 0.72x
Worcestershire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 34 Millens recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.10x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 34 5.10x
Sittingbourne 32 155.26x
Battersea 22 7.82x
Barony 21 3.35x
Bethersden 21 789.47x
Ashford 19 74.77x
Maidstone 18 23.16x
Lynsted 15 443.79x
Rutherglen 15 41.33x
Cathcart 14 43.65x
St Pancras London 14 2.27x
Charing 13 368.27x
Great Chart 13 666.67x
Camberwell 12 2.46x
Govan 12 1.96x
Lenham 12 230.33x
Rainham 11 153.42x
Smarden 11 369.13x
Folkestone 10 19.76x
Newhills 10 68.97x
Cambusnethan 9 16.38x
Croydon 9 4.35x
Glasgow 9 2.05x
Maryhill 9 18.59x
Tenterden 9 97.83x
Edenbridge 8 156.25x
Islington London 8 1.08x
Little Horsted 8 1012.66x
Minster In Sheppey 8 18.51x
Brighton 7 2.69x
Deal 7 31.45x
Hackney London 7 1.63x
Margate St John Baptist 7 14.65x
Molash 7 795.45x
Newington 7 2.48x
Teynham 7 148.94x
Westwell 7 268.20x
Wouldham 7 210.84x
Culworth 6 491.80x
Faversham 6 24.12x
Fawley 6 120.72x
Holwick 6 967.74x
Hothfield 6 705.88x
Lamberhurstsussex 6 357.14x
Renfrew 6 30.66x
St Vigeans 6 15.69x
Tynemouth 6 9.85x
West Derby 6 2.26x
Acol 5 641.03x
Bishopwearmouth 5 2.56x
Burford 5 121.95x
Dundee 5 1.89x
New Monkland 5 6.84x
Newnham 5 609.76x
Old Romney 5 1282.05x
Preston 5 2.06x
Seasalter 5 151.52x
Shoreditch London 5 1.51x
Snodland 5 67.57x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 3.25x
St George In East 5 9.61x
Wadhurst 5 59.03x
Warkworth 5 77.28x
Burrill Cum Cowling 4 1538.46x
Cheadle 4 12.41x
Chester St Oswald 4 13.08x
Eastling 4 317.46x
Harwich St Nicholas 4 34.31x
Kilbarchan 4 22.22x
Rolvenden 4 118.34x
Shoreham 4 107.82x
Brenzett 3 370.37x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.49x
Dunfermline 3 4.31x
East Malling 3 48.08x
Kensington London 3 0.71x
Little Marlow 3 117.19x
Port Glasgow 3 10.47x
Shildon 3 16.41x
St George Hanover 3 3.01x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 39
George 31
Thomas 21
Charles 17
William 15
James 14
Walter 10
Frederick 9
Stephen 9
Ernest 8
Henry 8
Albert 7
Alfred 6
Edward 5
Frank 5
Harry 5
Joseph 4
Percy 4
Robert 4
Thos. 4
Arthur 3
David 3
Geo. 3
Herbert 3
Horace 3
Lewis 3
Anthony 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Jesse 2
Michael 2
Ralph 2
Richard 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Alfd.Charles 1
Benjamin 1
Charley 1
Civil 1
Clarence 1
Cornelius 1
Eli 1
Fredrick 1
Goerge 1
J. 1
Leonard 1
Osmond 1
Percival 1
Peter 1

FAQ

Millen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Millen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 790 people were recorded with the Millen surname. That placed it at #4,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Millen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,513 in 2016. That gives Millen a modern rank of #4,090.

What does the Millen surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Maoláin," meaning "descendant of a devotee of Saint John."

What does the Millen map show?

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