NameCensus.

UK surname

Millet

A French occupational surname referring to a grower or seller of millet, a type of grain.

In the 1881 census there were 199 people recorded with the Millet surname, ranking it #12,880 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 148, ranked #23,958, down from #12,880 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Perran Arworthal, Toxteth Park and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Barnet and Harrow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Millet is 288 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.6%.

1881 census count

199

Ranked #12,880

Modern count

148

2016, ranked #23,958

Peak year

1861

288 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Millet had 199 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,880 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016, ranked #23,958.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 288 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Millet surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Millet surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Millet 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 229 #9,390
1861 historical 288 #8,743
1881 historical 199 #12,880
1891 historical 218 #14,023
1901 historical 216 #14,426
1911 historical 174 #16,311
1997 modern 99 #27,039
1998 modern 108 #26,417
1999 modern 105 #27,035
2000 modern 97 #28,142
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 109 #26,361
2004 modern 110 #26,451
2005 modern 105 #27,203
2006 modern 95 #29,113
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 117 #26,351
2009 modern 122 #26,220
2010 modern 135 #25,127
2011 modern 133 #25,177
2012 modern 145 #23,780
2013 modern 150 #23,653
2014 modern 147 #24,177
2015 modern 144 #24,369
2016 modern 148 #23,958

Geography

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Where Millets are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Perran Arworthal, Toxteth Park, Southampton St Mary, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Barnet, Harrow, Kensington and Chelsea and Newcastle upon Tyne. 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 Perran Arworthal Cornwall
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 015 Westminster
2 Barnet 013 Barnet
3 Harrow 003 Harrow
4 Kensington and Chelsea 006 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Newcastle upon Tyne 008 Newcastle upon Tyne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Millet

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Millet

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Millet surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Millet household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Millet is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Millet 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

Millet 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 Millet 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Millet

The surname Millet has its origins in France, derived from the Old French word "millet," meaning a type of cereal grain. This surname likely originated in the Normandy region of northern France during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instances of the Millet surname can be found in medieval French records and documents from the 12th and 13th centuries. One notable early reference is in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Étienne de Vignory, a medieval cartulary from the Haute-Marne region of northeastern France, which mentions individuals with the surname Millet.

In the 14th century, the Millet surname appears in the renowned Domesday Book, a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname had established themselves in England by the late 11th century.

The Millet surname has been associated with several notable historical figures throughout the centuries. Jean-François Millet (1814-1875) was a renowned French painter and one of the founders of the Barbizon school of art. His works depicting peasant life and rural landscapes are celebrated for their realism and poetic sensitivity.

Another prominent individual with the Millet surname was Amédée Millet (1819-1891), a French architect and urban planner who designed several iconic buildings in Paris, including the Opéra Comique and the Hôtel de Ville.

In the realm of literature, Richard Millet (born 1953) is a contemporary French writer and essayist known for his philosophical and metaphysical works, including the novel "L'Opprobre" (The Opprobrium).

The Millet surname has also been associated with figures in the field of science. Jean-François Millet (1642-1679) was a French botanist and horticulturist who made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy and the cultivation of ornamental plants.

Another noteworthy individual bearing the Millet surname was Paul-Frédéric Millet (1912-1987), a French physicist and engineer who played a crucial role in the development of nuclear energy and the construction of the first French nuclear reactor.

While the Millet surname has its roots in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. Today, individuals with the surname Millet can be found in various countries, carrying on the legacy of this historically significant French name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Millet families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Millet 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. Lancashire leads with 45 Millets recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.96x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 45 1.96x
Middlesex 26 1.35x
Yorkshire 16 0.84x
Cheshire 14 3.28x
Durham 12 2.09x
Gloucestershire 12 3.17x
Warwickshire 12 2.46x
Somerset 11 3.54x
Derbyshire 10 3.31x
Cornwall 9 4.12x
Brecknockshire 8 20.71x
Monmouthshire 6 4.30x
Surrey 5 0.53x
Devon 3 0.75x
Sussex 2 0.61x
Berkshire 1 0.69x
Glamorgan 1 0.30x
Hampshire 1 0.25x
Kent 1 0.15x
Renfrewshire 1 0.67x
Staffordshire 1 0.15x
Worcestershire 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 12 Millets recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.39x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 12 7.39x
Halifax 9 32.03x
West Derby 9 13.42x
Toxteth Park 8 10.31x
Crickhowell 7 786.52x
Rusholme 7 114.57x
Chelsea London 6 10.31x
Chiswick 6 56.87x
Fairfield 6 297.03x
Freshford 6 2222.22x
Little Neston 6 882.35x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 28.99x
Bedwellty 5 20.28x
Gateshead 5 11.62x
St Gluvias 5 409.84x
Stapleton 5 69.54x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 11.22x
Keighley 4 19.61x
Macclesfield 4 21.11x
Normanton 4 156.86x
Battersea 3 4.22x
Bedminster 3 10.27x
Bristol St James St Paul 3 23.75x
Heworth 3 26.50x
Kensington London 3 2.79x
Westoe 3 9.21x
Blackburn 2 3.28x
Clerkenwell London 2 4.39x
Hove 2 14.00x
Liverpool 2 1.44x
Salford 2 2.97x
Stretford 2 15.86x
Tranmere 2 12.76x
Walcot 2 12.08x
Whitley 2 740.74x
Aylesford 1 54.64x
Bishop Auckland 1 12.97x
Bradford 1 2.16x
Brecknock St John 1 30.67x
Broughton In Salford 1 4.77x
Cardiff St Mary 1 5.40x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.75x
Clewer 1 16.84x
Dudley 1 3.26x
Eastham 1 175.44x
Everton 1 1.37x
Garston 1 14.79x
Gulval 1 70.92x
Hammersmith London 1 2.10x
Islington London 1 0.53x
Kirkdale 1 2.59x
Lambeth 1 0.59x
Llanfoist 1 103.09x
Maker 1 49.51x
Mile End Old Town 1 3.28x
Mullion 1 250.00x
Newton 1 5.66x
Newton In Ashton Under 1 23.75x
Paddington London 1 1.41x
Paisley Low Church 1 21.10x
Pendlebury 1 20.66x
Plymouth Charles The 1 5.65x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.23x
Portsea 1 1.29x
St Anne Soho London 1 9.07x
St George Hanover 1 3.97x
St Marylebone London 1 0.97x
St Mewan 1 149.25x
St Pancras London 1 0.64x
Streatham 1 6.98x
Tormoham 1 5.88x
Walsall Foreign 1 2.97x
Warrington 1 3.68x
Westminster St James 1 5.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Eliza 8
Ellen 7
Sarah 7
Elizabeth 5
Ann 4
Jane 4
Margaret 4
Annie 3
Clara 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Catherine 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Maria 2
Selina 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Constance 1
Dorothy 1
E. 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Har. 1
Harriet 1
Jessey 1
Kate 1
Lizzy 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Margeret 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Nancy 1
Phillis 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
William 11
George 8
Thomas 6
Joseph 5
Alfred 4
Henry 4
James 4
Robert 4
Charles 3
Jacob 3
Michael 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Edmond 2
Patrick 2
Archulaus 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
E.N. 1
Elijah 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Hank 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jonathan 1
Patk. 1
Peter 1
Phillibert 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Millet surname: questions and answers

How common was the Millet surname in 1881?

In 1881, 199 people were recorded with the Millet surname. That placed it at #12,880 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Millet surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016. That gives Millet a modern rank of #23,958.

What does the Millet surname mean?

A French occupational surname referring to a grower or seller of millet, a type of grain.

What does the Millet map show?

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