NameCensus.

UK surname

Millican

A locational surname referring to someone from Millom, Cumbria, England, derived from the Old English "myl" and "ham" meaning mill town.

In the 1881 census there were 564 people recorded with the Millican surname, ranking it #6,143 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 857, ranked #6,537, down from #6,143 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, Alston and Kirkandrews-on-Esk. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Allerdale and Eden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Millican is 897 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.0%.

1881 census count

564

Ranked #6,143

Modern count

857

2016, ranked #6,537

Peak year

2011

897 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Millican had 564 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,143 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 857 in 2016, ranked #6,537.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 683 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Millican surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Millican surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Millican 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 335 #6,984
1861 historical 338 #7,541
1881 historical 564 #6,143
1891 historical 584 #6,539
1901 historical 654 #6,607
1911 historical 683 #6,192
1997 modern 844 #6,279
1998 modern 858 #6,393
1999 modern 855 #6,452
2000 modern 837 #6,537
2001 modern 812 #6,567
2002 modern 854 #6,438
2003 modern 831 #6,451
2004 modern 853 #6,335
2005 modern 846 #6,331
2006 modern 834 #6,401
2007 modern 848 #6,386
2008 modern 851 #6,417
2009 modern 885 #6,347
2010 modern 892 #6,439
2011 modern 897 #6,335
2012 modern 850 #6,527
2013 modern 867 #6,541
2014 modern 864 #6,582
2015 modern 858 #6,548
2016 modern 857 #6,537

Geography

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Where Millicans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, Alston, Kirkandrews-on-Esk, Dalton-in-Furness and Bedlington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Allerdale and Eden. 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 Gateshead Durham
2 Alston Cumberland
3 Kirkandrews-on-Esk Cumberland
4 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
5 Bedlington Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 017 Northumberland
2 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
3 Eden 006 Eden
4 Northumberland 020 Northumberland
5 Northumberland 013 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Millican

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Millican

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

Millican is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Millican falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Millican is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Millican

The surname Millican is of English origin, derived from the Old English personal name "Milic," which is a diminutive form of the name "Miles." The name Milic was popular during the Middle Ages and was often associated with individuals who had a connection to the town of Milicent or Milston in Wiltshire, England.

The earliest known record of the Millican surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Milican." This suggests that the name was already established in England during the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various forms, such as "Milikan," "Milican," and "Miliken," in records from counties like Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire. These variations in spelling were common during that time period.

One notable figure with the Millican surname was Sir John Millican, a prominent English merchant and diplomat who lived in the 15th century. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1477.

In the 16th century, the Millican surname was associated with several notable individuals, including Robert Millican (c. 1510-1582), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the reign of Queen Mary I for his religious beliefs.

During the 17th century, the Millican surname continued to appear in various parts of England. One example is Thomas Millican (1631-1703), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Brasted in Kent.

In the 18th century, the Millican surname gained prominence in Scotland, particularly in the Borders region. One notable figure from this era was William Millican (1731-1808), a Scottish poet and weaver who was known for his contributions to the literary tradition of the Borders.

Another notable individual with the Millican surname was John Millican (1819-1897), an English-born Australian explorer and surveyor who played a significant role in the exploration and mapping of Western Australia during the 19th century.

As the centuries progressed, the Millican surname continued to be represented in various fields, including literature, politics, and academia. Several place names in England, such as Millican's Green and Millican's Covert, are believed to be derived from this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Millican families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Millican 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. Cumberland leads with 219 Millicans recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.07x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 219 46.07x
Northumberland 81 9.86x
Lancashire 55 0.84x
Durham 54 3.29x
Norfolk 38 4.48x
Suffolk 21 3.12x
Middlesex 17 0.31x
Surrey 13 0.48x
Yorkshire 13 0.24x
Hampshire 9 0.80x
Westmorland 9 7.42x
Berwickshire 6 8.97x
Lanarkshire 6 0.34x
Leicestershire 6 0.98x
Lincolnshire 6 0.68x
Cheshire 5 0.41x
Roxburghshire 5 5.00x
Clackmannanshire 1 2.19x
Royal Navy 1 1.52x
Sussex 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Alston in Cumberland leads with 58 Millicans recorded in 1881 and an index of 662.10x.

Place Total Index
Alston 58 662.10x
Dalton In Furness 36 142.35x
Great Yarmouth 30 42.66x
Bishopwearmouth 17 12.06x
Cleator 16 80.85x
Crosscanonby 16 101.78x
Gateshead 14 11.38x
Nichol Forest 14 1166.67x
Bedlington 13 47.39x
Elswick 12 18.30x
Wetheral 11 174.60x
Escomb 10 132.45x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 9 272.73x
Hawes 9 251.40x
Hexham 9 70.81x
Portsea 9 4.06x
Graystoke 8 952.38x
Blenkinsopp 7 507.25x
King Moor 7 769.23x
Langrigg Mealrigg 7 1346.15x
Longbenton 7 20.12x
Ulverston 7 36.69x
Allendale 6 78.74x
Barony 6 1.33x
Bermondsey 6 3.65x
Bournmoor 6 232.56x
Bury St Edmunds St James 6 33.41x
Downham Market 6 102.92x
Foulden 6 810.81x
Hayton 6 223.05x
Hepscott 6 1500.00x
Holme East Waver 6 705.88x
Rickergate 6 59.64x
St Mark Lincoln 6 319.15x
West Linton 6 722.89x
Castleton 5 116.28x
Dalston 5 136.24x
Ipswich St Mathew 5 26.53x
Lazonby 5 406.50x
Leicester St Mary 5 10.11x
Liverpool 5 1.26x
Lymm 5 56.43x
St Cuthbert W O 5 21.58x
Stapleton 5 714.29x
Above Derwent 4 225.99x
Askham 4 412.37x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 4 37.04x
Pakenham 4 220.99x
Shoreditch London 4 1.67x
St George Bloomsbury 4 12.63x
Walton On Thames 4 32.39x
Westgate 4 7.86x
Ainstable 3 348.84x
Darlington 3 4.73x
Easington 3 1034.48x
Hethersgill 3 267.86x
Mendham 3 209.79x
North Charlton 3 1000.00x
Patterdale 3 223.88x
Rusholme 3 17.17x
St Cuthbert Within 3 54.45x
Workington 3 11.02x
Caldewgate 2 7.68x
Falsgrave 2 24.81x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 2.81x
Holy Trinity Less 2 168.07x
Islington London 2 0.37x
Newington 2 0.98x
Pulham St Mary Virgin 2 128.21x
Scaleby 2 227.27x
St Ann Blackfriars 2 263.16x
St Marylebone London 2 0.68x
Thornton In Fylde 2 13.96x
Bewcastle 1 59.52x
Bildeston 1 67.57x
Dollar 1 21.19x
Fleetham 1 833.33x
Haltwhistle 1 25.06x
Kingwater 1 158.73x
St Cuthbert W O Carleton 1 76.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 39
William 33
Thomas 26
Robert 20
James 15
George 12
Joseph 9
Henry 7
Charles 6
Frederick 6
Alfred 5
Andrew 5
Isaac 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Joe 3
Walter 3
Christopher 2
David 2
Harry 2
Jacob 2
Jonathan 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Richard 2
Alf 1
Augustus 1
Aurther 1
Benjamin 1
Chas.Isaac 1
E.F. 1
Edwin 1
Fenwick 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Gibson 1
Hendrey 1
Herbert 1
Jesse 1
Jonah 1
Jos. 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
L.W. 1
Louis 1
Lowther 1
Martin 1

FAQ

Millican surname: questions and answers

How common was the Millican surname in 1881?

In 1881, 564 people were recorded with the Millican surname. That placed it at #6,143 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Millican surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 857 in 2016. That gives Millican a modern rank of #6,537.

What does the Millican surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Millom, Cumbria, England, derived from the Old English "myl" and "ham" meaning mill town.

What does the Millican map show?

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