NameCensus.

UK surname

Milling

An occupational surname derived from the Old English "myllan" referring to someone operating a mill.

In the 1881 census there were 227 people recorded with the Milling surname, ranking it #11,858 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 242, ranked #17,177, down from #11,858 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Gateshead and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Wirral and High Peak.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Milling is 350 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.6%.

1881 census count

227

Ranked #11,858

Modern count

242

2016, ranked #17,177

Peak year

1861

350 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Milling had 227 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,858 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 242 in 2016, ranked #17,177.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 350 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Milling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Milling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Milling 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 211 #9,997
1861 historical 350 #7,295
1881 historical 227 #11,858
1891 historical 312 #10,744
1901 historical 247 #13,238
1911 historical 219 #14,136
1997 modern 213 #16,948
1998 modern 235 #16,358
1999 modern 233 #16,554
2000 modern 233 #16,524
2001 modern 227 #16,573
2002 modern 241 #16,243
2003 modern 234 #16,343
2004 modern 249 #15,739
2005 modern 248 #15,721
2006 modern 242 #16,097
2007 modern 248 #15,994
2008 modern 239 #16,583
2009 modern 255 #16,183
2010 modern 254 #16,604
2011 modern 250 #16,637
2012 modern 244 #16,793
2013 modern 250 #16,778
2014 modern 257 #16,598
2015 modern 236 #17,477
2016 modern 242 #17,177

Geography

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Where Millings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Gateshead, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Wigan and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Wirral and High Peak. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 Gateshead Durham
3 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
4 Wigan Lancashire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 032 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 030 Cornwall
3 Wirral 032 Wirral
4 Cornwall 048 Cornwall
5 High Peak 008 High Peak

Forenames

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First names often paired with Milling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Milling

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Milling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Milling 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Milling is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

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

Milling 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

Milling falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Milling

The surname Milling originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English word "myllan," which means "mill" or "grind." The name likely referred to someone who worked at a mill, either as a miller or a miller's assistant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Milling can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Mulinarius" or "de Molendino," both of which translate to "of the mill."

In medieval times, the Milling family was particularly prominent in the counties of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. The name appeared in various forms, such as Millyng, Millynge, and Millen, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation during that era.

Several notable individuals bore the surname Milling throughout history. One of the earliest was John Milling (c. 1350-1414), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in the late 14th century.

Another noteworthy figure was Richard Milling (1570-1640), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Sudbury in the 17th century.

In the 18th century, Thomas Milling (1720-1792) was a renowned English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Buckinghamshire.

During the Victorian era, Edward Thomas Milling (1825-1887) was a prominent British industrialist and philanthropist. He founded the Milling Colliery Company and played a significant role in the development of the coal mining industry in Yorkshire.

The name Milling has also been associated with various place names, such as Milling Green in Hertfordshire and Milling Bank in Lancashire, further solidifying its connection to the milling trade.

While the surname Milling has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period, reflecting the rich history and evolution of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Milling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Milling 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 58 Millings recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.20x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 58 2.20x
Cheshire 24 4.89x
Gloucestershire 24 5.50x
Yorkshire 21 0.95x
Durham 19 2.87x
Northumberland 16 4.84x
Middlesex 11 0.49x
Kent 10 1.32x
Devon 8 1.73x
Dunbartonshire 7 11.71x
Cumberland 6 3.13x
Oxfordshire 5 3.64x
Surrey 4 0.37x
Sussex 3 0.80x
Lanarkshire 2 0.28x
Warwickshire 2 0.36x
Channel Islands 1 1.52x
Derbyshire 1 0.29x
Hampshire 1 0.22x
Leicestershire 1 0.41x
Monmouthshire 1 0.62x
Staffordshire 1 0.13x
Wigtownshire 1 3.39x
Worcestershire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westbury On Severn East in Gloucestershire leads with 16 Millings recorded in 1881 and an index of 162.27x.

Place Total Index
Westbury On Severn East 16 162.27x
Warrington 15 47.94x
Eaton In Nantwich 8 2285.71x
Bedlington 7 63.35x
Cumbernauld 7 213.41x
East Rainton 7 546.88x
Burnley 6 27.00x
Cheltenham 6 17.83x
Pannal 6 284.36x
St Botolph Aldgate 6 197.37x
Whitby 6 80.75x
Workington 6 54.74x
Bishopwearmouth 5 8.80x
Burford 5 420.17x
Over 5 100.20x
Rochester St Margaret 5 62.50x
West Rainton 5 243.90x
Brightside Bierlow 4 9.25x
Broughton In Salford 4 16.58x
Everton 4 4.76x
Haslington 4 289.86x
Hyde 4 27.61x
Ince In Makerfield 4 32.57x
Lambeth 4 2.06x
Plymouth Charles The 4 19.61x
Preston 4 5.66x
St Marylebone London 4 3.37x
Horton In Bradford 3 8.72x
Liverpool 3 1.87x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 15.18x
Stoke Damerel 3 9.26x
Benwell 2 55.25x
Deptford St Paul 2 3.42x
Hulme 2 3.63x
Longhope 2 270.27x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 2 45.98x
Pilkington 2 19.96x
Toxteth Park 2 2.24x
Walton Le Dale 2 28.21x
Warwick St Mary 2 41.07x
West Derby 2 2.59x
Woodplumpton 2 212.77x
Abram 1 49.26x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.73x
Barony 1 0.55x
Devonport 1 18.80x
Folkestone 1 6.79x
Gillingham 1 6.39x
Govan 1 0.56x
Great Bolton 1 2.86x
Great Malvern 1 16.50x
Greenwich 1 2.82x
Hampstead London 1 2.89x
Hamsey 1 238.10x
Harborne 1 4.16x
Heaton 1 90.91x
Hepworth 1 112.36x
Houghton Le Spring 1 21.88x
Hove 1 6.08x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.66x
Litchurch 1 7.14x
Litherland 1 18.12x
Manchester 1 0.84x
Monk Sherborne 1 277.78x
Monks Coppenhall 1 5.40x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 5.83x
Poulton Le Fylde 1 106.38x
Shipley 1 8.74x
South Shields 1 16.98x
St Peter Port 1 8.20x
St Woollos 1 5.57x
Stranraer 1 37.04x
Tarporley 1 97.09x
Wallasey 1 59.88x
Wartling 1 217.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 9
Ellen 7
Jane 7
Margaret 6
Alice 5
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Jessie 2
Johanna 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Rachel 2
Adelaide 1
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Charlotte 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Emma 1
Eveline 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Jenet 1
Louise 1
Lucia 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1
Patty 1
Rhoda 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
John 14
Henry 12
James 10
Robert 6
Thomas 5
David 4
George 4
Joseph 4
Harry 3
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Abijah 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Ann 1
Calvert 1
Chas.Edwin 1
Dana 1
Ebanezer 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Thomas 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Percival 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Milling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Milling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 227 people were recorded with the Milling surname. That placed it at #11,858 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Milling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 242 in 2016. That gives Milling a modern rank of #17,177.

What does the Milling surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old English "myllan" referring to someone operating a mill.

What does the Milling map show?

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