UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "mylen" meaning "mill" and "ing" denoting a habitational name.
In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Millings surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 82, ranked #32,895, down from #23,670 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Walthamstow, Low Leyton, London parishes and Boston (incl. Boston allotments). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Millings is 102 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.1%.
1881 census count
70
Ranked #23,670
Modern count
82
2016, ranked #32,895
Peak year
1901
102 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Millings surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Millings surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 19 | #29,904 |
| 1861 | historical | 58 | #26,585 |
| 1881 | historical | 70 | #23,670 |
| 1891 | historical | 82 | #26,494 |
| 1901 | historical | 102 | #22,596 |
| 1911 | historical | 84 | #24,442 |
| 1997 | modern | 83 | #29,216 |
| 1998 | modern | 89 | #29,026 |
| 1999 | modern | 83 | #29,823 |
| 2000 | modern | 87 | #29,377 |
| 2001 | modern | 83 | #29,617 |
| 2002 | modern | 76 | #30,830 |
| 2003 | modern | 81 | #30,311 |
| 2004 | modern | 82 | #30,468 |
| 2005 | modern | 83 | #30,486 |
| 2006 | modern | 86 | #30,425 |
| 2007 | modern | 85 | #30,954 |
| 2008 | modern | 79 | #31,957 |
| 2009 | modern | 79 | #32,372 |
| 2010 | modern | 83 | #32,396 |
| 2011 | modern | 85 | #32,127 |
| 2012 | modern | 81 | #32,796 |
| 2013 | modern | 85 | #32,658 |
| 2014 | modern | 86 | #32,663 |
| 2015 | modern | 83 | #32,847 |
| 2016 | modern | 82 | #32,895 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Walthamstow, Low Leyton, London parishes, Boston (incl. Boston allotments), Chirbury and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walthamstow, Low Leyton | Essex |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Boston (incl. Boston allotments) | Lincolnshire |
| 4 | Chirbury | Montgomeryshire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Millings surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Millings, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Millings surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Millings household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Millings is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Millings is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Millings, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Millings is of English origin, first recorded in the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "mylen" meaning "mill" and refers to someone who lived near or worked at a mill. The earliest recorded spelling of the surname is found in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273, where it appears as "de Millings".
Millings was a locational surname, originally given to someone who lived in or near the town of Millings, located in the county of Yorkshire. This place name is thought to have derived from the Old English words "mylen" and "ing", meaning "the people living by the mill". The town of Millings is first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Milinges".
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname was John de Millings, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1302. Another early record is that of William Millings, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327.
During the medieval period, the surname was also found in various spelling variations such as Millinges, Myllings, and Myllinges. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and recording of surnames at the time.
In the 16th century, the surname Millings is found associated with several notable individuals. One example is Sir Thomas Millings (1515-1592), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Sir John Millings (1580-1647), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1635. He was also a Member of Parliament for the City of London.
In the 17th century, the surname Millings is associated with William Millings (1616-1680), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton and published several religious works.
During the 18th century, the name gained prominence with figures like Richard Millings (1720-1798), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Bank of England.
Another significant bearer of the surname was Sir John Millings Monck (1765-1834), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was knighted for his distinguished service.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Millings surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 14 Millings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.07x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 14 | 6.07x |
| Yorkshire | 13 | 1.92x |
| Essex | 12 | 8.90x |
| Lincolnshire | 11 | 10.08x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 1.23x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.73x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.29x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.94x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.12x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.43x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.58x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 12 Millings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.26x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bradford | 12 | 73.26x |
| Boston | 10 | 302.11x |
| Wanstead | 10 | 423.73x |
| Harpurhey | 9 | 803.57x |
| Burntwood Edial | 5 | 340.14x |
| Wolstanton Knutton | 5 | 354.61x |
| Wolverhampton | 3 | 16.93x |
| Maldon St Peter | 2 | 289.86x |
| Mile End Old Town | 2 | 18.55x |
| Ashford | 1 | 44.05x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.74x |
| Cheadle | 1 | 90.09x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 6.20x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.61x |
| Heap | 1 | 23.26x |
| Kilkhampton | 1 | 434.78x |
| Litchurch | 1 | 23.26x |
| Sculcoates | 1 | 9.32x |
| Spilsby | 1 | 285.71x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.82x |
| Watford | 1 | 27.40x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Millings surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Millings surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Millings households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 20 |
| Spinner | 5 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Fisherman | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Boilermaker | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Cook Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| Formerly Publican | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Housemaid Unemployed | 1 |
| Labourer In Oil Cake Mill | 1 |
| Office Boy | 1 |
| Plainer | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shop Assistant | 1 |
| Traveller Artificial Flowers (C) | 1 |
| Wardrobe Dealer (...) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Millings surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 82 in 2016. That gives Millings a modern rank of #32,895.
A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "mylen" meaning "mill" and "ing" denoting a habitational name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Millings bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.