NameCensus.

UK surname

Millman

An occupational surname referring to someone who owned, operated, or worked in a mill, particularly a grain mill.

In the 1881 census there were 816 people recorded with the Millman surname, ranking it #4,586 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 850, ranked #6,581, down from #4,586 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and Tormoham with Torquay. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, North Devon and Telford and Wrekin.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Millman is 1,027 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.2%.

1881 census count

816

Ranked #4,586

Modern count

850

2016, ranked #6,581

Peak year

1911

1,027 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Millman had 816 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,586 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 850 in 2016, ranked #6,581.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,027 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Millman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Millman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Millman 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 598 #4,284
1861 historical 500 #5,234
1881 historical 816 #4,586
1891 historical 844 #4,837
1901 historical 994 #4,789
1911 historical 1,027 #4,456
1997 modern 866 #6,148
1998 modern 902 #6,152
1999 modern 930 #6,048
2000 modern 909 #6,133
2001 modern 901 #6,083
2002 modern 933 #6,023
2003 modern 895 #6,112
2004 modern 911 #6,034
2005 modern 889 #6,079
2006 modern 851 #6,310
2007 modern 859 #6,323
2008 modern 865 #6,330
2009 modern 871 #6,445
2010 modern 880 #6,513
2011 modern 860 #6,554
2012 modern 861 #6,459
2013 modern 880 #6,462
2014 modern 881 #6,477
2015 modern 849 #6,608
2016 modern 850 #6,581

Geography

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Where Millmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes and Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, North Devon, Telford and Wrekin and East Devon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
3 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 008 Torridge
2 North Devon 014 North Devon
3 Torridge 005 Torridge
4 Telford and Wrekin 017 Telford and Wrekin
5 East Devon 006 East Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Millman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Millman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Millman, 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 Millman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Millman 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Millman 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

Millman is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Millman 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 Millman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Millman

The surname MILLMAN is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "mylen" meaning mill and "mann" meaning man or worker. It likely originated in the 12th or 13th century as a descriptive occupational surname for someone who worked at a mill, either as a miller or a mill operator.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various English counties, such as Oxfordshire and Essex. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a Richard le Millemann in Oxfordshire. The surname also appears in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1285 as William le Myllman.

During the medieval period, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Milman, Millman, Milleman, and Myllman, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation at the time. These different spellings were often used interchangeably, even within the same family.

The surname MILLMAN has had a long and rich history, with several notable individuals bearing this name throughout the centuries. One of the earliest recorded figures was Sir John Milman (c. 1360-1432), a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reigns of Henry IV and Henry V.

Another notable MILLMAN was Henry Hart Milman (1791-1868), an English historian and ecclesiastical writer who served as the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. He is best known for his works on Christian history, including "History of Latin Christianity" and "History of the Jews."

In the 19th century, Robert Milman (1816-1876) was a prominent British lawyer and judge who served as a Justice of the Queen's Bench. He was also a member of the Privy Council and played a significant role in legal reforms during his time.

The name MILLMAN has also been associated with literary figures, such as Henry Milman (1779-1849), an English poet and dramatist who wrote several plays and contributed to the Quarterly Review. He is best known for his work "Samor, Lord of the Bright City," an epic poem based on British legend.

In more recent times, Howard Milman (1923-2012) was a respected British stage and film actor, known for his roles in productions such as "The Pianist" and "The Last Emperor." He had a long and distinguished career spanning over six decades in the entertainment industry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Millman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Millman 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. Devon leads with 389 Millmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.28x.

County Total Index
Devon 389 23.28x
Middlesex 94 1.17x
Shropshire 40 5.77x
Gloucestershire 37 2.35x
Warwickshire 31 1.53x
Lancashire 27 0.28x
Worcestershire 25 2.38x
Yorkshire 25 0.31x
Staffordshire 24 0.89x
Surrey 20 0.51x
Hampshire 17 1.03x
Cornwall 16 1.76x
Essex 12 0.76x
Channel Islands 11 4.62x
Dorset 10 1.90x
Somerset 9 0.70x
Kent 8 0.29x
Lincolnshire 7 0.55x
Derbyshire 5 0.40x
Durham 3 0.13x
Flintshire 3 1.39x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 2.58x
Sussex 3 0.22x
Bedfordshire 1 0.24x
Cheshire 1 0.06x
Herefordshire 1 0.30x
Royal Navy 1 1.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 32 Millmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.86x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 32 24.86x
Islington London 28 3.60x
Plymouth Charles The 27 36.67x
Tormoham 22 31.11x
Exeter St Mary Major 16 158.89x
Paignton 16 125.79x
Birmingham 15 2.22x
Stoke Damerel 15 12.82x
Tavistock 15 78.78x
Frithelstock 14 903.23x
Lamerton 14 440.25x
Batley 13 17.19x
Chudleigh 13 244.82x
Holy Trinity 13 370.37x
Condover 12 245.90x
Warrington 12 10.63x
Aston 11 1.97x
Bridestow 11 621.47x
Kingswood 11 429.69x
West Putford 11 1718.75x
Ermington 10 164.47x
Lower Mitton 10 108.23x
Hackney London 9 2.00x
Lt Wenlock 9 588.24x
Shebbear 9 358.57x
St George Hanover 9 8.59x
St Sampson 9 83.96x
Alverstoke 8 13.43x
Exeter St Sidwell 8 20.90x
Bristol St Paul In 7 16.69x
Kidderminster Borough 7 11.41x
Milton Damerel 7 534.35x
Skirbeck 7 97.36x
St Anne Soho London 7 15.27x
Stone 7 20.20x
Ashwater 6 253.16x
Barnstaple 6 22.87x
Buckfastleigh 6 77.82x
Dartmouth St Saviour 6 125.79x
Exeter St Paul 6 181.27x
Ilfracombe 6 34.88x
Paddington London 6 2.03x
Sandford 6 146.70x
South Tawton 6 173.91x
St Peter Tavy 6 705.88x
Tipton 6 7.23x
Walthamstow 6 10.52x
West Derby 6 2.15x
Wolborough 6 28.41x
Wolverhampton 6 2.88x
Allington 5 106.38x
Beverley St Martin 5 37.65x
Chelsea London 5 2.07x
Crewkerne 5 36.44x
Exeter Alphington 5 163.40x
Exeter St Thomas The 5 29.34x
Hammersmith London 5 2.53x
Mile End Old Town 5 3.95x
Rock 5 119.33x
Sedgley 5 4.97x
St Pancras London 5 0.77x
Stottesdon 5 158.73x
Uppington 5 1923.08x
Bampton 4 78.13x
Bridport 4 36.87x
Clapham 4 3.99x
Greenwich 4 3.13x
Ilkeston 4 11.35x
Kingstanley 4 68.73x
Leyton 4 14.65x
Okehampton 4 63.49x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 2.48x
St Mary Magdalene 4 59.88x
St Thomas Apostle 4 142.86x
Ventnor 4 25.56x
Bedminster 3 2.47x
Cornwood 3 94.04x
Hittisleigh 3 468.75x
Kensington London 3 0.67x
Wombridge 3 35.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 55
Elizabeth 35
Sarah 24
Jane 20
Ann 16
Emma 16
Ellen 15
Emily 15
Eliza 12
Annie 10
Caroline 8
Maria 8
Clara 6
Martha 6
Susan 6
Catherine 5
Hannah 5
Louisa 5
Lucy 5
Ada 4
Agnes 4
Anna 4
Beatrice 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Helen 4
Jessie 4
Alice 3
Amelia 3
Grace 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Margaret 3
Nora 3
Rosa 3
A. 2
Allice 2
Delia 2
E. 2
Ethel 2
Florance 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Hester 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Lavinia 2
Marian 2
Mary.A. 2
Maud 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 62
William 54
Thomas 31
George 21
Henry 19
James 17
Charles 13
Samuel 13
Richard 12
Edwin 9
Joseph 9
Robert 9
Harry 7
Albert 6
Edward 6
Frank 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Wm. 5
Ernest 4
Francis 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Philip 3
W. 3
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Horates 2
J. 2
Percy 2
Walter 2
C. 1
Clark 1
Earnest 1
Ed.J. 1
Edgar 1
Fraderick 1
Fredk.C. 1
Geo. 1
Keturah 1
Leobold 1
Lewis 1
Llewellyn 1
Mark 1
Montague 1
Norman 1
Oliver 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Millman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Millman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 816 people were recorded with the Millman surname. That placed it at #4,586 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Millman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 850 in 2016. That gives Millman a modern rank of #6,581.

What does the Millman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who owned, operated, or worked in a mill, particularly a grain mill.

What does the Millman map show?

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