NameCensus.

UK surname

Millson

An occupational surname historically referring to someone who worked at a mill.

In the 1881 census there were 417 people recorded with the Millson surname, ranking it #7,732 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 494, ranked #10,067, down from #7,732 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bradfield and Donington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, East Lindsey and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Millson is 607 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.5%.

1881 census count

417

Ranked #7,732

Modern count

494

2016, ranked #10,067

Peak year

1911

607 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Millson had 417 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,732 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 494 in 2016, ranked #10,067.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 607 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Millson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Millson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Millson 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 237 #9,152
1861 historical 290 #8,686
1881 historical 417 #7,732
1891 historical 501 #7,418
1901 historical 530 #7,728
1911 historical 607 #6,786
1997 modern 506 #9,218
1998 modern 519 #9,327
1999 modern 518 #9,410
2000 modern 529 #9,233
2001 modern 512 #9,288
2002 modern 500 #9,625
2003 modern 489 #9,646
2004 modern 486 #9,702
2005 modern 474 #9,826
2006 modern 482 #9,737
2007 modern 496 #9,626
2008 modern 496 #9,694
2009 modern 518 #9,588
2010 modern 515 #9,821
2011 modern 509 #9,821
2012 modern 500 #9,856
2013 modern 497 #10,063
2014 modern 509 #9,961
2015 modern 503 #9,956
2016 modern 494 #10,067

Geography

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Where Millsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bradfield, Donington and Hogsthorpe, Mumby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, East Lindsey, Camden and Bradford. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Bradfield Berkshire
3 Donington Lincolnshire
4 Hogsthorpe, Mumby Lincolnshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 009 Rotherham
2 East Lindsey 002 East Lindsey
3 Camden 005 Camden
4 Rotherham 013 Rotherham
5 Bradford 002 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Millson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Millson

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Millson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Millson is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Millson falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Millson

The surname Millson is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "mylen" and "sunu," which together mean "son of the miller." The name likely originated as an occupational surname, referring to someone whose father or ancestor worked as a miller, operating a mill to grind grains into flour.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Millson can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Milnesune" and "Milnessone," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that era.

In the 13th century, records indicate that a person named John Millson was a landowner in the village of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. This suggests that by that time, the Millson name had become established as a hereditary surname in certain parts of England.

During the 16th century, the Millson name appears in several historical documents, including parish records and tax rolls. One notable individual from this period was William Millson, born in 1542 in Lincolnshire, who was a renowned scholar and theologian at the University of Cambridge.

In the 17th century, the name Millson gained prominence through the work of Sir John Millson, a successful merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1668. His legacy includes the establishment of the Millson Charity, which provided financial assistance to impoverished residents of the city.

Another notable bearer of the Millson name was Elizabeth Millson, born in 1724 in Yorkshire. She was a pioneering educator who founded one of the first schools for girls in England, breaking societal barriers and advocating for equal educational opportunities for women.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Millson name continued to be found across various regions of England, with many families tracing their roots back to different counties and villages. Some prominent individuals from this period include Robert Millson (1787-1862), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, and Emily Millson (1846-1928), a celebrated novelist and playwright.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Millson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Millson 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. Lincolnshire leads with 131 Millsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.00x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 131 20.00x
Middlesex 65 1.59x
Surrey 55 2.76x
Berkshire 54 17.56x
Yorkshire 48 1.18x
Essex 13 1.61x
Derbyshire 9 1.40x
Hampshire 8 0.95x
Lancashire 6 0.12x
Shropshire 6 1.70x
Cheshire 5 0.55x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.72x
Staffordshire 3 0.22x
Royal Navy 2 4.10x
Wiltshire 2 0.55x
Bedfordshire 1 0.47x
Durham 1 0.08x
Fife 1 0.41x
Gloucestershire 1 0.12x
Kent 1 0.07x
Norfolk 1 0.16x
Northamptonshire 1 0.26x
Somerset 1 0.15x
Warwickshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bucklebury in Berkshire leads with 26 Millsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1625.00x.

Place Total Index
Bucklebury 26 1625.00x
Stanford Dingley 19 10000.00x
Newington 18 11.89x
Messingham 17 1069.18x
Donington 16 680.85x
Broughton 13 710.38x
Limehouse London 12 26.68x
Bermondsey 11 9.02x
Louth 10 66.62x
Hogsthorpe 9 891.09x
Newbold Dunston 9 147.54x
Walthamstow 9 30.92x
Boston 8 40.26x
Leeds 8 3.49x
New Malton 8 164.95x
South Ormsby 8 1951.22x
Southcoates 8 35.49x
St Pancras London 8 2.43x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 8 86.86x
Kingston On Thames 7 14.60x
Southwark St Thomas 7 636.36x
St George In East 7 25.12x
Hook 6 67.19x
Kensington London 6 2.63x
Strubby 6 1463.41x
Sutton 6 41.55x
Wombridge 6 137.30x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.81x
Broughton In Salford 5 11.25x
Corringham 5 480.77x
Hammersmith London 5 4.95x
Holy Trinity 5 5.12x
Little Cawthorpe 5 2173.91x
Paddington London 5 3.32x
Patrington 5 260.42x
St George Hanover 5 9.35x
Wrawby 5 282.49x
Aldershot 4 14.22x
Colchester St Giles 4 50.06x
Sidmonton 4 1481.48x
Thatcham 4 84.39x
Tranmere 4 12.03x
Alford 3 73.89x
Asterby 3 1000.00x
Bromley London 3 3.33x
Islington London 3 0.76x
Morton In Gainsborough 3 232.56x
Ovenden 3 16.60x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 3.64x
West Bromwich 3 3.79x
Basford 2 7.86x
Bilsby 2 277.78x
Bradfield 2 122.70x
Fridaythorpe 2 444.44x
Goxhill 2 124.22x
Hanwell 2 27.55x
Lambeth 2 0.56x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.40x
Royal Navy 2 4.79x
Skirbeck 2 54.50x
Tilehurst 2 32.21x
Whitby 2 14.62x
Alger Kirk Amber Hill 1 333.33x
Beddington 1 12.95x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 3.73x
Ellerker 1 238.10x
Fotheringhay 1 312.50x
Grasby 1 172.41x
Great Bedwin 1 38.91x
Hackney London 1 0.44x
Hoole 1 29.24x
Luton 1 2.72x
Market Rasen 1 27.32x
Reading St Mary 1 4.06x
Sevenoaks 1 8.83x
St Andrews 1 9.06x
Thimbleby 1 232.56x
Westminster St John 1 2.00x
Willington 1 14.20x
Wootton Rivers 1 181.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 14
Alice 10
Annie 8
Emily 8
Emma 8
Ann 7
Eliza 7
Hannah 7
Ellen 5
Louisa 5
Florence 4
Jane 4
Lydia 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Kate 3
Laura 3
Margaret 3
Maud 3
Ada 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Cecilia 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Jessie 2
Lucy 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Comfort 1
Dinah 1
Dora 1
Elizth 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Josephine 1
Katherine 1
Lavina 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Lydiason 1
Thomassine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
John 21
George 15
Henry 15
Thomas 12
Charles 9
James 7
Joseph 7
Samuel 7
Edward 6
Harry 6
Richard 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Edwin 3
Walter 3
Willm. 3
Albert 2
Amos 2
Chas. 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Allen 1
Andrew 1
Aurthur 1
Barnes 1
Benjamin 1
Dandison 1
David 1
Eardly 1
Edmund 1
Elias 1
Elijah 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Louis 1
Sidney 1
Thos.R. 1
Vincent 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Millson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Millson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 417 people were recorded with the Millson surname. That placed it at #7,732 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Millson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 494 in 2016. That gives Millson a modern rank of #10,067.

What does the Millson surname mean?

An occupational surname historically referring to someone who worked at a mill.

What does the Millson map show?

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