NameCensus.

UK surname

Milne

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from the Gaelic "maol an eidh," meaning "bald hill" or "bare hillock."

In the 1881 census there were 13,372 people recorded with the Milne surname, ranking it #306 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16,292, ranked #384, down from #306 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forfar Central, Kirriemuir and Ythsie.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Milne is 16,551 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.8%.

1881 census count

13,372

Ranked #306

Modern count

16,292

2016, ranked #384

Peak year

2010

16,551 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Milne had 13,372 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #306 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 16,292 in 2016, ranked #384.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 15,979 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Milne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Milne surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Milne 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 8,910 #300
1861 historical 9,415 #280
1881 historical 13,372 #306
1891 historical 14,453 #293
1901 historical 15,979 #319
1911 historical 3,934 #1,305
1997 modern 15,799 #383
1998 modern 16,346 #384
1999 modern 16,421 #387
2000 modern 16,208 #388
2001 modern 15,699 #392
2002 modern 16,034 #391
2003 modern 15,642 #389
2004 modern 15,674 #389
2005 modern 15,669 #384
2006 modern 15,725 #383
2007 modern 15,806 #382
2008 modern 16,006 #381
2009 modern 16,309 #384
2010 modern 16,551 #385
2011 modern 16,236 #388
2012 modern 15,763 #393
2013 modern 16,030 #400
2014 modern 16,260 #394
2015 modern 16,194 #388
2016 modern 16,292 #384

Geography

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Where Milnes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow and Aberdeen and Old Machar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forfar Central, Kirriemuir, Ythsie, Howe of Alford and Aberchirder and Whitehills. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forfar Central Angus
2 Kirriemuir Angus
3 Ythsie Aberdeenshire
4 Howe of Alford Aberdeenshire
5 Aberchirder and Whitehills Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Milne

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Milne

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Milne, 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 Milne surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Milne household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Milne 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.

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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

Milne is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Milne 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 Milne 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 Milne, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Milne

The surname Milne originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word 'muileann', meaning mill or mill-town. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked at a mill.

The earliest recorded instances of the Milne surname date back to the 13th century in Scotland. In 1296, the name appeared in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of homage rolls recording those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. Entries included John de Molen and William de Molendino.

By the 14th century, the name had evolved to its modern spelling of Milne. One early record is from 1376 in Aberdeenshire, where Alexander Mylne was a burgess of Aberdeen. In 1466, John Milne was listed as a landowner in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland.

Several notable figures throughout history have borne the Milne surname. One of the most famous was John Milne (1626-1707), a Scottish mathematician and writer known for his work on logarithms and navigation. Another was Alexander Milne (1806-1896), a Scottish admiral in the Royal Navy.

In the literary world, Alan Alexander Milne (1882-1956) was a renowned English author best known for creating the beloved characters Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin. His son, Christopher Robin Milne (1920-1996), was the inspiration for the character Christopher Robin.

Other notable Milnes include David Milne (1882-1953), a Canadian painter and printmaker, and James Milne (1835-1923), a Scottish-born Australian politician and Premier of Victoria from 1889 to 1890.

The Milne name has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Milnathort, Milnefield, and Milngavie, further reflecting its mill-related origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Milne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Milne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13,372 people were recorded with the Milne surname. That placed it at #306 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Milne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 16,292 in 2016. That gives Milne a modern rank of #384.

What does the Milne surname mean?

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from the Gaelic "maol an eidh," meaning "bald hill" or "bare hillock."

What does the Milne map show?

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