NameCensus.

UK surname

Milroy

Derived from the Gaelic words for "little" and "king" or "chieftain."

In the 1881 census there were 862 people recorded with the Milroy surname, ranking it #4,387 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 817, ranked #6,789, down from #4,387 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Old Luce. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Girvan Ailsa, Carrick South and Newton Stewart.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Milroy is 1,015 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.2%.

1881 census count

862

Ranked #4,387

Modern count

817

2016, ranked #6,789

Peak year

1901

1,015 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Milroy had 862 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,387 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 817 in 2016, ranked #6,789.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,015 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Milroy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Milroy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Milroy 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 710 #3,675
1861 historical 656 #4,086
1881 historical 862 #4,387
1891 historical 943 #4,391
1901 historical 1,015 #4,699
1911 historical 287 #11,784
1997 modern 763 #6,790
1998 modern 802 #6,735
1999 modern 801 #6,782
2000 modern 776 #6,942
2001 modern 761 #6,917
2002 modern 773 #6,966
2003 modern 753 #7,002
2004 modern 754 #6,995
2005 modern 742 #7,020
2006 modern 741 #7,052
2007 modern 753 #7,031
2008 modern 764 #6,999
2009 modern 783 #7,001
2010 modern 786 #7,129
2011 modern 785 #7,060
2012 modern 793 #6,888
2013 modern 808 #6,892
2014 modern 819 #6,844
2015 modern 815 #6,825
2016 modern 817 #6,789

Geography

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Where Milroys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Old Luce, Inch and Stoneykirk. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Girvan Ailsa, Carrick South, Newton Stewart, Shotts and Machars North. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Old Luce Wigtown
4 Inch Wigtown
5 Stoneykirk Wigtown

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Girvan Ailsa South Ayrshire
2 Carrick South South Ayrshire
3 Newton Stewart Dumfries and Galloway
4 Shotts North Lanarkshire
5 Machars North Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Milroy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Milroy

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Milroy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Milroy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Milroy 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

Milroy 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

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

Meaning and origin of Milroy

The surname Milroy is of Scottish origin, with its earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French phrase "moulin le roy," meaning "the king's mill." This suggests that the name may have been given to the miller who worked at a mill owned by the king or a member of the royal family.

The name was particularly prominent in the Scottish Borders region, where many of the earliest records of the Milroy family can be found. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Milroy de Dunfres," referring to Dumfries, a town in the Borders region.

In the 16th century, the Milroy family was well-established in the village of Carsphairn in Kirkcudbrightshire. The parish records of Carsphairn from 1691 mention a William Milroy, who was a prominent figure in the local community.

One of the most notable individuals with the surname Milroy was Sir James Milroy (1833-1904), a Scottish physician and medical author. He served as the President of the Royal College of Physicians and was knighted for his contributions to the field of medicine.

Another significant figure was Sir John Milroy (1857-1939), a Scottish engineer and shipbuilder. He was instrumental in the design and construction of several notable ships, including the Lusitania and the Mauretania.

In the literary world, the name is associated with William Milroy (1810-1888), a Scottish poet and journalist. He published several collections of poetry, including "Lays of the Heather" and "Poems and Songs."

The Milroy family also played a role in the military history of Scotland. Captain James Milroy (1792-1862) served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a prominent landowner in Kirkcudbrightshire.

Throughout history, variations in the spelling of the name have been observed, such as Millroy, Milray, and Mulroy. However, the Milroy spelling has remained the most prevalent form.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Milroy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Milroy 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. Wigtownshire leads with 190 Milroys recorded in 1881 and an index of 171.17x.

County Total Index
Wigtownshire 190 171.17x
Ayrshire 144 23.02x
Kirkcudbrightshire 126 104.12x
Lanarkshire 111 4.11x
Lancashire 69 0.70x
Midlothian 45 4.02x
Angus 19 2.45x
Dumfriesshire 19 10.29x
Middlesex 19 0.23x
Cumberland 12 1.67x
Cornwall 9 0.95x
Northumberland 9 0.72x
Durham 8 0.32x
Perthshire 8 2.13x
Stirlingshire 7 2.27x
Devon 6 0.34x
Hampshire 6 0.35x
Sutherland 6 9.33x
Cheshire 5 0.27x
East Lothian 5 4.52x
Renfrewshire 5 0.77x
Selkirkshire 5 6.61x
Yorkshire 5 0.06x
Essex 4 0.24x
Staffordshire 4 0.14x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.89x
Northamptonshire 2 0.25x
Surrey 2 0.05x
Berkshire 1 0.16x
Glamorgan 1 0.07x
Monmouthshire 1 0.17x
Roxburghshire 1 0.66x
Worcestershire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Colmonell in Ayrshire leads with 56 Milroys recorded in 1881 and an index of 890.30x.

Place Total Index
Colmonell 56 890.30x
Govan 44 6.58x
Barony 32 4.68x
Inch 29 268.02x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 25 5.55x
Old Luce 23 328.10x
Penninghame 23 203.18x
Kirkcudbright 22 219.56x
Portpatrick 22 591.40x
Kirkdale 20 11.99x
Kirkcowan 19 508.02x
Liff Benvie 18 15.31x
Glasgow 17 3.54x
Kirkmabreck 16 302.46x
Dundonald 15 65.02x
Kirkmaiden 14 199.15x
Wigtown 14 220.82x
Borgue 13 400.00x
Kilmarnock 13 17.46x
Liverpool 11 1.83x
Newabbey 11 424.71x
Parton 11 536.59x
Rerrick 11 211.95x
Stoneykirk 11 138.54x
Whithorn 11 130.02x
Girthon 10 245.70x
Kirkmichael 10 175.44x
West Derby 10 3.45x
Glencorse 9 209.30x
Leswalt 9 118.42x
Liskeard 9 56.82x
Kirkoswald 8 156.56x
Mochrum 8 120.66x
Shotts 8 24.73x
Anwoth 7 336.54x
Crosscanonby 7 29.41x
Falkirk 7 9.70x
Newton On Ayr 7 37.35x
North Leith 7 13.51x
Ochiltree 7 162.79x
Twynholm 7 360.82x
Ardrossan 6 27.70x
Ballantrae 6 144.93x
Kildonan 6 107.72x
Longbenton 6 11.39x
Paddington London 6 1.95x
Penpont 6 176.99x
St Pancras London 6 0.89x
Toxteth Park 6 1.79x
Accrington 5 5.54x
Birkenhead 5 3.40x
Galashiels 5 17.88x
Newnham 5 485.44x
Rishton 5 42.96x
Winlaton 5 20.96x
Balmaclellan 4 148.15x
Dalry 4 141.34x
Everton 4 1.27x
Kilbarchan 4 20.33x
Langholm 4 30.14x
Stranraer 4 39.41x
Urr 4 25.41x
Walsall Foreign 4 2.74x
Annan 3 18.92x
Ayr 3 10.16x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 4.02x
Cambuslang 3 11.01x
Dalziel 3 10.31x
Girvan 3 19.11x
Gorbals 3 18.69x
Great Braxted 3 280.37x
Haddington 3 18.35x
Logierait 3 45.45x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 4.04x
St Marylebone London 3 0.67x
St Quivox 3 14.18x
Westoe 3 2.13x
Whitehaven 3 7.82x
Maybole 2 10.50x
Richmond 2 3.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Ann 5
Elizabeth 5
Margaret 5
Sarah 5
Annie 4
Janet 4
Agnes 3
Ellen 3
Isabella 3
Alice 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Jessie 2
A. 1
Alexandria 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Eliz.Garbutt 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Isab. 1
Jannet 1
Josephine 1
Julia 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Martha 1
Sophie 1
Tela 1
Williamina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
James 10
William 9
Alexander 6
Robert 4
David 3
Henry 3
Michael 3
Alex. 2
Anthony 2
Charles 2
Edward 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Andrew 1
F.A. 1
Gavin 1
George 1
J. 1
Leslie 1
Peter 1
Saml.D. 1
Samuel 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Milroy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Milroy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 862 people were recorded with the Milroy surname. That placed it at #4,387 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Milroy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 817 in 2016. That gives Milroy a modern rank of #6,789.

What does the Milroy surname mean?

Derived from the Gaelic words for "little" and "king" or "chieftain."

What does the Milroy map show?

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