NameCensus.

UK surname

Milson

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "mill town" or "mill village."

In the 1881 census there were 652 people recorded with the Milson surname, ranking it #5,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 501, ranked #9,974, down from #5,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Louth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, Ryedale and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Milson is 1,148 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.2%.

1881 census count

652

Ranked #5,484

Modern count

501

2016, ranked #9,974

Peak year

1891

1,148 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Milson had 652 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 501 in 2016, ranked #9,974.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,148 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Milson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Milson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Milson 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 473 #5,259
1861 historical 978 #2,843
1881 historical 652 #5,484
1891 historical 1,148 #3,714
1901 historical 641 #6,716
1911 historical 1,043 #4,404
1997 modern 547 #8,694
1998 modern 559 #8,808
1999 modern 543 #9,068
2000 modern 514 #9,424
2001 modern 482 #9,717
2002 modern 484 #9,869
2003 modern 468 #9,958
2004 modern 464 #10,060
2005 modern 473 #9,841
2006 modern 471 #9,907
2007 modern 479 #9,873
2008 modern 495 #9,720
2009 modern 512 #9,670
2010 modern 540 #9,491
2011 modern 529 #9,555
2012 modern 508 #9,748
2013 modern 505 #9,949
2014 modern 519 #9,818
2015 modern 506 #9,916
2016 modern 501 #9,974

Geography

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Where Milsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Louth, Hull Holy Trinity and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, Ryedale and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Louth Lincolnshire
4 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 003 East Lindsey
2 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
3 Ryedale 007 Ryedale
4 Redcar and Cleveland 009 Redcar and Cleveland
5 East Lindsey 004 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Milson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Milson

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Milson is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Milson is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Milson

The surname MILSON is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "mill" and "tun," which refer to a mill and a settlement or town, respectively. This suggests that the name was likely derived from a place name associated with a mill located in a particular town or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MILSON can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England and parts of Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Milletun" and "Miletun," reflecting the phonetic variations common during that time.

In the 13th century, records show the name MILSON being used in the county of Lincolnshire, particularly in the village of Milson, which is likely the place from which the surname originated. This area was known for its flourishing wool trade, and mills were an essential part of the local economy, further reinforcing the connection between the name and the presence of mills.

One notable individual bearing the MILSON surname was Sir John Milson (c. 1580-1654), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire. He was a prominent figure during the English Civil War and played a role in the establishment of the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell.

Another significant figure was William Milson (1651-1720), an English mathematician and astronomer who made contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1696 and held positions at the University of Cambridge.

In the late 17th century, the MILSON family expanded their influence beyond Lincolnshire, with members settling in various parts of England and even venturing to the American colonies. One such individual was Edward Milson (1675-1742), who immigrated to Virginia and became a prosperous tobacco planter.

During the 19th century, the MILSON name gained further prominence with the rise of Sir Thomas Milson (1811-1884), a British industrialist and philanthropist. He amassed a considerable fortune through his successful textile manufacturing business and was known for his support of various educational and charitable causes.

Throughout its history, the surname MILSON has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including landowners, scholars, politicians, and entrepreneurs, reflecting the name's enduring legacy across various spheres of influence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Milson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Milson 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. Yorkshire leads with 141 Milsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.25x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 141 2.25x
Lincolnshire 128 12.65x
Middlesex 119 1.88x
Surrey 33 1.07x
Glamorgan 30 2.72x
Wiltshire 28 5.00x
Gloucestershire 23 1.85x
Suffolk 20 2.59x
Devon 16 1.21x
Berkshire 14 2.95x
Nottinghamshire 13 1.52x
Kent 12 0.56x
Sussex 12 1.12x
Lancashire 11 0.15x
Somerset 11 1.08x
Hertfordshire 7 1.60x
Durham 5 0.27x
Worcestershire 5 0.60x
Carmarthenshire 4 1.50x
Bedfordshire 3 0.92x
Derbyshire 2 0.20x
Leicestershire 2 0.28x
Northumberland 2 0.21x
Staffordshire 2 0.09x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.17x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.39x
Essex 1 0.08x
Monmouthshire 1 0.22x
Northamptonshire 1 0.17x
Royal Navy 1 1.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashby in Lincolnshire leads with 19 Milsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 599.37x.

Place Total Index
Ashby 19 599.37x
Louth 17 73.28x
New Malton 16 213.33x
Reading St Mary 14 36.78x
Box 13 272.54x
Chelsea London 12 6.29x
Clare 12 325.20x
Sculcoates 12 12.07x
Clerkenwell London 11 7.36x
Kensington London 11 3.13x
Mile End Old Town 11 11.01x
St George Hanover 11 13.31x
Leeds 10 2.82x
Shoreditch London 10 3.64x
Bedminster 9 9.40x
Cleckheaton 9 38.94x
Rotherham 9 25.45x
Scarborough 9 15.79x
St Mary 9 214.80x
Battersea 8 3.43x
Cardiff St John 8 22.22x
Grasby 8 898.88x
Harpham 8 1509.43x
Islington London 8 1.30x
Lambeth 8 1.45x
Liverpool 8 1.75x
Marlborough St Peter St 8 277.78x
Whitechapel London 8 12.82x
Brightside Bierlow 7 5.69x
Coldridge 7 700.00x
Hampstead London 7 7.10x
Holy Trinity 7 4.64x
Pickering 7 88.61x
Stapleton 7 29.72x
Stoke By Clare 7 736.84x
Withcall 7 1372.55x
Barton St Mary 6 118.11x
Braughing 6 269.06x
Bridlington 6 41.78x
Great Grimsby 6 9.34x
Nottingham St Mary 6 2.72x
Roath 6 11.98x
Well 6 2222.22x
Aberdare 5 6.61x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 5 21.95x
Brighton 5 2.32x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 5 44.21x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 4.28x
Claxby Pluckacre 5 3571.43x
Collierley 5 59.59x
Exeter St Mary Major 5 62.97x
Llandaff 5 13.64x
North Muskham 5 427.35x
Oldbury 5 12.29x
Ratcliffe London 5 14.30x
Bromby 4 909.09x
Carmarthen St Peter 4 17.54x
East Halton 4 285.71x
Irby On Humber 4 816.33x
Llantrisant 4 14.40x
Morton In Bourn 4 194.17x
North Newbald 4 283.69x
Paddington London 4 1.72x
Pewsey 4 97.09x
Preston 4 21.46x
Shadwell London 4 22.57x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 3.14x
Wakefield 4 8.31x
Barton St Peter 3 64.66x
Bermondsey 3 1.59x
Boston 3 9.77x
Cadney 3 309.28x
Chippenham 3 25.55x
Frodingham 3 83.10x
Fulham London 3 3.27x
Glanford Brigg 3 83.10x
Mareham Le Fen 3 188.68x
Scunthorpe 3 65.93x
St Pancras London 3 0.59x
St Peterin Eastgate 3 95.85x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 34
John 33
George 26
Thomas 25
Henry 23
Joseph 12
Charles 10
Samuel 10
Edward 9
James 8
Albert 7
Arthur 7
Richard 6
Robert 6
Alfred 5
Frederick 5
Francis 4
Fred 4
Geo. 4
Harry 4
Benjamin 3
David 3
Herbert 3
Andrew 2
Daniel 2
Frank 2
Percy 2
Sidney 2
Walter 2
Wright 2
Auther 1
Charlie 1
Christopher 1
Clowes 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Foster 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.J. 1
Humphrey 1
Hy. 1
Hy.W. 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jeffery 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Joe 1

FAQ

Milson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Milson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 652 people were recorded with the Milson surname. That placed it at #5,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Milson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 501 in 2016. That gives Milson a modern rank of #9,974.

What does the Milson surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "mill town" or "mill village."

What does the Milson map show?

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