NameCensus.

UK surname

Minchin

A diminutive surname deriving from a nickname for someone small or delicate.

In the 1881 census there were 739 people recorded with the Minchin surname, ranking it #4,958 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 898, ranked #6,312, down from #4,958 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Cheltenham and Cliffe Pypard, Broadhinton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cotswold, Erewash and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Minchin is 1,043 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.5%.

1881 census count

739

Ranked #4,958

Modern count

898

2016, ranked #6,312

Peak year

1911

1,043 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Minchin had 739 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,958 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 898 in 2016, ranked #6,312.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,043 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Minchin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Minchin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Minchin 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 529 #4,745
1861 historical 438 #5,884
1881 historical 739 #4,958
1891 historical 770 #5,197
1901 historical 916 #5,078
1911 historical 1,043 #4,404
1997 modern 922 #5,862
1998 modern 974 #5,803
1999 modern 967 #5,865
2000 modern 985 #5,769
2001 modern 959 #5,780
2002 modern 979 #5,799
2003 modern 983 #5,669
2004 modern 966 #5,758
2005 modern 956 #5,752
2006 modern 928 #5,894
2007 modern 944 #5,881
2008 modern 942 #5,920
2009 modern 951 #5,994
2010 modern 951 #6,119
2011 modern 943 #6,100
2012 modern 907 #6,216
2013 modern 925 #6,221
2014 modern 929 #6,237
2015 modern 915 #6,252
2016 modern 898 #6,312

Geography

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Where Minchins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Cheltenham, Cliffe Pypard, Broadhinton and Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cotswold, Erewash, County Durham, Forest of Dean and Newark and Sherwood. 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 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
3 Cliffe Pypard, Broadhinton Wiltshire
4 Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret Gloucestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cotswold 003 Cotswold
2 Erewash 003 Erewash
3 County Durham 066 County Durham
4 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
5 Newark and Sherwood 006 Newark and Sherwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Minchin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Minchin

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

Minchin 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

Minchin falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Minchin

The surname Minchin is of English origin, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "munec," which means "monk" or "servant." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who lived near a monastery or worked as a servant for monks.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Minchin can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1197, where a person named Radulfus Muneken is mentioned. This early spelling variation reinforces the connection to the Old English word "munec."

In the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, compiled in 1279, there is a reference to a William Moneken, further solidifying the name's presence in medieval England. Additionally, the Cambridgeshire Feet of Fines from 1345 mentions a John Monekyn, showcasing another spelling variation.

During the 14th century, the surname Minchin began to appear more frequently in various records across England. For instance, in the Poll Tax returns of Yorkshire from 1379, there is an entry for a Thomas Monkyn, indicating the name's spread throughout the country.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Minchin was John Minchin (c. 1535-1587), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs.

Another prominent figure was Humphrey Minchin (1670-1737), an English merchant and member of Parliament for Great Marlow in the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, Robert Brettingham Banting (1801-1859), born Robert Minchin, gained fame as a notable writer and undertaker who authored the popular "Letter on Corpulence" and helped popularize the low-carbohydrate diet.

Henry Minchin Noad (1815-1905) was a British chemist and author, known for his works on chemical analysis and electricity.

More recently, Tim Minchin (born 1975) is a renowned Australian comedian, actor, writer, and musician, known for his satirical and irreverent performances.

Throughout history, the surname Minchin has been associated with various locations, such as the village of Minchen Hampton in Gloucestershire, which may have derived its name from the same Old English root. Additionally, there are records of families with the surname residing in areas like Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Minchin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Minchin 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. Gloucestershire leads with 233 Minchins recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.48x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 233 16.48x
Berkshire 102 18.85x
Middlesex 78 1.08x
Wiltshire 43 6.74x
Warwickshire 41 2.26x
Surrey 35 1.00x
Oxfordshire 32 7.19x
Worcestershire 30 3.19x
Hampshire 27 1.83x
Somerset 13 1.12x
Lancashire 12 0.14x
Monmouthshire 12 2.30x
Herefordshire 10 3.38x
Kent 10 0.41x
Yorkshire 8 0.11x
Derbyshire 7 0.62x
Staffordshire 7 0.29x
Northamptonshire 6 0.88x
Cheshire 5 0.31x
Lanarkshire 5 0.21x
Leicestershire 5 0.63x
Sussex 5 0.41x
Devon 4 0.27x
Channel Islands 2 0.94x
Bedfordshire 1 0.27x
Dorset 1 0.21x
Essex 1 0.07x
Glamorgan 1 0.08x
Hertfordshire 1 0.20x
Midlothian 1 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 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. Stow On The Wold in Gloucestershire leads with 28 Minchins recorded in 1881 and an index of 891.72x.

Place Total Index
Stow On The Wold 28 891.72x
Cheltenham 27 24.75x
Bisley 24 187.35x
Aston 21 4.20x
Bradfield 21 734.27x
Oldbury 20 43.18x
Portsea 18 6.22x
Birmingham 17 2.81x
Islington London 17 2.43x
Reading St Mary 16 36.92x
Binfield 15 361.45x
Cliffe Pypard 12 628.27x
Shipton Moyne 12 1142.86x
Malmesbury St Paul 11 200.73x
Hazleton 10 2083.33x
Lyneham 10 401.61x
Prestbury 10 285.71x
Tetbury 10 124.84x
Winchcomb 10 142.45x
Bourton On The Water 9 312.50x
Cirencester 9 47.02x
Hook Norton 9 295.08x
Mile End Old Town 9 7.91x
Reading St Giles 9 16.95x
Tilehurst 9 82.34x
Bristol St Paul In 8 21.24x
Lambeth 8 1.27x
St Marylebone London 8 2.08x
Walcot 8 12.95x
Aberystruth 7 15.24x
Breinton 7 608.70x
Chedworth 7 343.14x
Down Ampney 7 823.53x
Hampton Wick London 7 132.58x
Hartshorn 7 164.32x
Bow London 6 6.54x
Dymock 6 178.04x
Gloucester St Mary Grace 6 1395.35x
Milton In Gravesend 6 16.27x
Minchinhampton 6 53.29x
Sandhurst 6 57.25x
Shepperton 6 188.68x
Belgrave 5 27.72x
Camberwell 5 1.09x
Glasgow 5 1.21x
Hackney London 5 1.24x
S Stoke 5 240.38x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 3.45x
Tranmere 5 8.55x
West Swallowfield 5 194.55x
Broad Hinton 4 294.12x
Drayton 4 261.44x
Egham 4 18.55x
Everton 4 1.47x
Eynsham 4 141.84x
Hawkesbury 4 83.16x
Kempsey 4 112.04x
Kensington London 4 1.00x
Newington 4 1.50x
Oxford St Ebbe 4 30.53x
Trevethin 4 8.13x
Wandsworth 4 5.76x
West Bromwich 4 2.87x
Woodford Cum Membris 4 275.86x
Bishops Cleeve Southam 3 588.24x
Coln St Aldwins 3 275.23x
Fairford 3 79.37x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 3 11.60x
Kings Norton 3 3.55x
Newbury 3 17.31x
Newent 3 41.72x
Normanby In 3 15.71x
Ozleworth 3 1304.35x
Painswick 3 30.00x
St Pancras London 3 0.52x
Stanford Dingley 3 882.35x
Twickenham 3 9.71x
Wapping London 3 54.45x
Weston Super Mare 3 10.24x
Swindon 2 4.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 49
Elizabeth 29
Sarah 18
Eliza 17
Emma 15
Jane 15
Ann 12
Emily 11
Martha 11
Ellen 10
Alice 9
Fanny 9
Louisa 8
Maria 8
Ada 7
Amy 6
Anne 6
Caroline 6
Charlotte 6
Florence 6
Hannah 6
Annie 5
Catherine 4
Clara 4
Esther 4
Kate 4
Margaret 4
Phoebe 4
Rose 4
Susan 4
Edith 3
Julia 3
Lucy 3
Matilda 3
Agnes 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Lydia 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Ruth 2
Celia 1
Elsie 1
Emelina 1
Essesica 1
Leah 1
Lidia 1
Triphena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 46
George 38
John 31
Charles 25
Thomas 24
James 21
Henry 20
Alfred 13
Richard 12
David 10
Frederick 10
Joseph 9
Edward 7
Frank 7
Harry 6
Arthur 5
Walter 5
Benjamin 3
Albert 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Fredk. 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Job 2
Joshua 2
Oliver 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Wilfred 2
Asher 1
Calvin 1
Chas.A. 1
Edmund 1
Etheridge 1
Ewart 1
Francis 1
Geoe. 1
Geoe.Ed. 1
Hamilton 1
Harold 1
Jesse 1
Josph 1
Leopold 1
Lionel 1
Mark 1
Mary 1
Moses 1
Worthy 1

FAQ

Minchin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Minchin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 739 people were recorded with the Minchin surname. That placed it at #4,958 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Minchin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 898 in 2016. That gives Minchin a modern rank of #6,312.

What does the Minchin surname mean?

A diminutive surname deriving from a nickname for someone small or delicate.

What does the Minchin map show?

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