NameCensus.

UK surname

Minett

Derived from the Old French word "minette" meaning a small mine or quarry.

In the 1881 census there were 547 people recorded with the Minett surname, ranking it #6,313 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 943, ranked #6,083, up from #6,313 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hawkesbury, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Minett is 983 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.4%.

1881 census count

547

Ranked #6,313

Modern count

943

2016, ranked #6,083

Peak year

2000

983 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Minett had 547 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,313 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 943 in 2016, ranked #6,083.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 874 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Minett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Minett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Minett 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 353 #6,689
1861 historical 328 #7,771
1881 historical 547 #6,313
1891 historical 605 #6,341
1901 historical 737 #6,013
1911 historical 874 #5,088
1997 modern 945 #5,744
1998 modern 967 #5,832
1999 modern 951 #5,943
2000 modern 983 #5,777
2001 modern 937 #5,878
2002 modern 948 #5,933
2003 modern 937 #5,897
2004 modern 930 #5,926
2005 modern 912 #5,962
2006 modern 922 #5,928
2007 modern 920 #5,992
2008 modern 928 #5,992
2009 modern 940 #6,045
2010 modern 969 #6,028
2011 modern 958 #6,036
2012 modern 930 #6,093
2013 modern 963 #6,010
2014 modern 964 #6,052
2015 modern 952 #6,063
2016 modern 943 #6,083

Geography

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Where Minetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hawkesbury, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, London parishes, Bishops Cleeve and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Fenland and Cheltenham. 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 Hawkesbury Gloucestershire
2 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Bishops Cleeve Gloucestershire
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merthyr Tydfil 006 Merthyr Tydfil
2 Merthyr Tydfil 007 Merthyr Tydfil
3 Caerphilly 013 Caerphilly
4 Fenland 006 Fenland
5 Cheltenham 013 Cheltenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Minett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Minett

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

Minett is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Minett

The surname Minett originated in England during the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "minette," which referred to a small mine or quarry. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near or worked in a small mining operation.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Minett can be found in various English records from the 13th and 14th centuries. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a mention of a person named William Minett residing in Oxfordshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 also list a Robert Minett living in Somerset.

The Minett surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John Minett, a prominent English landowner and politician who lived in the late 15th century (circa 1450-1518). He served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset and was involved in local governance.

Another individual of note was William Minett (1617-1690), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Lewes in Sussex during the latter part of the 17th century. He was known for his theological writings and sermons.

In the 18th century, there was Samuel Minett (1735-1804), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He participated in several notable battles and eventually rose to the rank of Admiral.

During the 19th century, the Minett surname was associated with John Minett (1812-1877), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the former London Bridge Station and the Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Blackheath.

More recently, there was Sir Roger Minett (1920-2001), a British businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Plessey Company, a major electronics firm. He was knighted for his contributions to industry and charity.

While the Minett surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, primarily through immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Minett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Minett 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 144 Minetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.76x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 144 13.76x
Worcestershire 59 8.47x
Cambridgeshire 58 17.16x
Middlesex 57 1.07x
Essex 30 2.85x
Staffordshire 30 1.67x
Warwickshire 28 2.08x
Herefordshire 27 12.34x
Yorkshire 16 0.30x
Surrey 11 0.42x
Shropshire 10 2.17x
Wiltshire 10 2.12x
Glamorgan 9 0.97x
Lancashire 9 0.14x
Lincolnshire 8 0.94x
Buckinghamshire 6 1.86x
Hampshire 6 0.55x
Norfolk 5 0.61x
Berkshire 4 1.00x
Somerset 4 0.47x
Leicestershire 3 0.51x
Monmouthshire 3 0.78x
Northamptonshire 3 0.60x
Derbyshire 2 0.24x
Dorset 2 0.57x
Denbighshire 1 0.50x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.14x
Suffolk 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheltenham in Gloucestershire leads with 40 Minetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.54x.

Place Total Index
Cheltenham 40 49.54x
Hawkesbury 22 617.98x
Wickwar 18 1071.43x
Bishops Cleeve 17 641.51x
Bromley London 15 12.78x
Manea 15 704.23x
Aston 13 3.51x
Winchcomb 12 231.21x
Kidderminster Borough 11 26.97x
Kidderminster Foreign 10 101.52x
Bow London 9 13.25x
Doddington 9 362.90x
Wanstead 9 48.78x
Madeley 8 47.34x
March 8 70.67x
Pelsall 8 149.25x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 7 47.49x
Garston 7 37.45x
Islington London 7 1.35x
Tewkesbury 7 74.95x
West Ham 7 3.01x
Wombwell 7 45.40x
Worcester St Martin 7 74.47x
Aberdare 6 9.41x
Bethnal Green London 6 2.59x
Burnham 6 154.24x
Corsham 6 87.08x
Haddenham 6 188.68x
Iver 6 144.23x
Portsea 6 2.80x
Wollaston 6 135.75x
Bengeworth 5 208.33x
Berkeley 5 85.91x
Birmingham 5 1.11x
Horninglow 5 58.96x
Long Itchington 5 236.97x
Sellack 5 793.65x
St George Hanover 5 7.18x
West Bromwich 5 4.85x
Worcester St Clement 5 112.87x
Avenbury 4 540.54x
Burgh In Marsh 4 192.31x
Camberwell 4 1.17x
Chaddesley Corbett 4 153.26x
Colwall 4 147.60x
Coveney 4 449.44x
Gosberton 4 105.54x
Methley 4 53.76x
Newbury 4 31.18x
Oldbury 4 11.67x
Tipton 4 7.25x
Westminster St John 4 6.16x
Bathwick 3 31.55x
Beckford 3 352.94x
Brandon 3 68.03x
Burton Latimer 3 99.01x
Eaton Bishop 3 361.45x
Fordham 3 137.61x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 3 15.67x
Great Malvern 3 20.63x
Great Warley 3 125.52x
Kensington London 3 1.01x
Kingston On Thames 3 4.80x
Llangarren 3 153.06x
Mile End Old Town 3 3.56x
Mynyddyslwyn 3 19.71x
Newington 3 1.52x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 3 69.93x
Peckleton 3 612.24x
Stroud 3 14.73x
Toddington 3 769.23x
Tormarton 3 389.61x
Walsall Foreign 3 3.22x
Wednesbury 3 6.67x
Diddlebury 2 131.58x
Great Henny 2 363.64x
Hammersmith London 2 1.52x
Horseheath 2 200.00x
Milton 2 198.02x
Ross 2 22.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 35
William 28
Charles 27
James 24
George 15
Thomas 15
Henry 13
Frederick 8
Arthur 7
Edward 6
Harry 6
Joseph 6
Francis 5
Ernest 4
Herbert 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Frederic 3
Matthew 3
Wm. 3
Chas. 2
Jonathan 2
Martin 2
Moses 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Alphonso 1
Arther 1
Curtis 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Fitz-Herbert 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Granado 1
Isaac 1
Josepth 1
Josh 1
Josh. 1
Julius 1
Junias 1
Louis 1
Mathew 1
Nathaniel 1
Percival 1
Wm.M. 1

FAQ

Minett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Minett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 547 people were recorded with the Minett surname. That placed it at #6,313 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Minett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 943 in 2016. That gives Minett a modern rank of #6,083.

What does the Minett surname mean?

Derived from the Old French word "minette" meaning a small mine or quarry.

What does the Minett map show?

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