UK surname
A surname derived from the Middle English word "min" meaning "mine" or "mine worker."
In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Minnie surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 33, ranked #35,829, down from #26,134 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Flamstead, London parishes and Kings Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Minnie is 112 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 37.7%.
1881 census count
53
Ranked #26,134
Modern count
33
2016, ranked #35,829
Peak year
1911
112 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Minnie surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Minnie surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 32 | #27,570 |
| 1861 | historical | 55 | #27,007 |
| 1881 | historical | 53 | #26,134 |
| 1891 | historical | 107 | #22,967 |
| 1901 | historical | 95 | #23,462 |
| 1911 | historical | 112 | #21,274 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 6 | #37,696 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 16 | #36,439 |
| 2005 | modern | 16 | #36,530 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 21 | #36,290 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 21 | #36,470 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 26 | #36,193 |
| 2012 | modern | 22 | #36,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 26 | #36,217 |
| 2014 | modern | 28 | #36,107 |
| 2015 | modern | 32 | #35,876 |
| 2016 | modern | 33 | #35,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Flamstead, London parishes, Kings Norton and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flamstead | Hertfordshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Kings Norton | Worcestershire |
| 5 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Minnie surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Minnie, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Minnie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Minnie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Minnie is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Minnie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Minnie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Minnie is believed to have originated in Scotland, where it first appeared in the 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "mionnag," meaning "small hill" or "hillock." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive term used to identify someone who lived near or on a small hill.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Minnie can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1366, which mention a person named "Robertus de Munnyhuy." This spelling variation, "Munnyhuy," is likely an early form of the modern surname Minnie.
In the 15th century, the name appeared in various records from Aberdeen, Scotland. For example, a document from 1489 refers to a "Thomas Monny," while another from 1511 mentions a "David Mony." These variations in spelling were common during this time period, as standardized spellings of surnames were not yet established.
A notable early bearer of the surname Minnie was Sir Alexander Minnie, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the late 16th century. He was a prominent figure in the Scottish court and held lands in Aberdeenshire.
Another historical figure with the surname Minnie was John Minnie, a Scottish mathematician and astronomer born in 1625. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was a professor at the University of St. Andrews.
In the 18th century, the surname Minnie began to appear in records from other parts of the United Kingdom. For instance, a William Minnie was born in Northumberland, England, in 1735, while a James Minnie was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1778.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Minnie was George Riddoch Minnie, a Scottish artist born in 1856. He was known for his landscapes and portraits and was a member of the Royal Scottish Academy.
Throughout its history, the surname Minnie has also been associated with various place names, such as Minnigaff in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, and Minniehive in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. These place names likely derived from the same root word as the surname and may have influenced its development and spread.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Minnie surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Northamptonshire leads with 10 Minnies recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.57x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northamptonshire | 10 | 20.57x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.74x |
| Lanarkshire | 8 | 4.79x |
| Hertfordshire | 7 | 19.65x |
| Angus | 4 | 8.35x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 3.33x |
| Renfrewshire | 2 | 4.99x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.79x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 3.20x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.88x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.71x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.65x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.16x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.44x |
| Selkirkshire | 1 | 21.37x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.20x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Irchester in Northamptonshire leads with 7 Minnies recorded in 1881 and an index of 2333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Irchester | 7 | 2333.33x |
| Flamstead | 6 | 1818.18x |
| Old Monkland | 6 | 90.50x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 10.44x |
| Liff Benvie | 3 | 41.27x |
| Swansea Town | 3 | 40.65x |
| Barony | 2 | 4.73x |
| Hartwell | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 4.44x |
| Shoreditch London | 2 | 8.93x |
| Bushey | 1 | 117.65x |
| Doncaster | 1 | 26.74x |
| Dundee | 1 | 5.60x |
| East Greenock | 1 | 26.46x |
| Galashiels | 1 | 57.80x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 3.45x |
| Kirknewton East | 1 | 344.83x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 12.25x |
| Poulton Cum Seacombe | 1 | 76.34x |
| Raunds | 1 | 204.08x |
| Sedgefield | 1 | 181.82x |
| St Alban Wood Street | 1 | 3333.33x |
| St Breock | 1 | 312.50x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 4.81x |
| West Greenock | 1 | 13.91x |
| Weston Underwood | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Whitechapel London | 1 | 19.65x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Minnie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Minnie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Minnie households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Shoe Maker | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Blocker (St Hat) | 1 |
| Blocker Wife | 1 |
| Bonnet Sewer | 1 |
| Carrier | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Kitchenmaid | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Laundress (Dom) | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Sack Maker | 1 |
| Sawyer | 1 |
| Scaffold Builder | 1 |
| Serv | 1 |
| Shoe Closer | 1 |
| Straw Factor | 1 |
| Wool Labourer (Manuf) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Minnie surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 33 in 2016. That gives Minnie a modern rank of #35,829.
A surname derived from the Middle English word "min" meaning "mine" or "mine worker."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Minnie bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.