NameCensus.

UK surname

Minor

Derived from the Middle English word "minor," indicating a person of lower rank or status, or a younger person.

In the 1881 census there were 233 people recorded with the Minor surname, ranking it #11,648 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 489, ranked #10,141, up from #11,648 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Loughborough and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin and Staffordshire Moorlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Minor is 493 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.9%.

1881 census count

233

Ranked #11,648

Modern count

489

2016, ranked #10,141

Peak year

2015

493 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Minor had 233 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,648 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 489 in 2016, ranked #10,141.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 459 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Minor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Minor surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Minor 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 148 #13,028
1861 historical 176 #13,335
1881 historical 233 #11,648
1891 historical 268 #12,087
1901 historical 349 #10,457
1911 historical 459 #8,364
1997 modern 373 #11,600
1998 modern 430 #10,772
1999 modern 433 #10,807
2000 modern 416 #11,086
2001 modern 406 #11,096
2002 modern 414 #11,151
2003 modern 419 #10,875
2004 modern 438 #10,532
2005 modern 445 #10,295
2006 modern 441 #10,411
2007 modern 441 #10,513
2008 modern 450 #10,416
2009 modern 467 #10,372
2010 modern 461 #10,701
2011 modern 468 #10,460
2012 modern 474 #10,254
2013 modern 476 #10,385
2014 modern 491 #10,222
2015 modern 493 #10,100
2016 modern 489 #10,141

Geography

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Where Minors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Loughborough, Eccles, Portsmouth, Portsea and Yelvertoft. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin and Staffordshire Moorlands. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Loughborough Leicestershire
3 Eccles Lancashire
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Yelvertoft Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 025 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Telford and Wrekin 005 Telford and Wrekin
3 Stoke-on-Trent 031 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 011 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 Telford and Wrekin 010 Telford and Wrekin

Forenames

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First names often paired with Minor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Minor

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Minor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Minor household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Minor is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Minor 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

Minor falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Minor

The surname Minor originated in England, deriving from the Middle English term "minor," meaning a person who was under legal age or in a subordinate position. This name likely arose as an occupational surname, referring to a servant or someone in a lower social rank.

The name Minor can be traced back to the 13th century in various English records and documents. One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Richard le Minor, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272.

Minor is also believed to have connections to certain place names in England, such as Minor Marsh in Worcestershire and Minor's Green in Buckinghamshire. These locations may have played a role in the development and spread of the surname.

During the 14th century, the name Minor appeared in various forms, including Mynor, Mynour, and Menour, reflecting the spelling variations common in that era.

One notable individual bearing the surname Minor was John Minor, a 16th-century English theologian and scholar who lived from approximately 1508 to 1570. He was renowned for his academic contributions and served as the master of the prestigious Eton College.

In the 17th century, Thomas Minor (1608-1690) was a prominent English Puritan minister and author who played a significant role in the religious and intellectual life of his time.

Another notable figure was Stephen Minor (1690-1770), an English mathematician and astronomer who made valuable contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

In the 19th century, Robert Crisp Minor (1839-1904) was a distinguished English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London.

William Chester Minor (1834-1920), an American surgeon and lexicographer, gained recognition for his substantial contributions to the Oxford English Dictionary while confined to a mental asylum.

The surname Minor has a rich history, spanning centuries and reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have borne it. Its origins can be traced back to medieval England, where it emerged as an occupational surname, eventually spreading to various regions and leaving an indelible mark on various fields, including academia, religion, science, and architecture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Minor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Minor 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. Northamptonshire leads with 34 Minors recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.90x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 34 15.90x
Lancashire 24 0.89x
Cheshire 21 4.19x
Shropshire 21 10.69x
Leicestershire 17 6.75x
Staffordshire 17 2.22x
Yorkshire 16 0.71x
Monmouthshire 14 8.52x
Middlesex 10 0.44x
Surrey 9 0.81x
Worcestershire 9 3.03x
Derbyshire 8 2.25x
Warwickshire 8 1.40x
Hampshire 7 1.50x
Wiltshire 4 1.99x
Glamorgan 3 0.76x
Gloucestershire 3 0.67x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.98x
Berkshire 1 0.59x
Brecknockshire 1 2.20x
Hertfordshire 1 0.64x
Midlothian 1 0.33x
Somerset 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Yelvertoft in Northamptonshire leads with 13 Minors recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.

Place Total Index
Yelvertoft 13 3333.33x
Welton 11 2894.74x
Hyde 9 60.81x
Trevethin 9 57.99x
Floore 8 1000.00x
Pendleton In Salford 8 24.90x
Clapham 7 24.64x
Leicester St Margaret 7 11.39x
Rainow 7 700.00x
Staveley 7 110.76x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 8.60x
Edgbaston 6 33.76x
Harthill Cum Woodall 6 697.67x
Pershore Holy Cross 6 315.79x
Portsea 6 6.57x
Salford 6 7.56x
Bolas Magna 5 2083.33x
Hammersmith London 5 8.93x
Lilleshall 5 166.67x
Lower Llanvrechva 5 310.56x
Hunslet 4 11.39x
Stoke Upon Tern 4 555.56x
Wales 4 224.72x
Wardleworth 4 25.96x
Hinckley 3 50.17x
Leicester St Martin 3 177.51x
Llanwonno 3 21.10x
Manchester 3 2.47x
Nottingham St Mary 3 3.79x
Trentham 3 45.94x
Bilston 2 13.45x
Brewood 2 90.50x
Bristol St George 2 9.70x
Edmonton 2 10.92x
Ercall Magna 2 141.84x
Hodnet 2 130.72x
Misterton 2 526.32x
Pownall Fee 2 89.29x
Ridgacre 2 344.83x
Stockport 2 7.75x
Trowbridge 2 22.52x
Wem 2 68.49x
Wigston Magna 2 59.88x
Battersea 1 1.20x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.33x
Crickhowell 1 95.24x
Derby St Michael 1 133.33x
Edgmond 1 46.30x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.82x
Fulwood 1 34.36x
Harborne 1 4.07x
Harpenden 1 41.84x
Hartwell 1 256.41x
Horningsham 1 158.73x
Linthorpe 1 7.44x
Little Meolse 1 138.89x
Northampton Priory St 1 7.79x
Portsmouth 1 9.32x
Rugby 1 12.90x
Sandhurst 1 30.30x
Shoreditch London 1 1.01x
Solihull 1 24.27x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.19x
St Pancras London 1 0.55x
Toxteth Park 1 1.10x
Twerton 1 26.53x
Uttoxeter 1 25.45x
Wakefield 1 5.78x
Warminster 1 22.73x
Westbury On Severn 1 56.50x
Westminster St 1 11.93x
Wolverhampton 1 1.70x
Worcester St Clement 1 52.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Annie 8
Elizabeth 8
Ellen 7
Sarah 6
Alice 4
Ann 4
Emma 4
Julia 4
Catherine 3
Frances 3
Rose 3
Bridget 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Jemima 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Charity 1
Christeania 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Eunice 1
Floria 1
Harriet 1
Hephziba 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jessey 1
Jessie 1
Jeturah 1
L.L. 1
Lauria 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
M.A. 1
Margaret 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Miriam 1
Perselor 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 15
Samuel 11
George 8
Charles 6
Edward 5
James 5
Thomas 5
Arthur 4
Harry 4
Walter 4
Henry 3
Philip 3
Frank 2
Joseph 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Antonhey 1
Arnold 1
Augustus 1
Ebenezer 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Joe 1
Jonas 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Chester 1

FAQ

Minor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Minor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 233 people were recorded with the Minor surname. That placed it at #11,648 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Minor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 489 in 2016. That gives Minor a modern rank of #10,141.

What does the Minor surname mean?

Derived from the Middle English word "minor," indicating a person of lower rank or status, or a younger person.

What does the Minor map show?

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