UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old English word "mynne" meaning "grace" or "love".
In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Mins surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2, ranked #38,825, down from #29,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, St George Bloomsbury and Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mins is 133 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 92.6%.
1881 census count
27
Ranked #29,793
Modern count
2
2016, ranked #38,825
Peak year
1861
133 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mins surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mins surname density by area, 1861 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 | 85 | #18,940 |
| 1861 | historical | 133 | #16,835 |
| 1881 | historical | 27 | #29,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 59 | #29,325 |
| 1901 | historical | 9 | #33,154 |
| 1911 | historical | 40 | #28,913 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 2 | #38,825 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, St George Bloomsbury, Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington), Whalley and St Mary Islington. 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 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | St George Bloomsbury | London (Central Districts) |
| 3 | Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington) | Durham |
| 4 | Whalley | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mins 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 Mins, 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 Mins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mins 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, Mins 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 Mins is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "MINS" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "minn," meaning "mine" or "boundary." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a boundary or worked as a boundary marker.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "MINS" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Mines." This entry likely refers to a landowner or tenant in the county of Suffolk. The spelling of the name varied over the centuries, with variations such as "Myn," "Mynn," and "Myn" appearing in various historical documents.
In the 13th century, a man named John Mins was recorded as a landowner in the village of Bures St. Mary, Suffolk. This is one of the earliest known individuals to bear the surname. Around the same time, the name "Mins" was also associated with the village of Minsden in Hertfordshire, which may have contributed to the development of the surname.
During the 14th century, a prominent figure named William Mins (c. 1320-1390) was a member of the gentry in Norfolk. He served as a justice of the peace and held various administrative positions in the county. Another notable individual was Thomas Mins (c. 1450-1520), a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the late 15th and early 16th centuries.
In the 16th century, the surname "MINS" appears in the records of the University of Cambridge, with several students bearing this name. One such individual was Robert Mins (c. 1540-1610), who graduated from Christ's College and later became a clergyman in the Church of England.
Moving into the 17th century, a prominent figure named Edward Mins (1595-1670) was a member of the English gentry and served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Maldon in Essex. He was a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War and played a role in the defense of Colchester against the Parliamentarian forces.
These are just a few examples of individuals who bore the surname "MINS" throughout history. While the name may have originated as a reference to boundaries or locations, it eventually became established as a hereditary surname passed down through generations of families in various parts of England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mins 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. Middlesex leads with 13 Mins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.94x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Coundon in Durham leads with 6 Mins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1875.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Coundon | 6 | 1875.00x |
| Islington London | 5 | 19.60x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 4 | 28.19x |
| St Giles In Fields | 4 | 439.56x |
| Chertsey | 1 | 120.48x |
| Cookham | 1 | 161.29x |
| Cottam | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 15.43x |
| Muker | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 10.33x |
| St Anne Soho London | 1 | 66.67x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 4.72x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mins 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 Mins 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 Mins households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Assistant Housekeeper | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cord Winder | 1 |
| Draper & Furniture Dealer | 1 |
| Engraver | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Labourer (Gen) | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Locksmith | 1 |
| Packer (Fl) | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Serv Indoor (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Traveller | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Mins surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2016. That gives Mins a modern rank of #38,825.
An English surname derived from the Old English word "mynne" meaning "grace" or "love".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mins 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.