NameCensus.

UK surname

Mitcham

A locational surname referring to a place in Surrey, England, likely derived from Old English for "large settlement."

In the 1881 census there were 421 people recorded with the Mitcham surname, ranking it #7,681 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 540, ranked #9,422, down from #7,681 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Combe St Nicholas, Paddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fylde, Boston and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mitcham is 588 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.3%.

1881 census count

421

Ranked #7,681

Modern count

540

2016, ranked #9,422

Peak year

2002

588 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mitcham had 421 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,681 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 540 in 2016, ranked #9,422.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 555 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mitcham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mitcham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mitcham 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 184 #11,120
1861 historical 356 #7,171
1881 historical 421 #7,681
1891 historical 503 #7,395
1901 historical 493 #8,133
1911 historical 555 #7,231
1997 modern 555 #8,600
1998 modern 567 #8,715
1999 modern 584 #8,595
2000 modern 572 #8,681
2001 modern 573 #8,552
2002 modern 588 #8,565
2003 modern 557 #8,758
2004 modern 558 #8,775
2005 modern 553 #8,749
2006 modern 540 #8,939
2007 modern 534 #9,102
2008 modern 544 #9,041
2009 modern 556 #9,093
2010 modern 569 #9,124
2011 modern 554 #9,212
2012 modern 552 #9,138
2013 modern 541 #9,459
2014 modern 555 #9,316
2015 modern 538 #9,489
2016 modern 540 #9,422

Geography

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Where Mitchams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Combe St Nicholas, Paddington, London parishes, Boston (incl. Boston allotments) and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fylde, Boston, Babergh, Sheffield and East Cambridgeshire. 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 Combe St Nicholas Somerset
2 Paddington London (West Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fylde 006 Fylde
2 Boston 002 Boston
3 Babergh 009 Babergh
4 Sheffield 076 Sheffield
5 East Cambridgeshire 008 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mitcham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mitcham

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mitcham is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mitcham 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

Mitcham falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mitcham

The surname Mitcham has its origins in England, tracing back to the 11th century. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Mitcham in Surrey, which itself comes from the Old English words "myccg" meaning "big" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village." This suggests that the original bearer of the surname hailed from the sizable village of Mitcham.

Mitcham is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This early reference underscores the antiquity of the place name and its subsequent adoption as a surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Mitcham can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Surrey, dated 1199, where a William de Micham is listed. The prefix "de" indicates the locational origin of the surname, further solidifying its connection to the village of Mitcham.

Over the centuries, the surname has seen various spellings, including Mycham, Mitcham, and Mitchum, reflecting the evolution of the English language and local dialects. Notable bearers of the Mitcham surname include John Mitcham (c. 1550-1618), an English clergyman and author, and William Mitcham (c. 1600-1670), a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses in the early colonial period of North America.

In more recent history, Sir Osbert Mitcham (1878-1952) was a distinguished British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to China from 1926 to 1932. Another prominent figure was Evelyn Mitcham (1908-1998), an English actress and singer who performed on stage and in films throughout the mid-20th century.

Sir Geoffrey Mitcham (1920-2003), a renowned British architect, left a lasting impact on the built environment of London and other cities through his innovative and influential designs. His most notable works include the Barbican Centre and the Millennium Bridge in London.

While the surname Mitcham may have originated from a specific place, its bearers have made their mark in various fields across different eras, contributing to the rich tapestry of history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mitcham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mitcham 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. Middlesex leads with 135 Mitchams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.30x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 135 3.30x
Somerset 63 9.58x
Surrey 47 2.36x
Cambridgeshire 23 8.88x
Devon 20 2.35x
Lancashire 16 0.33x
Berkshire 15 4.89x
Lincolnshire 13 1.99x
Dorset 12 4.47x
Kent 10 0.72x
Essex 9 1.12x
Gloucestershire 9 1.12x
Yorkshire 7 0.17x
Durham 6 0.49x
Cheshire 5 0.55x
Worcestershire 5 0.94x
Norfolk 4 0.64x
Huntingdonshire 3 3.70x
Monmouthshire 3 1.02x
Suffolk 3 0.60x
Wiltshire 3 0.83x
Hampshire 2 0.24x
Northumberland 2 0.33x
Hertfordshire 1 0.35x
Lanarkshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 2.05x
Sussex 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. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 20 Mitchams recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.31x.

Place Total Index
Paddington London 20 13.31x
Kensington London 18 7.92x
St Pancras London 18 5.47x
Lambeth 16 4.49x
Boston 12 60.51x
Edmonton 12 36.44x
Elm 11 433.07x
Buckland St Mary 10 1176.47x
Sandhurst 10 168.35x
St Marylebone London 10 4.58x
Curry Rivell 9 409.09x
Salford 9 6.31x
St Botolph Aldgate 9 161.29x
Bickenhall 8 3200.00x
Combe St Nicholas 8 503.14x
Crewkerne 8 114.45x
Newington 8 5.30x
Staines 8 123.65x
Whittlesey St Mary St 8 88.50x
Bermondsey 7 5.75x
Clerkenwell London 7 7.26x
Exeter Holy Trinity 7 210.21x
Limehouse London 7 15.60x
Romford 7 54.90x
Tong 7 89.51x
Corfe 6 1111.11x
Taunton St James 6 62.50x
West Herrington 6 140.85x
Warmwell 5 2000.00x
Whistones 5 129.53x
Battersea 4 2.66x
Bristol St George 4 10.79x
Camberwell 4 1.53x
Honiton 4 84.93x
Hurdsfield 4 72.07x
Norwich St Paul 4 106.38x
Spotland 4 7.42x
Upottery 4 392.16x
Broadwinsor 3 170.45x
Chatteris 3 45.39x
Chislehurst 3 40.11x
Hampstead London 3 4.71x
Hurst 3 74.63x
Islington London 3 0.76x
Melksham 3 47.77x
Ramsey 3 46.15x
Risca 3 53.86x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 3.65x
St George In East 3 10.79x
St George Martyr 3 43.54x
Tottenham 3 4.61x
Walmer 3 49.51x
Walton On Hill 3 11.42x
Barkham 2 645.16x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.13x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 2.65x
Chard 2 25.09x
Croydon 2 1.81x
Egham 2 16.35x
Horfield 2 24.78x
Milton Abbas 2 151.52x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 6.35x
Sherborne 2 25.32x
St George Hanover 2 3.75x
St James Taunton 2 645.16x
Stanwell 2 66.23x
Tiverton 2 13.64x
Tonbridge 2 3.98x
Twickenham 2 11.41x
Weston Super Mare 2 12.04x
Bishops Hull 1 46.95x
Bromley London 1 1.11x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 10.71x
Henbury 1 25.58x
Holy Trinity 1 55.87x
Lewisham 1 1.34x
Newport 1 22.03x
Royal Navy 1 2.40x
Taunton St Mary 1 8.28x
Upwell 1 52.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Sarah 19
Elizabeth 14
Eliza 13
Emma 8
Ann 7
Emily 7
Alice 6
Florence 6
Harriet 6
Martha 6
Rose 6
Ellen 5
Kate 5
Maria 5
Clara 4
Harriett 4
Jane 4
Louisa 4
Lucy 4
Amelia 3
Anna 3
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Rachel 3
Susan 3
Bessie 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Sophia 2
Anne 1
Carry 1
Cecelia 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizh. 1
Elzth. 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Josephine 1
Lilley 1
Lousia 1
Lucretia 1
Mabel 1
Malenia 1
Marey 1
Matilda 1
Una 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
Charles 18
George 18
John 17
James 16
Henry 10
Thomas 9
Edward 8
Joseph 8
Samuel 7
Frederick 6
Abraham 5
Alfred 5
Arthur 4
Geo. 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Isaac 2
Walter 2
Bertram 1
Eli 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.L. 1
Harold 1
Hy. 1
Hy.J. 1
Joe 1
Jonathan 1
Levi 1
Mathew 1
Peter 1
Plumton 1
Robt. 1
Simeon 1
Solomon 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Willfred 1
Willie 1
Willson 1

FAQ

Mitcham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mitcham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 421 people were recorded with the Mitcham surname. That placed it at #7,681 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mitcham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 540 in 2016. That gives Mitcham a modern rank of #9,422.

What does the Mitcham surname mean?

A locational surname referring to a place in Surrey, England, likely derived from Old English for "large settlement."

What does the Mitcham map show?

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