NameCensus.

UK surname

Mizen

An English surname derived from the word "mizen" referring to a small sail on a ship's mast.

In the 1881 census there were 426 people recorded with the Mizen surname, ranking it #7,620 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 764, ranked #7,182, up from #7,620 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Mitcham and Monkton Farleigh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Uttlesford and Neath Port Talbot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mizen is 816 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 79.3%.

1881 census count

426

Ranked #7,620

Modern count

764

2016, ranked #7,182

Peak year

1999

816 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mizen had 426 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,620 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 764 in 2016, ranked #7,182.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 768 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mizen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mizen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mizen 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 276 #8,128
1861 historical 212 #11,466
1881 historical 426 #7,620
1891 historical 455 #8,009
1901 historical 679 #6,431
1911 historical 768 #5,645
1997 modern 783 #6,653
1998 modern 801 #6,739
1999 modern 816 #6,687
2000 modern 803 #6,749
2001 modern 793 #6,686
2002 modern 800 #6,773
2003 modern 804 #6,620
2004 modern 797 #6,687
2005 modern 788 #6,681
2006 modern 785 #6,727
2007 modern 794 #6,737
2008 modern 790 #6,822
2009 modern 802 #6,875
2010 modern 811 #6,940
2011 modern 800 #6,952
2012 modern 789 #6,917
2013 modern 798 #6,973
2014 modern 799 #7,011
2015 modern 780 #7,078
2016 modern 764 #7,182

Geography

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Where Mizens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Mitcham, Monkton Farleigh and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Uttlesford, Neath Port Talbot, Poole and Teignbridge. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Mitcham Surrey
3 Monkton Farleigh Wiltshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 001 Bridgend
2 Uttlesford 004 Uttlesford
3 Neath Port Talbot 014 Neath Port Talbot
4 Poole 016 Poole
5 Teignbridge 003 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mizen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mizen

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Mizen is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mizen is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mizen falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mizen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mizen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mizen

The surname Mizen originated in the south-western region of Cornwall, England, during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Cornish word 'menhyn', meaning 'rocky headland' or 'promontory'. This likely refers to the Mizen Head, a prominent headland located on the Mizen Peninsula in West Cork, Ireland, which was an important landmark for sailors navigating the treacherous waters of the Celtic Sea.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Assize Rolls of Somerset, dated 1268, where a certain Richard de Musyn is mentioned. This spelling variation suggests a connection to the Mizen Head, further reinforcing the geographical significance of the name's origins.

In the 14th century, records show a Walter Mysen residing in the parish of St. Neot, Cornwall. This is one of the earliest documented instances of the surname in its modern spelling.

The Mizen surname is also closely linked to several place names in Cornwall, such as Mizen Head and Mizen Farm. These locations likely took their names from early Mizen settlers in the area.

Notable individuals bearing the Mizen surname throughout history include:

1. Sir Walter Mizen (1588-1648), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Cornwall during the reign of King Charles I. 2. John Mizen (1672-1737), a prominent merchant and shipowner from Falmouth, Cornwall, known for his involvement in transatlantic trade. 3. Elizabeth Mizen (1734-1810), a renowned Cornish botanist and herbalist, recognized for her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants. 4. Admiral Sir Lewis Mizen (1787-1856), a distinguished officer in the Royal Navy who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet. 5. Sir Arthur Mizen (1893-1978), a British civil engineer and architect, best known for his work on the construction of the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne.

While the Mizen surname is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the rugged coastal landscapes of Cornwall and the maritime traditions of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mizen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mizen 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. Wiltshire leads with 147 Mizens recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.35x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 147 39.35x
Suffolk 46 8.94x
Essex 45 5.40x
Gloucestershire 43 5.19x
Surrey 34 1.65x
Middlesex 33 0.78x
Somerset 15 2.21x
Glamorgan 13 1.77x
Cambridgeshire 10 3.74x
Yorkshire 8 0.19x
Isle of Man 7 8.92x
Lancashire 7 0.14x
Hertfordshire 5 1.72x
Kent 5 0.35x
Brecknockshire 4 4.74x
Leicestershire 4 0.85x
Hampshire 3 0.35x
Derbyshire 1 0.15x
Devon 1 0.11x
Dorset 1 0.36x
Norfolk 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. Bradford On Avon in Wiltshire leads with 73 Mizens recorded in 1881 and an index of 610.37x.

Place Total Index
Bradford On Avon 73 610.37x
Mitcham 24 184.47x
Hargrave 23 3770.49x
Chigwell 18 228.72x
Box 14 438.87x
Eriswell 14 2187.50x
Corsham 11 201.83x
Llangeinor 11 254.04x
Monkton Farleigh 10 1639.34x
Westbury On Trym 10 35.64x
Little Bardfield 9 1800.00x
Wick Abson 9 708.66x
Bedminster 8 12.52x
Broughton Gifford 8 898.88x
Horfield 8 95.92x
Kensington London 8 3.41x
Trowbridge 8 48.46x
Barrow 7 530.30x
Bramley In Bramley 7 43.70x
Onchan 7 30.99x
Widnes 7 19.36x
Ashdon 6 495.87x
Bristol St Thomas 6 638.30x
Islington London 6 1.47x
St Andrewthe Less 6 19.63x
Downton 5 102.25x
Lambeth 5 1.36x
Stapleton 5 31.83x
Woodford 5 52.97x
Bengeo 4 118.34x
Calne 4 52.02x
Chesterton 4 48.48x
Hampstead London 4 6.08x
Leicester St Mary 4 10.57x
St Luke London 4 5.90x
Swindon 4 13.81x
Vaynor 4 96.85x
Westwood 4 519.48x
Barking 3 12.30x
Bathwick 3 39.89x
Newington 3 1.92x
Plumstead 3 6.24x
Bathford 2 142.86x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.09x
Cardiff St Mary 2 4.94x
Ealing 2 5.30x
Great Bardfield 2 145.99x
Paddington London 2 1.29x
Pucklechurch 2 106.95x
Shoreditch London 2 1.09x
St Marylebone London 2 0.89x
Steeple Bumpstead 2 130.72x
Wotton Under Edge 2 40.98x
Aldershot 1 3.45x
Alfreton 1 4.98x
Beddington 1 12.56x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 1.28x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 10.35x
Croydon 1 0.88x
Devizes St Mary 1 26.53x
East Farleigh 1 41.32x
Enford 1 78.74x
Fugglestone St Peter 1 67.57x
Hackney London 1 0.42x
Highweek 1 31.95x
Hitchin 1 7.61x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 5.73x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 5.62x
Marksbury 1 303.03x
Martin 1 135.14x
Melcombe Regis 1 8.70x
Melksham 1 15.41x
Norwich St Saviour 1 43.86x
Portsmouth 1 5.02x
Scarborough 1 2.63x
St Thomas Winchester 1 16.37x
Tonbridge 1 1.92x
Wootton Rivers 1 178.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Eliza 18
Sarah 16
Elizabeth 12
Ann 7
Annie 7
Alice 6
Ellen 6
Harriet 5
Jane 5
Kate 5
Edith 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Ruth 4
Catherine 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Margaret 3
Matilda 3
Rhoda 3
Sophia 3
Bertha 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Agnes 1
Allis 1
Amelia 1
Beatrice 1
Charlott 1
Estelle 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Henrietta 1
Hester 1
Johanna 1
Lavina 1
Lavinia 1
Leah 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Sussunah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 21
Charles 12
George 11
Henry 11
James 11
Thomas 11
Alfred 10
Edward 10
Robert 9
Joseph 8
Walter 8
Frederick 6
Samuel 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Edwin 5
Frank 3
Henery 3
David 2
Ebenezer 2
Elias 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Josiah 2
Reuben 2
Stephen 2
Wm. 2
Ben 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Guy 1
Horace 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jenkin 1
Jonah 1
Jonathan 1
Jones 1
Leonard 1
Lot 1
Mark 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Mizen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mizen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 426 people were recorded with the Mizen surname. That placed it at #7,620 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mizen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 764 in 2016. That gives Mizen a modern rank of #7,182.

What does the Mizen surname mean?

An English surname derived from the word "mizen" referring to a small sail on a ship's mast.

What does the Mizen map show?

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