NameCensus.

UK surname

Molinari

An occupational surname referring to a miller or someone who operated a mill.

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Molinari surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 168, ranked #21,984, up from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Flintshire, Medway and Chesterfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Molinari is 176 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1100.0%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

168

2016, ranked #21,984

Peak year

2014

176 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Molinari had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016, ranked #21,984.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 29 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Molinari surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Molinari surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Molinari 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 15 #30,614
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 16 #32,868
1901 historical 29 #30,848
1911 historical 29 #30,190
1997 modern 109 #25,650
1998 modern 116 #25,332
1999 modern 121 #24,855
2000 modern 115 #25,591
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 116 #25,632
2003 modern 127 #24,019
2004 modern 128 #24,117
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 123 #24,873
2007 modern 131 #24,282
2008 modern 129 #24,790
2009 modern 146 #23,352
2010 modern 161 #22,385
2011 modern 152 #23,101
2012 modern 162 #22,078
2013 modern 175 #21,320
2014 modern 176 #21,413
2015 modern 175 #21,372
2016 modern 168 #21,984

Geography

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Where Molinaris are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Flintshire, Medway, Chesterfield and Docks and Wellgate. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Flintshire 004 Flintshire
2 Medway 015 Medway
3 Chesterfield 007 Chesterfield
4 Chesterfield 013 Chesterfield
5 Docks and Wellgate Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Molinari

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Molinari

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Molinari surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Molinari 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Molinari is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Molinari is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Molinari falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Molinari 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Molinari

The surname Molinari has its origins in Italy, specifically in the northern regions of Lombardy and Piedmont. It is derived from the Italian word "molinaro," which means "miller" or someone who operates a mill. The earliest recorded instances of this surname date back to the 13th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Molinari family was well-established in the city of Milan, where they were involved in the milling industry. Records from this period show that several members of the family held influential positions within the city's guilds and trade organizations.

One notable figure from this era was Giovanni Molinari, a prominent merchant and banker who lived in Milan in the late 14th century. His name appears in several historical documents related to trade agreements and financial transactions.

As the Molinari family grew and spread throughout northern Italy, variations in the spelling of the surname began to emerge. Some of these variations include Molinaro, Molinaroli, and Molinelli. In some cases, the name was also associated with specific locations, such as Molinari di Bergamo or Molinari di Torino.

During the Renaissance period, the Molinari family produced several notable figures, including the architect and sculptor Gian Giacomo Molinari, who was born in Genoa in 1570. His works can be found in various churches and palaces throughout northern Italy.

Another prominent individual was Giambattista Molinari, a Venetian philosopher and economist who lived from 1801 to 1888. He is considered one of the founders of the economic theory of anarcho-capitalism and was a strong advocate for free market principles.

In the 19th century, the Molinari name gained international recognition through the works of the Italian composer and pianist Giovanni Molinari (1805-1881). His compositions, which included operas, symphonies, and chamber music, were widely performed throughout Europe.

One of the most famous bearers of the Molinari surname was the Italian painter and sculptor Medardo Rosso (1858-1928), whose full name was Giovanni Battista Medardo Rosso Molinari. He was a pioneering figure in the Impressionist and Modernist movements and is renowned for his sculptural works in wax and plaster.

Throughout its long history, the Molinari surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, and tradespeople. While its origins can be traced back to the milling industry of medieval Italy, the name has since spread across the globe, reflecting the diverse and far-reaching impact of Italian culture and heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Molinari families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Molinari 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 9 Molinaris recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.60x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 9 6.60x
Yorkshire 4 2.96x
Glamorgan 1 4.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clerkenwell London in Middlesex leads with 7 Molinaris recorded in 1881 and an index of 217.39x.

Place Total Index
Clerkenwell London 7 217.39x
Sheffield 4 93.02x
Cardiff St Mary 1 76.34x
St Marylebone London 1 13.74x
St Pancras London 1 9.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Beatrice 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Frances 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Benvenuto 2
Alfred 1
Antonio 1
Carlo 1
Domenica 1
Emannuele 1
Ernest 1
Giovani 1
Muria 1

Top occupations

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 Molinari households.

FAQ

Molinari surname: questions and answers

How common was the Molinari surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Molinari surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Molinari surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016. That gives Molinari a modern rank of #21,984.

What does the Molinari surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a miller or someone who operated a mill.

What does the Molinari map show?

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