NameCensus.

UK surname

Molineaux

A French surname referring to one who lived near a mill or mill stream.

In the 1881 census there were 170 people recorded with the Molineaux surname, ranking it #14,265 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, down from #14,265 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Molineaux is 254 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.2%.

1881 census count

170

Ranked #14,265

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

1901

254 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Molineaux had 170 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,265 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 254 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Molineaux surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Molineaux surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Molineaux 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 93 #17,946
1861 historical 105 #20,298
1881 historical 170 #14,265
1891 historical 176 #16,404
1901 historical 254 #13,005
1911 historical 164 #16,879
1997 modern 174 #19,231
1998 modern 184 #19,037
1999 modern 177 #19,670
2000 modern 172 #19,974
2001 modern 170 #19,838
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 165 #20,401
2004 modern 165 #20,530
2005 modern 144 #22,367
2006 modern 147 #22,221
2007 modern 147 #22,510
2008 modern 143 #23,160
2009 modern 152 #22,716
2010 modern 156 #22,886
2011 modern 153 #22,996
2012 modern 147 #23,567
2013 modern 141 #24,670
2014 modern 139 #25,093
2015 modern 139 #24,956
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

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Where Molineaux' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Lambeth, Leigh and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Sandwell, Bradford and Epping Forest. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Leigh Lancashire
5 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 025 Dudley
2 Nuneaton and Bedworth 004 Nuneaton and Bedworth
3 Sandwell 004 Sandwell
4 Bradford 015 Bradford
5 Epping Forest 001 Epping Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Molineaux

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Molineaux

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Molineaux, 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 Molineaux surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Molineaux household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Molineaux is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

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Group profile

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Molineaux 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

Molineaux falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Molineaux is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Molineaux

The surname Molineaux originates from the northern regions of France and has its roots in the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old French term "molin," meaning a mill, combined with the suffix "-eaux," indicating a place name. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to an individual or family associated with a mill or living near a mill site.

The earliest recorded instances of the Molineaux surname can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries in various French records and manuscripts. One notable mention is found in the "Testa de Nevill," a 13th-century document containing a survey of English feudal landholdings, which lists individuals bearing the name Molineaux as landowners in Normandy.

In the 15th century, the Molineaux family gained prominence in the region of Picardy, located in northern France. Records from this period indicate that a branch of the family settled in the village of Molineaux, near the town of Abbeville, likely contributing to the solidification of the surname.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Molineaux surname was Sir Jean de Molineaux, a French knight who participated in the Hundred Years' War between England and France during the 14th century. Another notable figure was Geoffroy de Molineaux, a 15th-century French nobleman and landowner whose estate was located in the vicinity of Abbeville.

As the Molineaux family expanded and migrated, the surname's spelling variations emerged, including Molineux, Molyneux, and Molinaux. Some of these variations can be found in historical records and documents from different regions of France and neighboring countries.

In England, the name Molineaux gained recognition through Sir Richard Molyneux (1439-1508), a prominent Lancashire landowner and knight who served as the Sheriff of Lancashire during the reign of Henry VII. Another notable English figure was Sir William Molyneux (1548-1598), a military commander and member of Parliament who played a role in the English colonization of Ireland.

The Molineaux surname has also been associated with various place names throughout history. For example, the village of Molineux in Staffordshire, England, is believed to have derived its name from the French Molineaux family who settled in the area during the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century.

Overall, the surname Molineaux has a rich history rooted in medieval France, with its earliest origins likely tied to the milling industry or specific locations associated with mills. Through the centuries, it has been carried by notable individuals and families across various regions, leaving an indelible mark on historical records and contributing to the diversity of surnames we see today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Molineaux families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Molineaux 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. Lancashire leads with 50 Molineaux' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.67x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 50 2.67x
Staffordshire 35 6.56x
Warwickshire 19 4.77x
Cheshire 18 5.16x
Yorkshire 16 1.02x
Kent 7 1.30x
Surrey 6 0.78x
Worcestershire 6 2.91x
Sussex 2 0.75x
Middlesex 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.47x
Shropshire 1 0.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 13 Molineaux' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.79x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 13 9.79x
Hindley 9 112.64x
Salford 9 16.32x
Denaby 7 786.52x
Rumworth 7 261.19x
Tonbridge 7 35.99x
West Bromwich 7 22.92x
Wolverhampton 7 17.07x
Dudley 6 23.91x
Lambeth 6 4.35x
Runcorn 6 74.63x
Willenhall 6 60.06x
Alston 5 574.71x
Burslem 5 32.72x
Cannock 5 53.71x
Edgbaston 5 40.45x
Great Little Marsden 5 58.21x
Leeds 5 5.65x
Ashton 4 1904.76x
Birkenhead 4 14.38x
Levenshulme 3 155.44x
Northowram 3 27.32x
Wednesfield 3 38.22x
Worsley 3 25.95x
Frodsham 2 148.15x
Lewes St Ann 2 219.78x
Little Hulton 2 64.52x
Manchester 2 2.37x
Stockport 2 11.14x
Westleigh 2 46.95x
Bedford 1 25.51x
Brewood 1 64.94x
Broughton In Salford 1 5.83x
Handsworth 1 7.60x
Hessle In Sculcoates 1 72.46x
Newton In Makerfield 1 17.42x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 1 66.23x
Skegby 1 76.92x
Solihull 1 34.97x
St Marylebone London 1 1.19x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 9
James 8
Thomas 7
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Charles 3
Albert 2
Ernest 2
George 2
Jesse 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Alfred 1
Amos 1
Boulton 1
Edwin 1
Enoch 1
Fred 1
Jabez 1
Jame 1
Josh. 1
Matthew 1
Philip 1
Sam 1
Samuel 1
Squire 1
W.S. 1
Walter 1
Willm.A. 1

FAQ

Molineaux surname: questions and answers

How common was the Molineaux surname in 1881?

In 1881, 170 people were recorded with the Molineaux surname. That placed it at #14,265 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Molineaux surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Molineaux a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Molineaux surname mean?

A French surname referring to one who lived near a mill or mill stream.

What does the Molineaux map show?

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