NameCensus.

UK surname

Molineux

A surname originating from French for a person from Molineux, Normandy.

In the 1881 census there were 265 people recorded with the Molineux surname, ranking it #10,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 304, ranked #14,606, down from #10,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Frant, Broseley and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cannock Chase, South Staffordshire and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Molineux is 520 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.7%.

1881 census count

265

Ranked #10,612

Modern count

304

2016, ranked #14,606

Peak year

1851

520 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Molineux had 265 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 304 in 2016, ranked #14,606.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 520 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Molineux surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Molineux surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Molineux 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 520 #4,821
1861 historical 326 #7,814
1881 historical 265 #10,612
1891 historical 291 #11,388
1901 historical 371 #9,997
1911 historical 452 #8,476
1997 modern 296 #13,646
1998 modern 331 #13,018
1999 modern 311 #13,642
2000 modern 308 #13,685
2001 modern 297 #13,816
2002 modern 306 #13,835
2003 modern 301 #13,785
2004 modern 278 #14,609
2005 modern 290 #14,140
2006 modern 299 #13,949
2007 modern 296 #14,172
2008 modern 294 #14,327
2009 modern 304 #14,287
2010 modern 315 #14,223
2011 modern 317 #14,059
2012 modern 304 #14,388
2013 modern 308 #14,482
2014 modern 307 #14,608
2015 modern 309 #14,430
2016 modern 304 #14,606

Geography

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Where Molineux' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Frant, Broseley, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Wigan and Dean. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cannock Chase, South Staffordshire, Dudley and Wealden. 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 Frant Sussex
2 Broseley Shropshire
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 Wigan Lancashire
5 Dean Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cannock Chase 008 Cannock Chase
2 Cannock Chase 002 Cannock Chase
3 South Staffordshire 003 South Staffordshire
4 Dudley 041 Dudley
5 Wealden 005 Wealden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Molineux

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Molineux

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Molineux surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Molineux household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Molineux is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Molineux is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Molineux falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Molineux

The surname Molineux originated in France during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the Old French words "molin" meaning "mill" and "eau" meaning "water." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a watermill.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Normandy region of France. In the 11th century, the Molineux family held lands in the village of Moligneux, near Caudebec-lès-Elbeuf. The name appeared in various early documents, sometimes spelled as Moligneux or Molineus.

As the Molineux family spread across Europe, the name underwent various spelling variations. In England, it was often written as Molineux or Molyneux. The Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, contains several references to individuals with the name Molineux or similar variations.

One notable figure bearing the Molineux name was Richard Molyneux, a 14th-century English landowner and military commander. He fought in the Hundred Years' War and was granted lands in Lancashire for his service. Another prominent individual was Vivian Molyneux (c. 1599-1655), an English lawyer and author who wrote extensively on legal matters.

In the 17th century, the Molineux family established themselves in various parts of England, particularly in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Sir Richard Molyneux (1594-1622) was a Member of Parliament and served as the Sheriff of Lancashire. His son, Sir Richard Molyneux (1619-1693), was a Royalist during the English Civil War and became the 1st Viscount Molyneux in 1689.

Another notable figure was Samuel Molyneux (1689-1728), a renowned English astronomer and natural philosopher. He made significant contributions to the study of optics and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1712.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Molineux name continued to be associated with various professions, including law, politics, and the military. For instance, William Molyneux (1656-1698) was an Irish philosopher and writer, best known for his work on optics and his correspondence with John Locke.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Molineux families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Molineux 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 91 Molineux' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.96x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 91 2.96x
Staffordshire 49 5.59x
Shropshire 22 9.81x
Kent 20 2.26x
Cheshire 16 2.79x
Yorkshire 15 0.58x
Worcestershire 13 3.84x
Sussex 8 1.83x
Surrey 7 0.55x
Warwickshire 7 1.07x
Cumberland 6 2.69x
Middlesex 6 0.23x
Derbyshire 2 0.49x
Bedfordshire 1 0.74x
Durham 1 0.13x
Hampshire 1 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tonbridge in Kent leads with 12 Molineux' recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.58x.

Place Total Index
Tonbridge 12 37.58x
Rugeley 11 175.16x
Amblecote 9 360.00x
Burslem 9 35.87x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 16.36x
Little Bolton 8 20.21x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 8.61x
Wigan 8 18.59x
Withington 8 80.65x
Barrow In Furness 7 16.71x
Farnworth 7 37.94x
Hessle In Sculcoates 7 308.37x
Shrewsbury St Mary 7 79.10x
Aston 6 3.33x
Frodsham 6 270.27x
Hagley 6 545.45x
St Cuthbert W O 6 55.10x
Wrockwardine 6 121.70x
Eastbourne 5 24.84x
Macclesfield 5 19.64x
Moss Side 5 30.86x
Toxteth Park 5 4.80x
Birkdale 4 51.35x
Cliffe 4 200.00x
Eston 4 71.43x
Islington London 4 1.59x
Kidderminster Borough 4 20.17x
Salford 4 4.42x
Trentham 4 53.69x
Albrighton 3 277.78x
Battersea 3 3.14x
Bishopsbourne 3 967.74x
Cannock 3 19.63x
Compton 3 714.29x
Great Crosby 3 35.76x
Kingswinford 3 9.43x
Manchester 3 2.17x
North Meols 3 9.95x
Chester Holy Trinity 2 74.35x
Great Bolton 2 4.90x
Hindley 2 15.23x
Holy Trinity 2 3.23x
Kempsey 2 155.04x
Kensington London 2 1.39x
Litchurch 2 12.23x
Lostock 2 289.86x
Madeley 2 24.33x
Upton Cressett 2 740.74x
West Bromwich 2 3.99x
Worsley 2 10.54x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.49x
Barcombe 1 95.24x
Batley 1 4.09x
Bedford 1 15.53x
Bedford St Peter 1 28.65x
Birmingham 1 0.46x
Blackburn 1 1.22x
Chatham 1 4.11x
Coulsdon 1 43.48x
Dalton In Furness 1 8.41x
Eardington 1 434.78x
Everton 1 1.02x
Frant 1 32.26x
Heeley 1 12.80x
Hyde 1 5.92x
Isfield 1 250.00x
Ormskirk 1 16.98x
Southampton St Mary 1 2.99x
Spotland 1 2.92x
Stockton On Tees 1 2.69x
Thurgarton 1 344.83x
Upperswinford 1 34.84x
West Derby 1 1.11x
West Kirby 1 100.00x
Widnes 1 4.50x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 1 19.61x
Worfield 1 64.10x
Wrightington 1 74.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 10
Alice 6
Annie 6
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Emily 5
Maria 5
Anne 4
Ellen 4
Fanny 4
Hannah 4
Emma 3
Florence 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Harriet 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Betty 1
Cecil 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Ellenor 1
Ethel 1
Florance 1
Francis 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Letitia 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Marianne 1
Murial 1
Nancy 1
Priscilla 1
Rebecca 1
Selina 1
Susanah 1
Virginiah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
William 16
Thomas 12
George 8
James 8
Alfred 7
Charles 5
Joseph 5
Richard 4
Edward 3
Henry 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Bernard 2
Chas. 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Moses 2
Arthur 1
Boulton 1
Cyril 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Gisborne 1
Harry 1
Hrace 1
J. 1
Levi 1
Percy 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Edwd. 1

FAQ

Molineux surname: questions and answers

How common was the Molineux surname in 1881?

In 1881, 265 people were recorded with the Molineux surname. That placed it at #10,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Molineux surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 304 in 2016. That gives Molineux a modern rank of #14,606.

What does the Molineux surname mean?

A surname originating from French for a person from Molineux, Normandy.

What does the Molineux map show?

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