NameCensus.

UK surname

Mollett

A surname derived from the French mollet, meaning plump or thick-set.

In the 1881 census there were 169 people recorded with the Mollett surname, ranking it #14,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 267, ranked #16,054, down from #14,324 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead, North Lincolnshire and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mollett is 289 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.0%.

1881 census count

169

Ranked #14,324

Modern count

267

2016, ranked #16,054

Peak year

2011

289 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mollett had 169 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,324 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 267 in 2016, ranked #16,054.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 269 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Mollett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mollett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mollett 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 95 #17,707
1861 historical 141 #16,072
1881 historical 169 #14,324
1891 historical 208 #14,496
1901 historical 231 #13,805
1911 historical 269 #12,300
1997 modern 267 #14,623
1998 modern 282 #14,472
1999 modern 263 #15,267
2000 modern 275 #14,757
2001 modern 268 #14,812
2002 modern 278 #14,726
2003 modern 270 #14,825
2004 modern 258 #15,386
2005 modern 250 #15,639
2006 modern 252 #15,642
2007 modern 258 #15,554
2008 modern 268 #15,311
2009 modern 280 #15,141
2010 modern 286 #15,231
2011 modern 289 #14,974
2012 modern 267 #15,791
2013 modern 262 #16,273
2014 modern 269 #16,059
2015 modern 280 #15,485
2016 modern 267 #16,054

Geography

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Where Molletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes, Lambeth, Surlingham and Aylestone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead, North Lincolnshire, Leicester, Mid Suffolk and Hammersmith and Fulham. 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 St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju Norfolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Surlingham Norfolk
5 Aylestone Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 021 Gateshead
2 North Lincolnshire 004 North Lincolnshire
3 Leicester 012 Leicester
4 Mid Suffolk 005 Mid Suffolk
5 Hammersmith and Fulham 021 Hammersmith and Fulham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mollett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mollett

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

Read profile summary

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Mollett is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mollett 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

Mollett 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 Mollett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mollett

The surname MOLLETT is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages in the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "mollet," which means "small hill" or "little mound." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near or on a small hill or mound.

The earliest recorded instances of the MOLLETT surname can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273 and the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. These records often mention individuals with the surname residing in regions like Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire.

One notable historical reference to the MOLLETT name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Mollet in the county of Gloucestershire, indicating the presence of the surname in the years following the Norman Conquest.

In the 16th century, variations of the surname became more prevalent, with spellings like Mollet, Mollette, and Mollitt appearing in parish records and court documents. This period also saw the emergence of notable individuals bearing the MOLLETT surname, such as Richard Mollett (1528-1594), a renowned English physician and scholar who served as the personal physician to Queen Elizabeth I.

Another significant figure was Sir Thomas Mollett (1625-1689), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Warwickshire. He played a role in the English Civil War, initially siding with the Royalists before switching allegiances to the Parliamentarian cause.

The 17th century also saw the birth of John Mollett (1652-1723), a renowned English architect and surveyor who worked on several notable projects, including the reconstruction of St. Paul's Cathedral in London after the Great Fire of 1666.

In the 18th century, the MOLLETT surname gained further prominence with individuals like Samuel Mollett (1738-1804), a renowned English engraver and publisher who produced numerous prints, maps, and illustrations.

Additionally, the 19th century saw the birth of Mary Everest Mollett (1823-1888), a renowned English novelist and travel writer who authored several popular works, including "Cakes and Ale" and "The Princess and the Goblin."

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the MOLLETT surname throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence and significance across various fields and generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mollett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mollett 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. Yorkshire leads with 43 Molletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.59x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 43 2.59x
Surrey 27 3.30x
Norfolk 24 9.30x
Kent 12 2.10x
Lancashire 12 0.60x
Leicestershire 10 5.38x
Northamptonshire 10 6.34x
Middlesex 8 0.48x
Hampshire 7 2.04x
Dorset 5 4.54x
Cornwall 4 2.11x
Essex 4 1.21x
Channel Islands 2 4.02x
Sussex 2 0.71x
Derbyshire 1 0.38x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aylestone in Leicestershire leads with 10 Molletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 680.27x.

Place Total Index
Aylestone 10 680.27x
Brackley St Peter 10 925.93x
Lee 9 108.30x
Camberwell 8 7.46x
Liverpool 8 6.62x
Leeds 7 7.46x
Southwark St Saviour 7 81.21x
Surlingham 7 2500.00x
Barwick In Elmet 6 472.44x
Tockwith 6 1818.18x
Bridport 5 220.26x
Norwich St Peter Southgate 5 1562.50x
Appleton Roebuck 4 1600.00x
Bolton Percy 4 2857.14x
Luxulyan 4 634.92x
Southampton St Mary 4 18.50x
Southwark Christchurch 4 50.89x
Stapleford Abbots 4 1428.57x
Wigan 4 14.38x
York St Mary 4 58.06x
Isleworth 3 40.21x
Lambeth 3 2.05x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 3 191.08x
Sutton 3 50.76x
York St John Delpike 3 1666.67x
Clerkenwell London 2 5.05x
Croydon 2 4.41x
Gate Fulford 2 51.55x
Great Yarmouth 2 9.36x
Greenwich 2 7.49x
Hastings St Clement 2 75.19x
Holy Trinity 2 5.00x
Norwich St James 2 99.01x
Shoreditch London 2 2.75x
Southampton All Sts 2 33.90x
St Peter Port 2 21.74x
Trowse Cum Newton 2 312.50x
York St Lawrence 2 115.61x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 18.05x
Duffield 1 48.31x
Farnsfield 1 166.67x
Halifax 1 4.10x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 75.19x
Lingwood 1 434.78x
Portsea 1 1.48x
Postwick 1 588.24x
Sculcoates 1 3.79x
St Marylebone London 1 1.12x
Stratton St Mary 1 277.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Jane 11
Elizabeth 6
Ellen 4
Margaret 4
Charlotte 3
Emily 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Elizh. 2
Harriet 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
B. 1
Barbary 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Emma 1
Fanney 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Helen 1
Judith 1
Katherine 1
Lucy 1
M.A. 1
Margeret 1
Rosa 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 6
James 5
George 4
Thomas 4
Charles 3
Francis 3
Frederick 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Alexander 2
Alfred 2
Ralph 2
Robert 2
A.H.E. 1
Arther 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Bertram 1
Chs. 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Emmanuel 1
F.H. 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Gorfried 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Jos. 1
Joseph 1
Kizen 1
Noah 1
Saml. 1
Ths.Hm. 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Mollett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mollett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 169 people were recorded with the Mollett surname. That placed it at #14,324 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mollett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 267 in 2016. That gives Mollett a modern rank of #16,054.

What does the Mollett surname mean?

A surname derived from the French mollet, meaning plump or thick-set.

What does the Mollett map show?

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