NameCensus.

UK surname

Mollison

A variant of the Scottish surname Molleson, derived from the Gaelic name Maolchisaidh meaning "servant of Christ".

In the 1881 census there were 672 people recorded with the Mollison surname, ranking it #5,371 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 515, ranked #9,793, down from #5,371 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Alyth, Blairgowrie West and Hilltown.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mollison is 735 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.4%.

1881 census count

672

Ranked #5,371

Modern count

515

2016, ranked #9,793

Peak year

1901

735 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mollison had 672 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,371 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 515 in 2016, ranked #9,793.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 735 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mollison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mollison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mollison 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 465 #5,332
1861 historical 502 #5,207
1881 historical 672 #5,371
1891 historical 715 #5,510
1901 historical 735 #6,027
1911 historical 167 #16,692
1997 modern 512 #9,153
1998 modern 538 #9,073
1999 modern 536 #9,159
2000 modern 518 #9,366
2001 modern 505 #9,404
2002 modern 518 #9,400
2003 modern 509 #9,365
2004 modern 528 #9,144
2005 modern 512 #9,286
2006 modern 507 #9,386
2007 modern 511 #9,422
2008 modern 504 #9,575
2009 modern 515 #9,630
2010 modern 524 #9,711
2011 modern 513 #9,765
2012 modern 514 #9,677
2013 modern 526 #9,664
2014 modern 528 #9,701
2015 modern 520 #9,741
2016 modern 515 #9,793

Geography

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Where Mollisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Brechin and Aberlemno. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Alyth, Blairgowrie West, Hilltown, Linlathen and Midcraigie and Newark and Sherwood. 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 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Brechin Forfar
5 Aberlemno Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Alyth Perth and Kinross
2 Blairgowrie West Perth and Kinross
3 Hilltown Dundee City
4 Linlathen and Midcraigie Dundee City
5 Newark and Sherwood 007 Newark and Sherwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mollison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mollison

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mollison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mollison household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Mollison is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Mollison is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mollison 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 Mollison 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 Mollison, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mollison

The surname Mollison is believed to have originated in Scotland, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Maolìosa," which means "servant of Jesus." The name can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mollison is found in the Scottish Exchequer Rolls of 1456, where a person named John Mollison is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in Scotland by the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Mollison appears in various records, including the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland from 1545, which refers to a person named James Mollison. This indicates that the name was relatively widespread across Scotland during this time.

The Mollison surname is also associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure is William Mollison (1745-1820), a Scottish merchant and banker who played a significant role in the establishment of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

Another prominent Mollison was James Mollison (1854-1935), a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Glasgow, including the iconic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

In the literary realm, the name Mollison is linked to the Scottish novelist and playwright James Mollison (1860-1924), who wrote several works depicting life in rural Scotland.

The name Mollison has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Mollison's Close in Edinburgh, which was named after a local family with the surname.

While the Mollison surname originated in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including England, Canada, and the United States, as Scottish immigrants and their descendants settled in these regions over the centuries.

In conclusion, the surname Mollison has a rich history deeply rooted in Scotland, with its origins dating back to the medieval period and its meaning linked to the Gaelic personal name "Maolìosa." The name has been borne by notable individuals in various fields, and it continues to be a part of Scotland's cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mollison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mollison 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. Angus leads with 261 Mollisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.23x.

County Total Index
Angus 261 43.23x
Aberdeenshire 89 14.75x
Midlothian 44 5.04x
Lanarkshire 42 1.99x
Fife 34 8.81x
Perthshire 33 11.28x
Kincardineshire 30 37.81x
Lancashire 17 0.22x
West Lothian 12 12.23x
Clackmannanshire 11 20.44x
Inverness-shire 10 5.14x
Kent 10 0.45x
Northumberland 10 1.03x
Middlesex 8 0.12x
Surrey 8 0.25x
Durham 7 0.36x
Glamorgan 7 0.62x
Yorkshire 6 0.09x
Ayrshire 5 1.03x
Cambridgeshire 5 1.21x
Oxfordshire 5 1.24x
Dunbartonshire 2 1.14x
Flintshire 2 1.14x
Wiltshire 2 0.35x
Banffshire 1 0.74x
Berkshire 1 0.20x
Cumberland 1 0.18x
Essex 1 0.08x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x
Orkney 1 1.39x
Suffolk 1 0.13x
Sussex 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 45 Mollisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.71x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 45 35.71x
Dundee 42 18.64x
Montrose 34 92.95x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 31 8.83x
St Vigeans 29 88.98x
Brechin 27 113.83x
Liff Benvie 26 28.37x
Barony 25 4.69x
Alyth 20 254.13x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 19 16.83x
Aberlemno 19 852.02x
Forfar 16 48.94x
Dunfermline 12 20.23x
Monifieth 11 51.59x
Tillicoultry 11 91.90x
Govan 10 1.92x
Inverness 10 20.43x
Murroes 10 595.24x
Plumstead 10 13.49x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 7.33x
Corstorphine 8 165.98x
Inverkeillor 8 213.90x
Leuchars 8 163.93x
Dunnottar 7 125.45x
Elswick 7 9.05x
Fyvie 7 71.07x
Leslie 7 71.65x
Rathen 7 110.76x
Swansea Town 7 7.53x
Tannadice 7 249.11x
Barnsley 6 9.01x
Glasgow 6 1.60x
Kirriemuir 6 40.27x
Linlithgow 6 47.69x
Torphichen 6 175.44x
Blairgowrie 5 43.22x
Carmyllie 5 194.55x
Dunlop 5 164.47x
Newburgh 5 102.04x
Oxford St Michael 5 299.40x
St Andrewthe Less 5 10.60x
Stockton On Tees 5 5.35x
Arbuthnott 4 220.99x
Battersea 4 1.67x
Bervie 4 85.11x
Marykirk 4 122.32x
Strathdon 4 136.52x
Adlington 3 41.44x
Arbroath 3 14.99x
Auchterhouse 3 201.34x
Bedlington 3 9.27x
Durris 3 132.16x
Islington London 3 0.48x
Meigle 3 138.25x
South Leith 3 3.05x
Strathmartine 3 111.94x
West Derby 3 1.33x
Collingbourne Kingston 2 129.03x
Dull 2 34.13x
Fordoun 2 44.94x
Hawarden 2 14.53x
Kensington London 2 0.55x
Kinnel 2 128.21x
Laurencekirk 2 43.48x
Menmuir 2 118.34x
Reigate Borough 2 27.32x
Ruthven 2 465.12x
St Cyrus 2 60.24x
Arngask 1 81.97x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.60x
Errol 1 18.45x
Hackney London 1 0.27x
Hampstead London 1 0.99x
Kincardine O Neil 1 23.20x
Kinneff Catterline 1 44.84x
Lethnot Navar 1 156.25x
Leyton 1 4.51x
Rayne 1 34.84x
Spittlegate 1 6.94x
Tarland 1 38.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Margaret 5
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Jessie 2
Maggie 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Cara 1
Caroline 1
Christina 1
Cristine 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Helen 1
Hellen 1
Jannie 1
Kate 1
Lillie 1
Margret 1
Marion 1
Minnie 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Temperance 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
Alexander 6
James 6
Henry 5
George 3
Andrew 2
Charles 2
Thomas 2
Alex 1
Daniel 1
David 1
John 1
Joseph 1
Mc 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Mollison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mollison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 672 people were recorded with the Mollison surname. That placed it at #5,371 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mollison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 515 in 2016. That gives Mollison a modern rank of #9,793.

What does the Mollison surname mean?

A variant of the Scottish surname Molleson, derived from the Gaelic name Maolchisaidh meaning "servant of Christ".

What does the Mollison map show?

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