NameCensus.

UK surname

Mula

A surname of Spanish origin meaning mule or muleteer.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sutton, Swindon and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mula is 109 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

109

2016, ranked #29,402

Peak year

2016

109 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016, ranked #29,402.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Mula surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mula surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mula 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 48 #32,878
1998 modern 45 #33,374
1999 modern 55 #32,561
2000 modern 64 #31,735
2001 modern 60 #31,985
2002 modern 71 #31,351
2003 modern 71 #31,393
2004 modern 73 #31,403
2005 modern 76 #31,267
2006 modern 82 #30,933
2007 modern 81 #31,408
2008 modern 76 #32,279
2009 modern 83 #31,950
2010 modern 79 #32,759
2011 modern 86 #32,006
2012 modern 85 #32,395
2013 modern 89 #32,248
2014 modern 93 #32,025
2015 modern 99 #31,168
2016 modern 109 #29,402

Geography

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Where Mulas 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 Sutton, Swindon, Ealing and Broxbourne. 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 Sutton 017 Sutton
2 Swindon 025 Swindon
3 Ealing 017 Ealing
4 Ealing 029 Ealing
5 Broxbourne 002 Broxbourne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mula

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mula

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Mula surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mula 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mula is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mula 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

Mula 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 Mula 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Mula

The surname Mula originated in Italy during the medieval era, deriving from the Latin word "mula" which means mule. This name was likely adopted as a nickname or occupational surname for someone who worked with mules, perhaps a mule driver or trader.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Mula surname can be found in the Codice Diplomatico Longobardo, a collection of historical documents from the Lombard period in Italy, dating back to the 8th century. The name appears as "Mula" in these records, indicating its long-standing presence in the region.

In the 13th century, the Mula surname appears in several records from the city of Genoa, suggesting that the name may have been particularly prevalent in the northwestern region of Italy during that time period. One notable individual from this era was Guglielmo Mula, a merchant and diplomat born in Genoa around 1250.

As the Mula name spread throughout Italy, it also gave rise to various place names and toponyms. For instance, the town of Mula in the province of Bari, Apulia, likely derived its name from the Mula family or individuals bearing this surname who settled in the area.

In the 15th century, the Mula surname gained further prominence with the birth of Battista Mula, a renowned Italian painter and architect from the Renaissance period. Born in Verona in 1425, Battista Mula's works can be found in various churches and buildings throughout Italy, showcasing his artistic talents.

Another notable figure with the Mula surname was Girolamo Mula, a 16th-century Italian composer and organist from Venice. Born around 1550, Girolamo Mula was known for his contributions to sacred music and his compositions for the organ.

During the 17th century, the Mula name appeared in the records of the Spanish Inquisition, with several individuals bearing this surname being accused of various offenses against the Catholic Church. One such case involved Juan Mula, a resident of Seville, who was tried and convicted by the Inquisition in 1634.

As the Mula surname continued to spread across Europe, it also found its way to other regions through migration and exploration. For instance, in the 18th century, Francisco Mula was a Spanish explorer and navigator who participated in several voyages to the Pacific Ocean and the Northwest Coast of North America.

Throughout the centuries, the Mula surname has maintained a strong presence in Italy, with various notable individuals bearing this name in fields such as literature, politics, and academia. One example is Gabriele Mula, an Italian writer and journalist born in Sardinia in 1935, who gained recognition for his novels and works of historical fiction.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mula surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mula surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016. That gives Mula a modern rank of #29,402.

What does the Mula surname mean?

A surname of Spanish origin meaning mule or muleteer.

What does the Mula map show?

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