NameCensus.

UK surname

Mulford

Derived from a place name meaning "ford by a mill" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 323 people recorded with the Mulford surname, ranking it #9,240 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 517, ranked #9,761, down from #9,240 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Petherton, North, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Vale of White Horse, Tendring and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mulford is 574 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.1%.

1881 census count

323

Ranked #9,240

Modern count

517

2016, ranked #9,761

Peak year

2002

574 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mulford had 323 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,240 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 517 in 2016, ranked #9,761.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 480 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mulford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mulford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mulford 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 211 #9,997
1861 historical 163 #14,242
1881 historical 323 #9,240
1891 historical 355 #9,721
1901 historical 394 #9,579
1911 historical 480 #8,076
1997 modern 526 #8,963
1998 modern 553 #8,892
1999 modern 566 #8,777
2000 modern 564 #8,774
2001 modern 555 #8,747
2002 modern 574 #8,697
2003 modern 548 #8,860
2004 modern 543 #8,949
2005 modern 548 #8,805
2006 modern 548 #8,844
2007 modern 538 #9,044
2008 modern 526 #9,271
2009 modern 523 #9,530
2010 modern 527 #9,667
2011 modern 518 #9,705
2012 modern 527 #9,497
2013 modern 526 #9,664
2014 modern 524 #9,763
2015 modern 515 #9,807
2016 modern 517 #9,761

Geography

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Where Mulfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Petherton, North, London parishes, St Pancras, Ealing, Chiswick and Wantage, East Lockinge, Ardington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Vale of White Horse, Tendring and Medway. 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 Petherton, North Somerset
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Wantage, East Lockinge, Ardington Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Vale of White Horse 010 Vale of White Horse
2 Vale of White Horse 015 Vale of White Horse
3 Tendring 004 Tendring
4 Vale of White Horse 014 Vale of White Horse
5 Medway 024 Medway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mulford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mulford

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Mulford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mulford 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Mulford is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Mulford is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mulford falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mulford

The surname Mulford has its origins in England, tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "mul" meaning "bare hill" and "ford" meaning "a shallow place for crossing a river or stream." This suggests that the name likely originated from a place name referring to a settlement near a ford crossing over a river or stream at the base of a bare hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named "Muleford" in the county of Somerset, England. This provides evidence that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show a "John de Muleford" listed as a landowner in the county of Wiltshire, England. The "de" prefix indicates that the name was originally derived from a place name, further reinforcing its locational origins.

During the late medieval period, variations in spelling began to emerge, with forms such as "Mulford," "Mulforde," and "Mulforde" appearing in various historical documents and records.

One notable figure with the surname Mulford was Sir John Mulford (c. 1450-1524), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Henry VIII.

Another individual of note was Captain Thomas Mulford (c. 1610-1679), an early settler in the American colonies who established a homestead on Long Island, New York, in the mid-17th century. His descendants went on to become influential members of the local community.

In the 18th century, Reverend Samuel Mulford (1710-1780) was a respected Anglican clergyman and educator in Connecticut, serving as the principal of several prestigious schools during his lifetime.

The 19th century saw the rise of John Mulford (1807-1891), an influential American historian and author who published several works on the history of New Jersey and Long Island.

Additionally, Prentice Mulford (1834-1891) was a renowned American philosopher and writer who played a significant role in the development of the New Thought movement, advocating for positive thinking and self-improvement.

While the surname Mulford has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through British migration and colonization efforts. However, its origins can be traced back to the early medieval period in England, where it likely originated as a locational surname derived from a settlement near a ford crossing at the base of a bare hill.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mulford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mulford 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. Berkshire leads with 74 Mulfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.10x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 74 31.10x
Middlesex 63 1.99x
Hampshire 57 8.77x
Surrey 30 1.94x
Somerset 25 4.90x
Lancashire 13 0.35x
Kent 11 1.02x
Devon 6 0.91x
Staffordshire 6 0.56x
Wiltshire 6 2.14x
Leicestershire 5 1.42x
Ross-shire 5 5.74x
Sussex 5 0.94x
Glamorgan 4 0.72x
Cornwall 3 0.84x
Monmouthshire 3 1.31x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.68x
Royal Navy 2 5.29x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.78x
Derbyshire 1 0.20x
Oxfordshire 1 0.51x
Worcestershire 1 0.24x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Hendred in Berkshire leads with 26 Mulfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.

Place Total Index
West Hendred 26 6666.67x
Islington London 15 4.88x
St Pancras London 13 5.09x
Bedford 12 152.48x
East Lockinge 10 2777.78x
Ealing 9 31.77x
Kingston On Thames 9 24.25x
Southampton All Sts 9 80.72x
Farnborough 8 117.30x
Greywell 8 2424.24x
Burnham 7 179.95x
Bramley 6 1224.49x
Hampstead London 6 12.15x
West Bromwich 6 9.79x
Contin 5 316.46x
Newington 5 4.27x
Pamber 5 666.67x
St George Bloomsbury 5 27.49x
St George Hanover 5 12.08x
Stratton St Margaret 5 116.28x
Wantage 5 131.93x
Woolwich 5 12.51x
Basingstoke 4 53.55x
Bedminster 4 8.34x
Brighton 4 3.71x
Camberwell 4 1.98x
East Hendred 4 454.55x
Hartley Westpall 4 1538.46x
Kingston 4 388.35x
Loughborough 4 25.08x
North Petherton 4 97.09x
Reading St Giles 4 17.13x
Reading St Lawrence 4 78.59x
Rochester St Margaret 4 35.06x
Taunton St Mary 4 42.69x
Ardington 3 714.29x
Grove 3 500.00x
Gulval 3 129.87x
Hanworth 3 270.27x
Hartley Wintney 3 153.85x
Llantwit Vairdre 3 48.39x
Plymouth Charles The 3 10.32x
Rotherhithe 3 7.66x
Silchester 3 588.24x
St Woollos 3 11.73x
Uxbridge 3 82.87x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 2 3.64x
Aylesford 2 66.67x
Battersea 2 1.71x
Clapham 2 5.05x
East West Challow 2 322.58x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 13.24x
Hackney London 2 1.13x
Hutton 2 540.54x
Letcombe Regis 2 434.78x
Mortimer 2 175.44x
Portsmouth 2 13.37x
Reading St Mary 2 10.49x
Royal Navy 2 6.19x
Sandhurst 2 43.38x
West Lockinge 2 2222.22x
Wimbledon 2 11.53x
Woolhampton 2 370.37x
Croydon 1 1.17x
Droitwich St Andrew 1 96.15x
Hendon 1 8.76x
Holdenhurst 1 5.87x
Horton Cum Studley 1 384.62x
Hound 1 22.68x
Lambeth 1 0.36x
Lancaster 1 4.47x
Leicester St Mary 1 3.52x
Llanfair Fechan 1 45.05x
Monk Sherborne 1 192.31x
Richmond 1 4.62x
Sheffield 1 1.00x
Southampton St Mary 1 2.45x
St Marylebone London 1 0.59x
Swindon 1 4.60x
Tormoham 1 3.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Sarah 14
Elizabeth 9
Ann 6
Eliza 5
Ellen 5
Fanny 5
Louisa 5
Maria 5
Catherine 4
Edith 4
Jane 4
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Rhoda 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Clara 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Marie 2
Martha 2
Maud 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Amey 1
Augusta 1
Avice 1
Beatrice 1
Charlotte 1
Elizbth. 1
Emma 1
Eveline 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Georgiana 1
Jemima 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lavina 1
Leah 1
Levenia 1
Lilly 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 12
George 11
Henry 10
Frederick 7
James 7
Thomas 6
Charles 5
Edwin 5
Robert 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Joseph 4
Walter 4
Albert 2
Caleb 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Philip 2
Richard 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Austin 1
Barnard 1
Barney 1
Chas.E. 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
H. 1
Mark 1
Maurice 1
Oliver 1
Peter 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Silas 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Mulford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mulford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 323 people were recorded with the Mulford surname. That placed it at #9,240 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mulford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 517 in 2016. That gives Mulford a modern rank of #9,761.

What does the Mulford surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "ford by a mill" in Old English.

What does the Mulford map show?

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