NameCensus.

UK surname

Mulla

A surname referring to a Muslim scholar or religious leader.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Mulla surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,867, ranked #3,410, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blackburn with Darwen, Kirklees and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mulla is 1,884 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93250.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

1,867

2016, ranked #3,410

Peak year

2014

1,884 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mulla had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,867 in 2016, ranked #3,410.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Mulla surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mulla surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mulla 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 1,026 #5,371
1998 modern 1,104 #5,243
1999 modern 1,165 #5,054
2000 modern 1,250 #4,739
2001 modern 1,224 #4,726
2002 modern 1,348 #4,440
2003 modern 1,418 #4,175
2004 modern 1,473 #4,066
2005 modern 1,515 #3,926
2006 modern 1,575 #3,781
2007 modern 1,612 #3,742
2008 modern 1,648 #3,702
2009 modern 1,699 #3,671
2010 modern 1,720 #3,713
2011 modern 1,816 #3,508
2012 modern 1,816 #3,448
2013 modern 1,868 #3,425
2014 modern 1,884 #3,421
2015 modern 1,859 #3,430
2016 modern 1,867 #3,410

Geography

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Where Mullas 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 Blackburn with Darwen, Kirklees and Leicester. 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 Blackburn with Darwen 007 Blackburn with Darwen
2 Kirklees 024 Kirklees
3 Blackburn with Darwen 009 Blackburn with Darwen
4 Leicester 018 Leicester
5 Blackburn with Darwen 011 Blackburn with Darwen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mulla

These lists show first names that appear often with the Mulla 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 Mulla

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Mulla surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mulla household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Mulla is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mulla 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

Mulla falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mulla 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Mulla

The surname Mulla has its origins in India, where it was derived from the Arabic word 'mullah,' which means a learned or respectable man, often referring to a Muslim religious leader or teacher. The name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period when Islamic scholars and teachers were highly revered in the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mulla can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This document mentions several individuals bearing the surname Mulla, indicating its widespread usage during that era.

In India, the name Mulla was prevalent among Muslim communities, particularly in regions with a strong Islamic influence, such as the northern and western parts of the subcontinent. Over time, the name spread to other parts of the country and beyond, carried by migrating families and individuals.

Historically, the Mulla surname was associated with individuals who were learned in Islamic theology, law, and literature. Many prominent scholars, jurists, and poets from the medieval and early modern periods carried this surname, including Mulla Sadra (1571-1640), a renowned Persian philosopher and theologian, and Mulla Nasruddin (13th century), a famous satirical Sufi figure.

Another notable figure with the surname Mulla was Mulla Mustafa Barzani (1903-1979), a Kurdish nationalist leader who played a significant role in the Kurdish struggle for autonomy in Iraq. Barzani's surname is believed to have originated from the town of Barzan, which was known for its religious scholars and teachers.

In the Indian subcontinent, the Mulla surname was also associated with various occupations related to education and religious instruction. Some examples include Mulla Firoz Khan (1638-1703), a renowned poet and scholar from the Mughal era, and Mulla Muhammad Baqir Majlisi (1616-1698), a prominent Shia scholar and theologian from Persia.

While the surname Mulla has its roots in the Islamic tradition, it has since transcended religious boundaries and is found among various communities and ethnic groups across South Asia and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mulla families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mulla 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. Surrey leads with 2 Mullas recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.30x.

County Total Index
Surrey 2 21.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 2 Mullas recorded in 1881 and an index of 119.05x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 2 119.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Harriete 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Ernest 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Mulla households.

Occupation Count
Waiter (Inn) 1

FAQ

Mulla surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mulla surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Mulla surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mulla surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,867 in 2016. That gives Mulla a modern rank of #3,410.

What does the Mulla surname mean?

A surname referring to a Muslim scholar or religious leader.

What does the Mulla map show?

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