UK surname
A surname derived from a place name in Ireland.
In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Mullay surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 69, ranked #33,762, down from #29,484 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Lerwick and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mullay is 102 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 137.9%.
1881 census count
29
Ranked #29,484
Modern count
69
2016, ranked #33,762
Peak year
1851
102 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mullay surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mullay surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 102 | #16,933 |
| 1861 | historical | 102 | #20,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 29 | #29,484 |
| 1891 | historical | 37 | #31,398 |
| 1901 | historical | 28 | #30,951 |
| 1911 | historical | 16 | #31,804 |
| 1997 | modern | 58 | #31,831 |
| 1998 | modern | 61 | #31,841 |
| 1999 | modern | 61 | #31,971 |
| 2000 | modern | 63 | #31,829 |
| 2001 | modern | 59 | #32,080 |
| 2002 | modern | 66 | #31,821 |
| 2003 | modern | 59 | #32,530 |
| 2004 | modern | 64 | #32,286 |
| 2005 | modern | 57 | #33,178 |
| 2006 | modern | 60 | #33,235 |
| 2007 | modern | 61 | #33,440 |
| 2008 | modern | 63 | #33,498 |
| 2009 | modern | 71 | #33,102 |
| 2010 | modern | 66 | #33,791 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 65 | #33,964 |
| 2013 | modern | 67 | #33,939 |
| 2014 | modern | 67 | #33,959 |
| 2015 | modern | 69 | #33,788 |
| 2016 | modern | 69 | #33,762 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Lerwick, Edinburgh, St Marylebone and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Lerwick | Shetland |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Greenock | Renfrew |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mullay surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mullay, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mullay surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mullay household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mullay is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mullay is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mullay, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MULLAY is believed to have originated in Ireland, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "mullach," which means "summit" or "top of a hill." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived on or near a hilltop.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the MULLAY surname is found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle compiled in the 17th century. It mentions a family called "Ó Mullaigh" residing in County Mayo during the 13th century. Over time, the spelling evolved to its current form, MULLAY.
In the 16th century, the MULLAY name appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of official records from the Tudor period. One notable individual was Thomas MULLAY, who was granted lands in County Mayo in 1548.
During the 17th century, the MULLAY family played a significant role in the Irish Confederate Wars. Patrick MULLAY (1620-1690), a member of the Irish Catholic Confederation, served as a prominent military commander and later fled to France after the Cromwellian conquest.
Another notable figure was Edmond MULLAY (1675-1742), a Jacobite army officer who fought in the Battle of the Boyne and later served in the Irish Brigade of the French army. His memoirs provide valuable insights into the life of an Irish soldier during that period.
In the 18th century, the MULLAY name was associated with the town of Ballina, County Mayo, where a prominent family resided. One member, John MULLAY (1742-1819), was a successful merchant and landowner known for his philanthropic efforts.
In the 19th century, the MULLAY name gained further recognition with the birth of William MULLAY (1835-1901), a renowned Irish historian and author who wrote extensively on the history of County Mayo and the Irish diaspora.
Throughout history, the MULLAY surname has maintained a strong presence in Ireland, particularly in the western counties of Mayo and Sligo. While the name has seen various spellings, such as Mullally, Mullaly, and Mulley, the core meaning and origins remain rooted in the Irish Gaelic language and the country's rich heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mullay surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Shetland leads with 13 Mullays recorded in 1881 and an index of 449.83x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Shetland | 13 | 449.83x |
| Midlothian | 6 | 15.84x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 4.81x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 2.19x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.60x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 3.82x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.80x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.04x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lerwick Gulberwick in Shetland leads with 9 Mullays recorded in 1881 and an index of 2000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lerwick Gulberwick | 9 | 2000.00x |
| North Leith | 5 | 285.71x |
| Dunrossness | 3 | 789.47x |
| Govan | 2 | 8.84x |
| Haslingden | 2 | 143.88x |
| Monks Coppenhall | 2 | 84.75x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 1 | 20.41x |
| Edinburgh St Stephens | 1 | 133.33x |
| Gloucester Barton St | 1 | 303.03x |
| Liscard | 1 | 89.29x |
| Tingwall | 1 | 714.29x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 28.09x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mullay surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mullay surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Mullay households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Cotton Winder | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Baker | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Mullay surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 69 in 2016. That gives Mullay a modern rank of #33,762.
A surname derived from a place name in Ireland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mullay bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.