NameCensus.

UK surname

Mullett

A surname of French origin referring to someone with a round head or close-cropped hair.

In the 1881 census there were 934 people recorded with the Mullett surname, ranking it #4,122 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,131, ranked #5,205, down from #4,122 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dudley, Rowley Regis and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, North Dorset and Bristol.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mullett is 1,441 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.1%.

1881 census count

934

Ranked #4,122

Modern count

1,131

2016, ranked #5,205

Peak year

1911

1,441 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mullett had 934 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,122 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,131 in 2016, ranked #5,205.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,441 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Mullett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mullett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mullett 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 659 #3,932
1861 historical 675 #3,977
1881 historical 934 #4,122
1891 historical 1,124 #3,778
1901 historical 1,363 #3,685
1911 historical 1,441 #3,353
1997 modern 1,289 #4,421
1998 modern 1,318 #4,505
1999 modern 1,309 #4,573
2000 modern 1,309 #4,550
2001 modern 1,276 #4,558
2002 modern 1,305 #4,554
2003 modern 1,267 #4,585
2004 modern 1,251 #4,638
2005 modern 1,223 #4,679
2006 modern 1,221 #4,707
2007 modern 1,217 #4,753
2008 modern 1,214 #4,798
2009 modern 1,239 #4,815
2010 modern 1,240 #4,907
2011 modern 1,236 #4,868
2012 modern 1,191 #4,945
2013 modern 1,177 #5,081
2014 modern 1,171 #5,127
2015 modern 1,155 #5,133
2016 modern 1,131 #5,205

Geography

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Where Mulletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dudley, Rowley Regis, London parishes, Ipswich St Clement and Warren House and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley, North Dorset, Bristol, South Somerset and Cannock Chase. 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 Dudley Staffordshire
2 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Ipswich St Clement and Warren House Suffolk
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 021 Dudley
2 North Dorset 008 North Dorset
3 Bristol 044 Bristol, City of
4 South Somerset 002 South Somerset
5 Cannock Chase 003 Cannock Chase

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mullett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mullett

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Mullett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mullett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Mullett 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

Mullett is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mullett 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 Mullett 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mullett

The surname Mullett originated in England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "mullet," which referred to a small fish of the grey mullet species. This name was likely given as a nickname to someone who bore a resemblance to the fish or who caught or sold mullets for a living.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Mullett can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, compiled in 1273, which mentions a person named William Mulet. The name also appears in various other medieval records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1309, where a John Mullet is listed.

The Mullett surname has undergone several spelling variations over the centuries, including Mulet, Mullit, and Mullitt. These variations were often due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

In the 16th century, the Mullett name was associated with several notable individuals. One such person was Thomas Mullett, a merchant and ship owner from Bristol who lived from around 1520 to 1590. Another was John Mullett, a clergyman and writer who was born in 1592 and served as the Rector of Wigginton in Hertfordshire.

During the 17th century, the surname Mullett appeared in various parish records across England. For example, in 1635, a marriage between Richard Mullett and Elizabeth Hooper was recorded in the parish of St. Giles, Cripplegate, London.

One of the most famous individuals with the Mullett surname was Charles Mullett (1800-1876), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Dramatic College and the Church of St. Philip in Sydenham.

In the 19th century, the Mullett name gained prominence in the United States. One notable American with this surname was John Mullett (1838-1913), a prominent architect who designed several government buildings in Washington, D.C., including the Old Executive Office Building and the Pension Building (now the National Building Museum).

Other notable individuals with the Mullett surname include Alfred Mullett (1834-1890), an English painter and illustrator known for his depictions of rural life, and Mary Mullett (1844-1906), an English novelist and travel writer.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mullett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mullett 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. Staffordshire leads with 138 Mulletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.47x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 138 4.47x
Dorset 137 22.84x
Middlesex 107 1.17x
Worcestershire 72 6.03x
Somerset 64 4.35x
Suffolk 64 5.75x
Hampshire 56 2.99x
Surrey 50 1.12x
Kent 42 1.35x
Essex 27 1.50x
Lancashire 26 0.24x
Hertfordshire 23 3.65x
Buckinghamshire 17 3.08x
Gloucestershire 17 0.95x
Yorkshire 17 0.19x
Monmouthshire 14 2.12x
Glamorgan 11 0.69x
Warwickshire 11 0.48x
Cambridgeshire 7 1.21x
Sussex 6 0.39x
Devon 5 0.26x
Norfolk 5 0.36x
Cheshire 4 0.20x
Northamptonshire 4 0.47x
Durham 3 0.11x
Leicestershire 3 0.30x
Lincolnshire 2 0.14x
Royal Navy 2 1.84x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingswinford in Staffordshire leads with 59 Mulletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.67x.

Place Total Index
Kingswinford 59 52.67x
Dudley 52 35.83x
Ipswich St Clement 34 120.14x
Rowley Regis 27 31.40x
Folkestone 24 39.68x
Watford 20 40.94x
Henstridge 19 467.98x
Bedminster 15 10.85x
Buckland Newton 14 522.39x
Sherborne 14 79.23x
St Pancras London 12 1.63x
Sturminster Marshall 12 478.09x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 3.36x
Wycombe 11 26.71x
Aldershot 10 15.93x
Chesilborne 10 900.90x
Fulham London 10 7.54x
Usk 10 182.48x
Barking 9 17.05x
Battersea 9 2.68x
Holwell 9 692.31x
Lambeth 9 1.13x
Whitestauton 9 1384.62x
Barrow In Furness 8 5.42x
Dewlish 8 551.72x
Holdenhurst 8 16.28x
Sedgley 8 6.98x
The Hill 8 104.30x
West Bromwich 8 4.53x
Acton 7 13.06x
Almondsbury 7 102.19x
Aston 7 1.10x
Barking 7 121.53x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.76x
Bow London 7 6.02x
Fordington 7 54.18x
Limehouse London 7 6.98x
Little Bolton 7 5.02x
Lyncombe Widcombe 7 18.17x
Milton In Milton 7 52.79x
Sawston 7 125.45x
Stalbridge 7 122.81x
Sturminster 7 120.27x
Ardleigh 6 120.00x
Cakemore 6 306.12x
Croydon 6 2.43x
Ipswich St Margaret 6 15.88x
Kingston On Thames 6 5.61x
Linthorpe 6 11.10x
Northwood 6 22.49x
Okeford Fitzpaine 6 312.50x
Ridgacre 6 255.32x
Southampton St Mary 6 5.09x
West Wycombe 6 80.00x
Willenhall 6 10.38x
Andover 5 28.25x
Battisford 5 367.65x
Brighton 5 1.61x
Chelsea London 5 1.82x
Corfe Castle 5 89.93x
Great Yarmouth 5 4.30x
Hackney London 5 0.98x
Kimberworth 5 9.95x
Llantrisant 5 12.47x
Melcombe Regis 5 20.11x
Roath 5 6.92x
St George Martyr 5 32.45x
Westbury On Trym 5 8.23x
Bromley London 4 1.99x
Edmonton 4 5.43x
Harborne 4 4.05x
Kingsdon 4 363.64x
Maldon St Peter 4 43.53x
Millbrook 4 8.48x
Peterborough 4 6.43x
Portsea 4 1.09x
Tipton 4 4.23x
Tottenham 4 2.75x
Whippingham 4 28.19x
Willisham 4 645.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 50
Sarah 38
Elizabeth 33
Eliza 28
Ann 19
Jane 17
Annie 16
Alice 15
Ellen 14
Emily 11
Ada 9
Hannah 7
Louisa 7
Caroline 6
Fanny 6
Martha 6
Susan 6
Anne 5
Edith 5
Emma 5
Harriet 5
Lydia 5
Margaret 5
Agnes 4
Amelia 4
Florence 4
Julia 4
Phoebe 4
Bessie 3
Charlotte 3
Elizth. 3
Gertrude 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Sophia 3
Adelaide 2
Amy 2
Angelina 2
Clara 2
Cordelia 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Margrett 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Maude 2
Minnie 2
Pheobe 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 65
William 51
James 31
George 23
Charles 22
Henry 22
Joseph 22
Thomas 20
Arthur 13
Edward 12
Robert 12
Samuel 12
Alfred 9
Isaac 8
Albert 7
Herbert 7
Walter 7
Fred 6
Frederick 6
Michael 5
Edwin 4
Ezekiel 4
Francis 4
Fredk. 4
Harry 4
Lewis 4
Ernest 3
Isaiah 3
Stephen 3
Caleb 2
David 2
Eli 2
Leonard 2
Mary 2
Percy 2
Reginald 2
Richd. 2
Tom 2
Andrew 1
Charlie 1
Claude 1
Cyril 1
Daniel 1
Eneas 1
Enoch 1
Eugene 1
Eustace 1
Florence 1
Hugh 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Mullett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mullett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 934 people were recorded with the Mullett surname. That placed it at #4,122 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mullett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,131 in 2016. That gives Mullett a modern rank of #5,205.

What does the Mullett surname mean?

A surname of French origin referring to someone with a round head or close-cropped hair.

What does the Mullett map show?

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